Accessibility Statement

Dave Sayer Salutes Fifty Years of the PCH Sweepstakes

I’ve been a working man for over sixty years, including summer jobs, an Army tour, two decades with New York ad agencies and 36 years with Publishers Clearing House, “the house where dreams come true.” These last 36 have been the absolute best, not just because I’ve seen dreams come wondrously true for our sweepstakes winners but because PCH is a dream place to work.

When I joined in 1981, the PCH Sweepstakes was 14 years old – and the grand prize had just reached $250,000.  The company’s founders, Harold and LuEsther Mertz, were still alive, and their benevolence and the family-like atmosphere was enveloping.  The offices’ atrium design gave everyone a “window view” of gardens, water, geese, even newborn ducklings.  Every week a bud vase of flowers was delivered to each employee’s desk.  Every August the vegetable harvest was celebrated with “Corn Day” and an “all you can eat” picnic.  Employees received turkeys for Thanksgiving and cash gifts at Christmastime. What fun it was, compared to the formality of Madison Avenue!

I may have gotten older, but what never gets old is our winners’ reactions when the Prize Patrol arrives at their door!

After a week on the job I was invited to a prize drawing after which the company president phoned the winners with the good news.  Later the winners were brought to PCH for an award ceremony, then were “limo’ed” to the Plaza Hotel, Big Apple dinners and Broadway shows.  Many winners appeared in commercials customized to the winners’ particular stories.  If they wanted a house they got it.  A new car?  They got it.  “A brighter future for our baby”?  He or she got it.

In 1988 we stopped notifying the winners by phone and started surprising them at home — as you’ve seen countless times on TV. I have been privileged to lead the Prize Patrol to most of these presentations – and it’s been a thrill every single time.  Some reactions have been funny, dramatic and “made for television” while others have been quiet and tender, surviving more in memory than on YouTube.  I’m often asked which was my favorite “winning moment.”  That’s like asking which is my favorite child or grandchild.  Impossible.  Each is special and unique.

The PCH Winners’ “Wall of Fame” at our headquarters honors our SuperPrize winners throughout the years.

Time has marched on at PCH, the business has changed and expanded, and grand prizes are now worth millions.  But the benevolent spirit lives on and we still have tons of prize money to award.  So keep the faith and enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes every chance you get.  Who knows?  You might be the winner who kicks off our next 50 years of making dreams come true.

Dave Sayer
PCH Prize Patrol Ambassador

P.S. Do you have any PCH memories you’d like to share? Comment below! We’d love to hear your stories!

Other Blogs You Might Like:
The PCH Prize Patrol Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the PCH Sweepstakes
Can You Guess These Fun Facts about the Prize Patrol?

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Comments

  1. There are so many people saying their the real Publishers Clearing House, so confusing made me ever question how to spell your name Dave Sayre, I want to Wish you and Publishers Clearing House Merry Christmas 🎄🎁, I think of you very often, gave up on winning, but my heart will always be big for you all .

  2. Hello Dave Sawyer, the memory I’d like to share about 1996, the very first time I got a PCH Sweepstakes in my name I was belated overwhelmed with excitement, so the day I was expecting the PCH Prize Patrol , I made a cake , went outside sat down in a rocking chair and waited all day for your arrival, as evening fell my husband knew I sat there all day after his day of work ,he didn’t want me to be disappointed and brought me a dozen red roses, that memory will last a lifetime…

  3. Hi PCH,
    It’s the 1st of November 2022 Time 6:37AM Central Time. And I am Hoping for a MIRACLE to Come true Tonight or Soon And if I get “LUCKY” for say that $10 Million Dollars I to hope to visit the Big Apple & get limo’ed to the Plaza Hotel The Same Hotel in Home Alone along with all the fun stuff, the Big Apple has to Offer And I thank Mr. Dave Sayer #PrizePatrol for his service And I would like to experience the History of the Big Apple too. I hope to get “LUCKY” soon because Time does march on. And I can remember when Mr. Dave Sayer delivered that #BigCheck I remember seeing it on TV more than 30 Years Ago Then Mysteriously I received a PCH Bulletin and began entering after My Very Short National Guard Experience in 1989 was a dud Then a few Years later My Army friend & Mentor who was a Catholic Monk for time he eventually left this world a few Years later then Mysteriously I received a letter a Year after he left this world It was a pamphlet about a money making Opportunity the kind that You send to someone then they send it to someone else & so on but that’s all I will say about that for Now.
    I hope To meet You Mr. Dave Sayer #PrizePatrol Soon “LUCKY” #BigCheck #SuperPrize #PCHPrizePatrol #PCH

  4. I am a big dreamer, my dad always said I could fall in a pile “crap” and come out smelling like a rose. It’s in my head and has been, I really enjoy playing PCH most every day dreaming of what I would do.

  5. I just want to say that I enjoyed reading the story about Dave Sayer. I have been playing for over 10 years and my grandfather before me, if I ever win, I sure hope Dave will be there to celebrate with me. Sounds like a great company to work for!

  6. I got a call the other day saying I won some money. The gentleman wanted to come to my. It was very scary…. a Donald Tucker called….Todd Salinger and Daniel Lamb was mentioned…Dave Sayer. There must b a better way so a lady like moi would be comfortable… Bar code 355738772539795 I believe Dave Sayer was the man.. I received many, many calls from neighbors and friends pertaining to the winnings.. I feel bad now because nothing came of it “because of me not believing ! I said “nothing happened”. I did not give my correct number and address. I do live alone…!!i do not want my friends and family believe PCH is not for real.. I did win so u can get touch.

    1. Hello Tucky, that is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. If you haven’t already done so, please report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!