Do Pets Win the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes?

On my most recent Prize Patrol trip there were pets in two of the three homes where I delivered sweepstakes prize checks to Publishers Clearing House winners. The winners were people, but they had some lucky dogs and one lucky cat, who might now have more treats in their future.

As we approached the Idaho home of Stephanie Gornichec, our newest $1 Million SuperPrize winner, we could hear barking dogs. Their noise grew louder as we rang the bell. When the door opened they greeted us with wagging tails. It was as if they just knew that this sweepstakes winning moment meant we were arriving with the good news their masters had been praying for since Stephanie lost her job a year ago.

Both dogs were “rescues” and were obviously happy members of the Gornichecs’ household. The smaller dog’s front right leg was badly crippled, but that didn’t slow her down. She and her canine housemate were just as excited as Stephanie and her husband Shaun. (I just wish we had brought some pet treats – the same way we travel with roses and balloons to “treat” the winners.)

The next day in Texas, we surprised prize drawing winner Jelaine Jaeb, and -- again – we heard barking as we rang the bell. When the door opened this time, there was a cute black poodle in the arms of her mistress. Both Jelaine and Muffy could hardly believe their eyes. There I stood with balloons, roses and a Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes Prize Check for $10,000.00!

Muffy sniffed me, recognizing that I had a dog at home. Jelaine stood open-mouthed, amazed and grateful for her good fortune. She has faithfully entered the PCH contest for years -- religiously I might add: she is a music teacher and Ursuline Sister.

Inside we found Jelaine’s cat who wandered into the living room, eyed the activity with some curiosity, then disappeared as if to say, “I don’t understand what Muffy is so excited about.”

Well, that’s the way cats are. On the other hand, I have never met a human who wasn’t excited by winning the PCH Sweepstakes. (And our PCH Prize Patrol has visited over a thousand of them!) Yes, some winners may scream or show more or less emotion than others. But the experience is always one of the most thrilling of their lives.

Don't just take my word for it. Win one of our huge cash prizes and I’m sure you will understand. Why not enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes onlineat once? More and more of our winners are entering online, and YOU could be next!

Good luck!

Dave Sayer

Executive Director

PCH PRIZE PATROL

One Less House For Sale in Idaho

Some “experts” think the recession may have bottomed out. But for millions of struggling families, especially folks trying to sell their homes, financial recovery still seems far away: far, far away to Stephanie Gornichec of Boise, Idaho, and her husband Shaun. Until one day last week.

A year ago Stephanie was nicely employed in the financial industry. But with the economic downturn her job came to an unexpected end. Suddenly the Gornichecs’ household income was cut in half, and all of Stephanie’s efforts and business experience failed to land her a new job. While the couple loved the home they had purchased just three years ago and Shaun’s job seemed secure, the bills were mounting so high that declaring bankruptcy looked more and more likely. A “House for Sale” sign was sadly posted on their front lawn, joining a parade of similar signs along their street.

While Stephanie sought work and pursued an online business venture, she came across PCH Search & Win on the web and through it entered the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. She figured: Someone’s got to win -- why not me? Over the months, she entered the contest again and again.

At 9:15 A.M on August 13, something happened that prompted Stephanie to say, “This just changed everything for us.” You see, the PCH Prize Patrol had just arrived unannounced at her door – with video cameras, balloons, roses, Champagne and a Big Check that read: Be it known that Stephanie Gornichec is the new Publishers Clearing House winner of $1 Million SuperPrize.

“This is fantastic,” Stephanie said as Shaun rushed to her side. “You have no idea what this just did for our lives!”

You can view the Gornichecs’ emotional winning moment at PCHTV.com and KIVI-TV’s story about the Publishers Clearing House prize award at: http://www.kivitv.com/global/Category.asp?c=169854&clipId=4041610&topVideoCatNo=92613&autoStart=true .

A highlight of the video – and certainly an immediate cause for celebration – appears at the end when Shaun pulls the “House For Sale” sign from the lawn and ceremoniously throws it in the garbage. But that’s not the end of the story, I’m sure, as this SuperPrize should bring comfort and joy to the Gornichecs for years to come.

