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Sikeston woman wins $10K from PCH sweepstakes
SIKESTON — A surprise Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes win couldn’t have come at a better time for a Sikeston woman and her fiance who are getting married next week.
On Thursday, Danielle Franklin was surprised at her home with a $10,000-prize from Publishers Clearing House.
Howie Guja of Publishers Clearing House said only the dogs were home when he knocked on Franklin’s door Thursday morning in Sikeston.
“But some neighbors who had already come out of their homes to hoot and holler for the Prize Patrol helped us track her down,” Guja said.
Franklin said she was at work Thursday morning in Sikeston when her neighbor called her and asked if she’d be home for lunch.
“I asked: ‘What’s wrong?’ and she said: ‘Nothing. Just come now,’” Franklin recalled. “So I thought something was wrong. I thought one of my dogs got loose and I tried to call my fiance but he was working. I called my daughter on my way home, and she said: ‘I bet your house is on fire. So, I’m looking in the air to see smoke and listening for sirens, and my daughter is staying on the phone with me until I got home.
Franklin continued: “I pulled in my driveway, and two nearby construction workers were walking down the sidewalk with their phones and recording. I saw a man get out of a vehicle, and he opened a side door of minivan and got out balloons and roses.”
Franklin said she was filling in her daughter as she took in the scenery.
“My daughter thought my fiance sent me a surprise,” Franklin said. “Then I saw the balloons with the PCH logo on them as they’re walking up to me.”
Franklin said Guji then walked up to her and asked: “Are you Danielle?”
Franklin said she was still in shock because she was expecting to hear that her dog had been run over.
“Then he said: ‘I think you may have figured out who I am. Congratulations, you’ve won $10,000 from Publishers Clearing House!’”
Franklin said she was stunned to learn she’d won $10,000.
“I’m getting married next week!” she exclaimed, and said this money will allow them to put in a swimming pool or go on a honeymoon, which they had not planned on.
Franklin called her fiance, Jimmy Johnson, who rushed home and was overjoyed but also shocked. He admitted he’d poked fun at Franklin for entering every day, but now he’s glad she did.
Franklin said she’s played the PCH sweepstakes off and on over the years.
“I remember when I was a child, and my mom would get them in the mail,” Franklin recalled. “I’d put the stamps and fill them out and put in the mail. I always said I would win one of the jaguars one day.”
About three months ago, Franklin said she received a letter from PCH in the mail.
“I was like, ‘Why not?’” Franklin said about playing. “I did the stamps and filled them out. Then I got emails and they have drawings you can enter. Occasionally, I sent in entries for those, too.”
Both Franklin and Johnson said they were both very happy that Franklin’s prize was the “K9s for Warriors” giveaway as they both love dogs and are big supporters of armed forces and veterans.
Franklin offered advice for others who enter PCH sweepstakes.
“Just keep at it,” she said. “You have to, because it really happens.”