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Local resident cashes in on sweepstakes

Jan 28, 2019 02:23PM ● By Josh Wood

Local resident surprised by sweepstakes Prize Patrol. (Danielle Lam, with permission)

By Joshua Wood | [email protected]

Local resident Stephen Adams had a shock when he opened the door one Wednesday afternoon in January. But he knew exactly what was up when he saw the balloons. Adams won a $10,000 prize from Publishers Clearing House (PCH).

Adams answered his door and saw Danielle Lam, a member of the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol, and recognized her immediately. “He knew exactly who I was,” Lam said. Lam flew from New York that afternoon to award four prizes in different states that week, including this one to Adams.

Adams had even entered another PCH contest online that morning. The sweepstakes are free to enter, and many people play regularly, according to Lam.

“Sometimes people enter so much, they forget they might win something because the games are so much fun,” Lam said. “People will do it on the train on the way to work, or when the kids are in bed, and they don’t really expect to win.”

The sweepstakes was introduced in 1967 and became popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, it was publicized in magazines and on television, and people entered through the mail using forms from magazines. Since then, most people enter through online games and apps.

“People enter online, but the mail is still popular,” Lam said. “I think it’s the nostalgia of getting it in the mail.”

Adams said the prize meant a lot to him since he is retired. He planned to celebrate by going out for a steak dinner. His advice for everyone who has entered but may not have won yet? “Keep entering!” he said. “You can’t win if you don’t play, so you might as well play! I won and you can too.”