I bet a nice story could be written about YOU if YOU win our next PCH SuperPrize. Right? If it happened to Stephanie, it can happen to you!

Don’t delay! Enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes online or through the mail at once. And don’t forget to visit PCHSearch&Win.com, PCHTV.com and PCHLotto.com. More and more people are entering and -- like Stephanie -- winning online, and YOU could be next!

Good luck!

Dave Sayer

Executive Director

PCH PRIZE PATROL

Busy Week for the PCH Prize Patrol and a Good Week for Winning!

Last week was one busy week at Publishers Clearing House for the Contest Department and the PCH Prize Patrol.

We traveled to three destinations to surprise three new Publishers Clearing House winners in person. Two of them were $10,000.00 winners – one of whom entered our sweepstakes at pch.com. (That just proves that it’s a good idea to enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes online – at pch.com, PCHSearch&Win.com, or PCH online game sites, such as PCH Lotto, PCH Games or PCH Scratch Cards.)

The climactic visit was to the home of new PCH SuperPrize winner Stephanie Gornichec on Thursday, August 13, to award $1 Million. (The matching winning number eligible for a PCH Wow payout of $100,000 A Week for 52 Weeks was not returned, so a second chance drawing was held to award a base prize of $1 Million.) Naturally, this visit required lots of preparations: making travel arrangements, contacting the local media, ordering the bouquets of roses and balloons, and pulling together all the materials we need for the exciting presentation of The Big Check.

The name of the SuperPrize winner was announced in a PCH commercial on August 13th during The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Then, right from the winner’s home, we beamed the winning moment to pchtv.com where people could see it – just as it actually happened.

Meanwhile our Contest Department has just sent out $1,000.00 checks to over 200 lucky contest entrants all over the USA. Imagine the surprise those folks will receive when an overnight package arrives with an unexpected cash prize windfall.

On top of all of that, last week our recent “$5,000 A Week for Life” PCH winner, Doris Gray, a beloved school teacher from New Jersey was featured in a special TV show called “The Lottery Changed My Life” on The Learning Channel.

With all this winning going on, you are probably thinking, “I want that to be ME!” Well, it can be!

Enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes online right now. And enter often – We want to make you a winner!

Good luck!

Dave Sayer

Executive Director

PCH PRIZE PATROL

Stephanie Gornichec Tweets about Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes Win

Publishers Clearing House winner Stephanie Gornichec doesn’t have to spend hours calling all of her friends to tell them the good news about her visit from the PCH Prize Patrol, she can send a message to Face Book and Twitter and let them all know at once!

An experienced user of online social networks, Stephanie Gornichec can post pictures, videos, and gather news articles about her sweepstakes winning moment and share each of those unique updates with friends. She can let people know how she went online to enter the contest and how she’s going to spend her winnings from Publishers Clearing House.

Many different social options are available today but Facebook and Twitter are among the most popular platforms. Did you know that you can visit Publishers Clearing House – also known as PCH – on Face Book and Twitter where you’ll receive updates, news and access to all PCH Online Sweepstakes sites, a place to interact with other PCH fans and sweepstakes entrants, and exciting contest and sweepstakes giveaway opportunities.

Why not give it a try at one of the following links?

Face book: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Publishers-Clearing-House/42789325785

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pchwinningways

Good luck!

Publishers Clearing House Winner Can Keep Her House

FOR SALE signs lined the street when the PCH Prize Patrol van pulled into the neighborhood for the surprise sweepstakes winning moment. It was evident this area had been hit by the recession. Behind one of the signs, the famous prize award team spotted the house number of the newest Publishers Clearing House winner.

With TV cameras rolling, their hearts pumping, and the Big Check, balloons and roses in hand, they approached the door.

Winner Stephanie Gornichec of Caldwell, Idaho was overcome with emotion when she heard she won one million dollars in the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. The prize couldn’t have come at a better time for her and her husband, Shaun. Stephanie lost her job a year ago and has been unable to find work. "We had 2 incomes, bought a beautiful home and when suddenly half your income is gone ... It's tough!" choked Stephanie, through tears of joy.

The Gornichecs were on the verge of losing their home and considering filing for bankruptcy because they had no more options ... that is until they heard that famous knock on their door from Publishers Clearing House.

