I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in the Inside PCH video studio, and it was the end of our PCH Day live broadcast. We were watching the live video feed as Dave and Derek of the Prize Patrol were approaching the door of our soon-to-be-announced winner of our “Win It All” prize–$1,000,000.00 Plus $1,000.00 A Week For Life, Plus a Brand New Ford Explorer!

Here’s what was happening from the winner’s perspective! She was watching this strange van down the street and was wondering what in the world was going on!

“I came home, got into my comfortable clothes to take my dog for a walk. The [Prize Patrol] van was down the street, but I didn’t know it was them. I saw that this weird van was making it hard for the mailman do deliver the mail! And I thought, ‘who are these guys?’”

Then the winning moment happened, and the rest is history! Watch the winning moment here!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn6pbP5X3gs&w=480&h=480]

“I went back inside and the dog hears something. She starts barking, barking, barking, and I think there must be something outside. I saw the PCH van and told my husband, and he said I was crazy! But then he looks outside the window and then says, ‘Woah, that IS them!’ So he runs to put on some clothes and I answer the door.”

We asked her how long she’s been entering:

“I’ve been doing it before computers, mailing reply envelopes out and every day! Probably 20 years or longer, and then when computers came out, I started doing it that way.”

Ruth said she actually won from PCH in the past – $15!

“I won about $15 and I thought that that was good!”

The “Win It All” prize is a much larger amount of money, but she says no amount of money is going to change her thrifty ways!

“We drank the champagne on Saturday at our son’s annual Christmas in July party. I iced the bottle of champagne. But I made an ice bucket with parts from the dollar store – this money isn’t changing me!”

“It’s overwhelming when they came, but I’m so glad that they did,” Ruth continues. “It was a relief to know that I could pay my bills every month. The two things I thought of first were the bills and then buying a new couch!”

We asked her what her upcoming plans were:

“I want to donate to medical research so that people can get the help that they need. And then I want to give some money to my kids! Also, my daughter just moved down to Myrtle Beach, and so did a friend of mine. I’d like to go down to see them, but I’m waiting for things to settle down.”

We’re so happy for Ruth and her latest windfall! We asked her if she had any last thoughts for all of you out there looking for the same lifechanging moment!

“Keep entering! You never know! When we went to the Christmas in July party, a lot of people said, ‘I’m going to start entering again.’ And you never know, it could happen to you!”

Matt K.
PCH Creative

P.S. – If you won one of our big prizes, would you stay thrifty or live the high life? Tell us in the comments below!