TOLEDO, Ohio — The day we've all been waiting for is finally here - the giveaway of the St. Jude Dream Home!
With your generous help, we sold out of St. Jude Dream Home tickets in record time, raising more than $1,000,000 for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Everyone here at WTOL 11 and at St. Jude is so appreciative of what you've been able to do!
We're thrilled to announce this year's winner is Julie Robb of Toledo! Julie tells us she reserved just one ticket, and that was the lucky one. She's taken part, hoping to win, for the last four years.
Here are all of the winners:
- 2020 St. Jude Dream Home: Julie Robb of Toledo
- Honda Fit - Brian McCann of Sylvania
- Ultimate Backyard package - Megan Gonyer of Bowling Green
- Something for Everyone package - Cheryl Waugh of Sylvania
- $10,000 La-Z-Boy shopping spree - Robert McConnell of Alvada
Also, you've probably been watching the virtual tour of the beautiful home and signing up to enter to win the $10,000 La-Z-Boy shopping spree. That winner was announced Thursday morning and it's Robert McConnell from Alvada! Congrats, Robert! Everyone who entered the shopping spree will now receive coupons for up to $250 off purchases.
You can also check out pictures of the home below, built at zero cost by Buckeye Real Estate Group.
St. Jude Dream Home 2020
This year’s house is built by Buckeye Real Estate Group and is located in the Quarry Ridge Subdivision in Sylvania. The 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath house features a full stone fireplace, full basement, first-floor laundry, walk-in pantry, wet bar, and tiled shower in master bath, as well as a soaking tub.
This is a brand new house built in the Quarry Ridge Subdivision, which is the newest development in Sylvania. It features 168 lots with both single-family homes and villas, a pond, a connection to Pacesetter Park and many nearby walking trails. We have watched it be built from the ground up and now one lucky viewer will be its first owner!
Even though tickets sold out quickly, you can still always donate to the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital right here to help ensure no family ever has a bill for their child's care.
Things come full circle in this year's winner circle.
Moments after receiving a life-changing phone call from WTOL's Chris Vickers, Julie Robb and her entire family made their way over to tour Julie's new home.
"I'm shocked! People were calling me and I said 'it's not me! it can't be me," Julie explained when she first heard the news.
The west Toledo-native said she only bought one ticket on the first day they were being sold.
"This year we a bought ticket the very first day and I'm glad we did because this year they sold out faster than they have any other year," she said.
And even though Julie's single ticket was the lucky one, the fourth's time a charm for her.
For the last four years, Julie has contributed to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by participating in the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.
"There's just not too many organizations out there that you can trust. But this is one of those organizations that I haven't heard anything but good and beautiful things," said Julie's husband Steve, who has a special connection to St. Jude.
"When my mother was pregnant with me, her and my father were having some issues so she prayed to St. Jude, who is the patron of lost causes. So she named me. My middle name is Jude and I've always prayed to St. Jude," he explained.
What began as a joking matter over vacation, became a new reality for the couple to return to.
"So we're coming back from vacation this week and I said to her 'you know in a couple days we gotta start packing,' and she said 'for what?' 'We're getting our new house! I feel it," Steve explained. "It's no joke anymore. It's a dream come true."
The new home has helped raised $1.3 million for the children's hospital with over 12,500 tickets sold.