It was the sweet face of a nun that prompted Charles Viane to buy the raffle ticket that turned out to be the lucky one in a drawing for a 2009 Toyota Prius, the hot hybrid fast replacing gas guzzling SUVs on the road.

The $100 ticket was for a good cause - The Hycy and Howard Hill Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. But Sister Rose Byrne's smile sealed the deal, Viane said this week when he picked up his fully-loaded $30,000 Prius at Toyota of North Hollywood.

"You can't possibly walk by her without buying a ticket. She's such a friendly person," said Viane, who bought his ticket June 9 at the 13th annual Providence Saint Joseph Golf Classic at Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Santa Clarita.

Sister Rose, S.P., and the generous contributions from golfers helped the foundation break a Golf Classic record, netting nearly $280,000 for the neuroscience institute.

Viane, president of domestic distribution for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, said he was happy to help and now looks forward to taking his new white Prius with its sporty tinted windows and leather seats for a spin to San Diego.

And with gas prices hovering in the $4.50-a-gallon range, he's thrilled. The Prius, which averages about 46 miles per gallon is three times more fuel-efficient than the 16-mpg SUV he usually drives. He just gassed up the SUV for $108, yet he plans to keep it to help haul around not only his five grandchildren (with one on the way,) but his two large dogs.

Chris Ashworth, vice president and general manager of Toyota of North Hollywood, said the dealership can hardly keep the popular hybrid in stock, selling some 60 of the cars each month as the price of gas tightens its grasp on drivers' wallets.

Ashworth, a member of the foundation board, said he was proud to donate the Prius. Three hundred tickets were sold for the raffle.

"It's a great cause - and a great car," he said.