PERRYSBURG, Ohio — The St. Jude Dream Home has a new owner.
The $500,000 house and other prizes were given away throughout the day on Thursday, putting a bow on WTOL 11's largest campaign yet, raising more than $2.2 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
"You are the winner of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway!" WTOL 11's Chris Vickers told Cherie Sears over the phone Thursday afternoon.
"I won the house?" Sears responded in shock.
"Never, ever thought for a moment that I would win," she said in an interview later Thursday night.
Sears said she buys one ticket every year. This year just so happened to be the one when her ticket was pulled.
For her and her husband, Hunt, it's not just about entering to win a house or even the car, but to help the kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
"It's such a small part, but when everybody comes together, that's when you get the results you get with St. Jude," Cherie Sears said.
Buckeye Real Estate Group built the home for zero cost, meaning all materials used were donated. Owner Mike White said this is the company's seventh year of doing it.
"Every year has a story to tell and it's just so great to see," White said. "I'm so anxious to meet the winner in person here in a little bit and it's always a great feel and a good story."
It was particularly special for Sears and her husband when they rolled into the driveway of their new home in Perrysburg because she grew up in the city.
One of her favorite parts was the golf simulator in the basement of the home.
"It's awesome," she said. "I'm going to be down there all the time if I'm not in the kitchen!"
The 2024 St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway was WTOL 11's biggest yet and is in the top five of St. Jude Dream Home Giveaways in the nation.
It's all because the community comes together each and every year to help the kids, families and doctors at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.