From Doubts to Riches: Spotsylvania Family Celebrates $10,000 PCH Win

“I saw on the Ring doorbell, a guy with a big check and flowers,” said Shelly’s daughter Vicky. They are now $10,000 richer.

Shelly entered the Publishers Clearing House a few times before and won small prizes but continued to enter their drawing. This time it paid off – hefty, $10,000. However, PCH has given away bigger prizes in the past and continues to have drawings in the millions. 

At the doorstep, there were many smiles and some tears as Guja explained how they drew her name, all while a cameraman hired by the sweepstakes filmed the excitement.

Since the temperature was nearly freezing, everyone migrated inside, as Guja explained further, and got some paperwork out of the way. Included with the check, champagne, and flowers were a few PCH tee shirts, which also brought on smiles. “I’m going to wear this to bowling tonight,” said Shelly.

The check couldn’t have come at a better time. Shelly’s husband, Joe, died on New Year’s Eve, and Vicky has a child due in April, so the money will be handy. Vicky had doubts about the contest.

The commercials on TV and the past promotions didn’t convince her, but now they have pictures, a full bank account, and an oversized check to show their friends. “I always thought it was a scam,” Vicky said.

“Good job, Mom,” Vicky added.

Publishers Clearing House was founded in 1953 as a magazine subscription agency but has now branched out as an “interactive media company,” a description on its website states. They were known as the company the late Ed McMahon was affiliated with, but that was American Family Publishers, which is no longer in business. They said company revenues fund PCH prizes, and no purchase is required to enter.

Guja lives in New York City, and he flew to Richmond with his cameraman, rented an SUV, and drove to the Fredericksburg area for the presentation. First, they stopped to pick up some flowers from Giant Food, where Christina Milstead, the florist, helped them with a bouquet. 

They weren’t roses, though. “We try to mix them up,” Guja said. Milstead had a brush with fame before working at the Giant floral section in Woodbridge. “Dan Akroyd came in the store,” she said. After the event, they jumped back in the SUV, went to Richmond Airport, and returned to New York. It’s all part of the job, he said.

At Thursday’s check presentation, the WFLS radio station van was also on-site with their morning show host, Grayson Williams, helping the Hansens celebrate the day. 

“Don’t give up,” Shelly advises people who have played in the past.