Mansfield Student Uses Thousands Of Golf Balls & A Helicopter For Senior Project

MANSFIELD (CBS) - A student at Mansfield High School managed to turn her senior project into quite a spectator event.

Jackie Phan managed to work out the logistics for an unusual raffle that would raise money for cystic fibrosis research.

On Saturday, a helicopter dropped thousands of numbered golf balls out of the sky and onto the high school sports field.

A target was set up on the field and the person whose number matched the ball that landed closest won $1,000. The runner-up landed two Red Sox tickets right behind home plate.

Phan decided on a fundraiser in honor of her friend and classmate Fallon Finegan, who died in 2010 after a long battle with cystic fibrosis.

"It took me a while to think of the best idea, but once I heard it, I knew this was what I wanted to do," Phan said on Saturday. "I want to do something different and get people to come out and see what's going on and donate, give back and support."

Phan spent countless hours working to stage the event, promoting it, booking a helicopter, raising money to pay for the rental helicopter, finding a venue, and filling out a ton of paper work to secure the necessary permits.

She even had to reach out to the Massachusetts State Lottery for approval, since the event was technically considered gambling.