Sunday, Channel 3 and St. Jude gave away their 2019 Dream Home to one very lucky family. St. Jude built this year’s incredible house in Apison specifically for their annual event, which raises money for their children’s hospital.
The main attraction today was obviously the final drawing for the keys to the home. But St. Jude Regional Development Specialist Hayley Cameron says for many winners, the giveaway is about so much more than a house.
READ MORE | UPDATE: 2019 St. Jude Dream Home Winner named, other prizes announced
"We hear all the time 'oh I never win anything,' and 'I just bought it cause it's a great cause,' so it's really awesome to see that people want to support St. Jude and help how they can," Cameron said.
St. Jude doesn't do it alone. Local partners donate time, materials and equipment to build the homes. Dewayne Teague's company D&N HVAC has worked on nine Dream Homes, with one thing in mind.
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“We do it because of the kids,” he said. “It's a good cause and kids don't deserve cancer."
This year’s winner was Stacey Breland. Like other winners, she said she just entered the contest to help the kids too. So watching Sunday's event was the last thing on her mind while she was in Las Vegas on vacation.
For the 2019 home, St. Jude sold 12,000 raffle tickets, raising $1.2 million for their hospital. And Cameron says around the country, Dream Home giveaways raise about $40 million annually.
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