2011 Off to A Sweepstakes Winning Start For A Lucky Missouri Woman
Winning the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes sure changed Malenda Gibson’s luck.
2011 did NOT get off to a very good start for Missouri resident Malenda Gibson. On New Year’s Day one of her several dogs, a rather large barrel shaped one, got in Malenda’s way and caused her to fall over him and — WHAM – break her leg!
Jump ahead to Thursday, January 13, when Malenda’s luck changed considerably. There she was laid up at home, her leg in a cast up to there, immobilized with a walker in front of the TV when her son Tyler said, “There’s a couple of vehicles pulling in. Let me see who it is.” Seconds later he was back to report “Mom, I think it’s Publishers Clearing House.”
Sure enough. There we were — with roses, balloons, champagne AND a Big Sweepstakes Check … for $25,000!
The route to the Gibson home was not easy for us. Our advance camera crew had scoped out the destination prior to the Prize Patrol’s arrival at the local florist where the roses and PCH balloons were being prepared. “We better take our four-wheel SUV,” they informed me. “The road out there is icy, and there’s a lot of fresh snow on the very long driveway to the house.” Their recommendation turned out to be a very good one. As trusty as our Prize Patrol van is most of the time when delivering sweepstakes prizes, its front-wheel drive wasn’t up to these treacherous conditions. We might have wound up in a ditch — or worse.
It’s customary for the Prize Patrol to draw the winner from inside the home to the front door so we can videotape the sweepstakes winning moment in day-lit splendor. But this was not possible because of Malenda’s condition. Plus the temperature outside was bitterly cold! Even the hardy Gibson dogs wanted to get inside for some warmth.
And boy did it warm up fast when the Prize Patrol walked in!
Malenda’s first words were “I don’t believe it.” Then she cried “You’re kidding! Is this for real? Oh my gosh!”
We assured her that what was happening before her eyes was absolutely real, not a commercial she was seeing on TV. “It really does happen!” Malenda exclaimed. “And I recognize you too,” she said realizing that she had seen me in mailing packages and on TV leading the Prize Patrol to winners’ doors.
Malenda could only shake her head, saying “Amazing” — to which Tyler nodded in wholehearted agreement.
Before long husband Mark and son Garrett were home from work and had to agree that Malenda’s persistence in entering the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes, both by mail and online, had really paid off.
The local newspaper was also present, and you can see their coverage at this link: http://www.vernonpublishing.com/Leader-Statesman/Main/
So a year that started off with bad luck has already turned into a lucky year for the Gibson family.
How’s your year going so far? It’s only January — which means there’s lots of time to take advantage of the 2011 prizewinning opportunities at pch.com and our growing network of “Play and Win” websites. A simple click here will get you started.
In show business they say “Break a leg” to bring good luck to opening night. Malenda might not agree; but I’ll pretend that all of you reading this are in show biz and wish you luck by saying …
Break a leg!
Dave Sayer
PCH Prize Patrol Ambassador
