The Words of the Fiala Family
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The Words of the Fiala Family |
Mrs.
Jai Nan Fiala shakes True Parents' hands to give thanks after
receiving her "Peace King" prize on May 21.
The grand prize winner of Las Vegas' first church-sponsored charity slot tournament says that the event can help turn the city of gaming into a city of giving. "I believe that a charity tournament is actually a win-win game and will definitely set a new trend in Las Vegas," said Mrs. Jai Nan Fiala, a resident of Kodiak, Alaska who won the grand prize of $25,000 at the slot tournament in Las Vegas on May 21, 2011. "Ultimately, I want to thank True Parents, True Children, all the staff, and spiritual support for making this event possible." Mrs. Fiala has said.
The tournament drew 300 donor-participants to the posh Aria Hotel, in Las Vegas on March 21st, where Mrs. Fiala racked up the most points on a slot machine in a time period of 15 minutes. All participants paid an initial entrance fee of $500, most of which was donated to three Las Vegas charities. The grand prize, titled, "The Peace King Prize," was $25,000 and the opportunity to travel as a "peace king" in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon.
At the award ceremony on the evening of May 21, 2011, Mrs. Fiala was invited onto the stage with her daughter to receive the large check from the sons and daughters of our True parents, Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, and later was able to thank True Parents directly, at the gala for 1500 later that evening.
"I never imagined that I'd be the first prize winner," Mrs. Fiala remarked after her winning. "I was never interested in gambling, because the possibility to win is extremely low. Nevertheless, when I first entered the competition hall with my daughter Wendy, I was caught in the excitement. Actually, I was already grateful just for the experience."
After returning home, the Fiala family opened a bank account titled "Peace King" with the winning prize, but has not decided how the money will be used. After looking back on awards her family has received in the past, Mrs. Fiala said: "In 1981, my husband, Chris, won $70,000 in a tuna tournament in Gloucester, Massachusetts by catching a 1,100 lb fish. He donated practically everything to our church. Yet, the time is different now. I feel God expects me to take ownership over this fund."
Originally from Taiwan, Mrs. Fiala first came to America in 1972, and in 1979 joined the Unification Church in San Francisco. She was blessed in marriage to Mr. Chris Fiala in 1982 and has since raised four girls in Kodiak, Alaska who are currently between the ages 21-28.
The Fiala family started a sport-fishing service, the Kodiak Island Charters (www.kodiakislandcharters.com), in Kodiak, Alaska under True Parents' guidance in 1990. Their company is respected and influential among charter vessels in Kodiak. The Fiala's and some other Kodiak families launched the annual "Ocean Challenge Program" for youth and families three years ago and the program is continuing.
Because Jai Nan and her husband had served as missionaries [National Messiahs] to the countries of Guyana and Mauritius, District Director Rev. Larry Krishneck covered the tournament entrance fees of both her and Mr. Jim Avey, from Anchorage, after both families agreed that this was a significant workshop and were determined to send their family members to Las Vegas despite obstacles.