Prize Patrol Adds Elise Gutierrez To List Of Real PCH Winners!
The Story of $1 Million Real PCH Winner Elise Gutierrez – from hardship to happiness!
February 28th is a day all PCH employees and fans had been waiting for – the first SuperPrize of 2013! A few days before the award I found out that we were heading to LaPlace Louisiana, a town I had never been to before. After doing some research online (I used PCHSearch&Win to look things up – seriously!), I found out that the winner’s town was hit hard by Hurricane Isaac. I immediately knew that this was going to be a special delivery because the money was going to someone who really needed it.
It was also extra special because the Prize Patrol had a crew from AOL with us on the road to get a behind the scenes look at how PCH makes dreams come true. And there was local media, too! With such a large group of people ready for the winning moment, I hoped that things would run smoothly…BUT like so many other times, Elise was NOT HOME when the Prize Patrol knocked on the door! Luckily though, her husband Larry was there, and he let us know that she would be home from the supermarket within 10 minutes.
Right on cue, 10 minutes later, Elise arrived home with her son and a car full of groceries. We hid around the corner and gave her time to go in the house…and then we pulled up for the surprise. With a few rings of the doorbell, Elise answered the door and couldn’t believe her eyes. All she could say was “Oh my God” over and over.
After the shock wore off, Elise told us about the recent struggles her family has gone through. They were just able to move back into their home after being displaced for nearly 6 months because of flood damage from Hurricane Isaac. She told me that the water was so high in her home that there were minnows and snakes swimming around in her living room! On top of that, rats infested her storage space and destroyed the belongings they were able to salvage after the storm.
When we asked Elise how this money would help, she choked up. Sadly, her son is ill and unable to work, and she is taking care of her 81-year old mother who now lives in the house with her family. She told local media “I’m always worried about my son because he can’t work, and what if something happens to me?” “But this money means peace of mind for us, that we have something to fall back on. It’s like a dream”
She also added: “I’m a down-to-earth person, and I’ve always been happy for what I’ve got. I was really down in the dumps….Ever since Isaac, and all of this happened, I’ve been trying to get myself back up.” She continued to say “Things like this happen to other people, never to me. But this, this is a true blessing. I think God might have seen some of the troubles we’ve been having…and this just means everything to me.” For more about Elise and her winning moment check out her special interview with AOL.
Elise ended her winning moment with a well-deserved celebration…popping the Prize Patrol champagne! Well everyone, that’s Elise’s story…and YOURS could be next! The Prize Patrol will be back on the road in just weeks…so enter today if you want to be the next real PCH winner!
Danielle Lam
PCH Prize Patrol Elite
P.S. REMINDER! The PCH Prize Patrol is on The Price Is Right all week to award BIG MONEY! So be be sure YOU tune into the show on CBS to watch!
