Ann Letsche named 2023 Celebrity Scrooge

The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce announced Ann Letsche as the coveted top hat winner for the 2023 Centennial Celebrity Scrooge contest.

Letsche, who served as the Celebrity Scrooge in 2021, personally raised $6,036.73, plus a matching gift of $500 from Cherokee Regional Medical Center for a record total of $6,536.73.

Letsche’s fellow Scrooge candidates, Hayley Heims, Mollie Loughlin, Kay O’Connor and Jodi Schlichting, raised an incredible $11,069.48. The community also benefits from a generous donation from Cherokee Regional Medical Center of $500 per contestant.

The Celebrity Scrooge Contest raises funds for community food pantries. The money will be split equally between Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc., Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry, Immaculate Conception Church-Cherokee and Iowa Christian Action Pantry.

As the winner, Ann serves as the grand marshal of the Lighted Christmas Parade on Thursday night accompanied by her Edward Jones family and all of this year’s Scrooge candidates.

“I want to thank the community, family and friends for their most generous donations. We live in a very generous community,” Letsche said. “This contest helps a lot of people and does a lot of good. It shows the true meaning of Christmas.”