Shaun wasted no time in throwing out the FOR SALE sign.

Stephanie won one million dollars with an online sweepstakes entry at PCH Search & Win. Boy, is she glad she entered the contest!

We hope you will too, it’s easy to enter at pch.com or PCH Search & Win.

Good Luck!

Deborah Holland

Executive Vice President

Publishers Clearing House (PCH)

P.S. You can read more about Stephanie’s winning moment in the local Idaho news.

Watch TV Tonight!

Tonight there’s lots of “must see TV” for you folks who enjoy The PCH Blog.

Start off with The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. (6:30 or 5:30 PM for most viewers, but check your local listings.) In a Publishers Clearing House commercial, the name of our brand new SuperPrize winner will be announced.

The PCH Prize Patrol will be at the new millionaire’s home and will beam winning moment footage via satellite to PCHTV.com where you will be able to see all the excitement. Will the winner faint? cry? shout? hug us? make a speech? be mute? be home? Who knows! Talk about “reality TV” -- we’ve seen it all. And tonight at PCHTV.com you can see it all too.

At 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central, switch over to The Learning Channel for their great series, “The Lottery Changed My Life.” That show will feature our recent “$5,000 A Week for Life” Publishers Clearing House winner, Doris Gray, a beloved school teacher from New Jersey. I am sure that you will be touched by her story. And you will no doubt be motivated to enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes!

And it’s so easy to enter the PCH contest online – at pch.com, PCH Search & Win, or PCH online games such as PCH Lotto, PCH Games or PCH Scratch Cards. Did you know that more and more of our PCH contest winners are coming from online sweepstakes entries?

Happy viewing! And good luck!

Dave Sayer

Executive Director

PCH PRIZE PATROL

Publishers Clearing House Winner About To Be Revealed

The air is charged with excitement here at Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes Headquarters in anticipation of today’s news. The August 13th winner of PCH Giveaway No. 1400 will be revealed tonight in a TV commercial announcement during the NBC Evening News with Brian Williams. Who will the lucky new millionaire be? In what zip code will the new PCH winner reside? The information is kept a secret until the announcement, and revealed only to a select few PCH’ers on a “need-to-know” basis.

The PCH Prize Patrol has been dispatched to an undisclosed location. Did they travel by plane or by car? Only a few of our co-workers have that information and they’re not talking … just grinning!

Another question many people have: Was the matching winning number returned? This is important because if it was returned by the deadline, Publishers Clearing House will award our first-ever PCH Wow $100,000.00 A Week For A Year $5.2 Million Fast Payout SuperPrize. On the other hand, if the matching winning number was not returned by the deadline, PCH will have conducted a second chance drawing to award a $1 Million prize to one lucky timely entrant. So, PCH’ers are wondering, will the next Publishers Clearing House winner receive $100,000 A Week For A Year or $1 Million? For sure, our Controller knows. He’s the guy that works out the finances for prize payments. Hey Michael, is it $100,000 A Week For A Year or $1,000,000.00? No response – you know those financial types, very confidential. Either way, it’s a huge chunk of change, and some stunned PCH contest entrant is about to receive the surprise of a lifetime when the Prize Patrol shows up on his or her doorstep with video cameras rolling to film the big sweepstakes winning moment.

In the 30 years I have worked at Publishers Clearing House, I have witnessed countless prize drawings in our famous contests and sweepstakes and met many of the big winners. It’s unique and exciting every time. We PCH’ers get that “little kids on Christmas Eve” feeling, looking forward to the wonderful surprises about to be revealed. We will watch the Publishers Clearing House winnerannouncement on TV and go online to watch the sweepstakes winning moment on PCHTV.com. We hope you’ll do the same.

Deborah Holland

Executive Vice President

Publishers Clearing House (a.k.a.PCH)

Fair Warning

$100,000 A Week For A Year is at Stake! If you have not entered the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes by August 4, 2009, you will relinquish any chance to win the new PCH Wow SuperPrize. The PCH Wow prize would pay $100,000 A Week For A Year to a lucky winner. Enter the contest today at pchwow.com.

