The winner for the 2021 St. Jude’s Dream Home Giveaway has been announced.
Heather Rankin of Jasper, Tennessee was selected as the winner Sunday afternoon. She will receive the home, valued at $650,000, for free.
READ MORE | UPDATE: Winners of 2021 St. Jude Dream Home, other prizes announced
“Crazy to even think about, I never would have thought that we would win, and it's just amazing,” she said.
However, it’s not just about giving away a free home, it means so much more than that and it also resonates with Rankin.
“The $100 dollar ticket was near to my heart, to donate and help out to a good cause,” she said.
Rankin, along with countless others, bought raffle tickets and offered donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Due to the generous donations of the community, organizers raised more than 1.4 million dollars going towards covering medical expenses and more.
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital’s mission is to make sure children and their families never have to pay a penny.
Gus Issa, whose team is building the home, has done this giveaway for 9 years in a row. "I have talked to a lot of people. I have met a lot of people, and I see what it's done to them, to their children. It's easy to want to help,” he said.
This year is the toughest because of the pandemic.
"We have a massive material shortage, our industry is extremely busy, but we are going to give away an amazing home and I am excited,” he said.
"We didn't have it completely made,” said Rankin, “living paycheck to paycheck, trying to save where we can. It's a blessing in the sky, it's another one of those huge bills you don't have to worry about.”
The home is expected to be completed sometime in September.
If you’d like to help the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital cause you can go to their website.
