Publishers Clearing House Archives Reveal Interesting Take on Human Nature

Publishers Clearing House archives are quite extensive, to say the least. And, since it was time for the next PCHblog post, I thought I might take a stroll down the proverbial Memory Lane to see what I could find. Well, after reading quite a few old newspaper articles about previous Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes winners as well as recent winners from PCHSearchandWin and ShopandWin, I found that the archives revealed something quite interesting about human nature.

I have often thought about what I would do if I won some money – of course, I couldn’t win anything from Publishers Clearing House because I work here, but you certainly could! My first instinct would be to help my family and friends. Plus, I would be so thrilled to share the good news with them because I know how truly happy they would be for me. It only made sense – to me – to think that everyone else would feel the same if they won some money. But, what I found in one of the old newspaper clippings really made me stop and think more about this.

In 1977, the Gossett family from Irving, Texas won $113,000 in a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. The Dallas Morning News ran a story with the headline: National contest publicity blows cover off family’s hidden windfall. The piece went on to explain that the family immediately had their phone number unlisted, kept the news from their neighbors and friends and told family members not to say anything to anyone. Okay, I figured. It must be because they were afraid they’d get calls from people asking them for money. That’s fair enough. But, when I kept reading, they explained the real reason was because, “We feel people today aren’t always thrilled about somebody else’s good luck.” How sad I thought. Although, there will always be those select few who aren’t happy for others good fortune, I found out, the ones who are very much outnumber the few who aren’t.

Dipping further into the Publishers Clearing House archives restored my faith in human nature. For example, Kristina H. from Naples, FL was a PCHSearchandWin instant prize winner of $100.00 and said that winning “lifted my spirits” and that she wanted “everyone to know.” Another PCHSearchandWin instant prize winner of a $100.00 Visa Card, Sondre H. used her prize to “make a donation to charity because I had just been complaining that I never had any money for that purpose.”  Peggy H. of Tucson, AZ won a $1000.00 television from ShopandWin and said that she would share the prize with her elderly parents since she was moving in with them in order take care of them.

Although I can be a bit cynical at times, I truly feel that human nature is basically good. What do you think? Have you won an instant prize or sweepstakes from Publishers Clearing House? Did you share your good news and good fortune? If someone you knew won, how would you feel? We want to know. Please leave a comment below if you like or visit our Fan page on Facebook. We always enjoy hearing from you!

Want some more inspiration? Visit PCHTV.com and watch exciting Publishers Clearing House winners receive their big prizes from the Prize Patrol! While you’re there, you could enter to win a big PCH sweepstakes prize, and connect to PCHlotto, PCHSearchandWin and PCHGames for even more opportunities to win cash prizes. 

Here’s to good fortune!

Leslie Jaye

PCH Creative