Winner selection processing will begin after the deadline for entry submission. On prize drawing day, the winning number will be randomly generated by the mainframe computer at Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes Headquarters. If a matching winning number has not been timely returned, forfeiture proceedings will begin. Working with the IT Department, the Contest Department will double check the Contest Audit File to make sure a match has not been found. The Board of Judges will be notified that the matching winning number was not returned by the deadline. The Board of Judges will review all documentation and verify the forfeiture conclusion. Once forfeiture proceedings begin, they cannot be reversed and an alternate winner will be selected.

This is important. If you do submit a timely entry and your number matches the PCH Wow SuperPrize winning number, you will win $100,000 A Week For A Year! Wow! Just think of what you could do with all that money!

Every PCH Sweepstakes entry gives you another chance to win, so you are encouraged to enter the sweepstakes often!

Good Luck!

Deborah Holland

Executive Vice President

Publishers Clearing House

PCH Surprise Patrol

We thought our PCH Blog followers would enjoy reading a Thank You note sent to PCH Prize Patrol deputies Rob and Tatiana by a recent Publishers Clearing House winner. Here it is:

Dear Rob,

I just wanted to thank you and Tatiana again for the incredible experience of having the PCH Prize Patrol ringing my doorbell! We really appreciate the roses, (still gorgeous, by the way)champagne, balloons, pens, and of course the check. We had to go to the grocery that afternoon and my daughter told everyone in Publix that the "Surprise Patrol" had visited us. I think she coined a great name for you. Everyone's response was "Wow, I didn't think anyone ever really won that." Then last night my husband and I attended a benefit for the historic house museum here and people were just fascinated that I had won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and again the universal response was "I didn't think anyone really won that."

So, I am happy to report that I am proving all the naysayers wrong. I also hope you and Tatiana enjoyed driving down beautiful Main Street and had a good lunch. My daughter and I would love for you to visit again and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

If you get a chance, I would appreciate any photos you could e-mail.

Again, many, many thanks for everything,

Laura Nelson

For your chance to win the PCH Wow SuperPrize we’re currently offering -- $100,000 A Week For A Year – submit your online sweepstakes entry at pchwow.com by August 4th! Who knows … maybe you’ll be the next winner writing us a thank you note!

Good luck,

Deborah Holland

Executive Vice President

Publishers Clearing House (PCH)

PCH Winners Playhouse

When consumers come up to me and declare that the winners in our PCH TV commercials are not real people but actors, I have to laugh. If they were actors, I’d like to see them take to the stage and play Hamlet or Lady Macbeth or some Tennessee Williams heroine. The audience would go into hysterics and the curtain would have to come down shortly into Scene 1.

A few years ago we lightheartedly contemplated running a TV ad campaign called “Publishers Clearing House Presents WINNERS PLAYHOUSE.” We imagined some of our favorite Publishers Clearing House winners like Bob Castleberry playing Othello, Thelma Seidenberg playing Stella from “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and Sherwin Gerber playing Willy Loman from “Death of A Salesman.” It would have proved once and for all that the PCH Sweepstakes winners -- with all due respect -- are not professional actors but real, everyday people -- just like you!

Don’t believe me yet? Visit PCHTV.com where you can see some of our recent winning moments – and I think you will agree with me that the performances in front of the camera are not the product of theatrical training.

So if you are a real, everyday person, what are you waiting for? You don’t have to rehearse. You don’t have to be discovered like some aspiring actor on Broadway or in Hollywood. Go for it!

Simply enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes online – and, if you do so by August 4th at pchwow.com, you can go for our new PCH Wow fast payout SuperPrize. If you’re the lucky prize drawing winner, you’ll receive $100,000 A Week For A Year! Wow!

If you search online, you may want to try the search engine at PCH Search & Win, where you can get a PCH contest entry every day, or one or more of the several PCH online games available at PCH Lotto, PCH Games (where you can play the popular Jigsaw Puzzle Game or Mah Jong Alchemy, plus many other games), or PCH Scratch Cards.

Enter our contests and sweepstakes as often as you can! We want to make you a star -- of your very own PCH winning moment!

Good luck – or as they say in show biz, “Break a leg!”

Dave Sayer

Executive Director

PCH PRIZE PATROL