Mother wins dream home giveaway with just $8 remaining in her bank account: 'This is a blessing'
Tyniqua Watkins took a leap of faith when she bought a $100 raffle ticket to enter a chance to win the St. Jude Dream Home in Richmond, Va. The risky wager left her with only $8 left in her bank account— and made her the lucky winner of the $480,000 home.
“[It] was the last day and it felt like something tapped on my shoulder and said 'Ty get that ticket, step out on faith and get it," Watkins told NBC12.
Virginia local news station NBC12 teamed up with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the second time to raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer. This year, Virginia residents could buy $100 tickets to enter for a chance to win a four-bedroom 3,625-square-foot home dream home.
“The Dream Home Giveaway program helps to raise the critical dollars that allow St. Jude to share its discoveries with doctors and researchers worldwide to help save thousands more children,” Reed Hartley, a regional executive director of field development for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Although Watkins had first seen the home watching commercials showcasing the home on television in the weeks leading up to raffle drawing on June 13, she always felt too scared to pay the hefty entrance fee.
“Something says ‘Ty get a ticket. Get a ticket. Donate that hundred dollars. Donate that hundred dollars,’ and I was always scared so I didn’t do it," Watkins said.
But, Watkins believes fate intervened and lead her to purchase the ticket on the last day. “I’ve been praying I just needed some more space for me and my children,” Watkins said. She is the mother of three daughters. “I wanted to win that home.”
With only $108 in her bank account, Watkins decided to purchase the $100 dream home ticket on the last day to buy tickets. Hours later, Watkins discovered her prayers had been answered. She received a phone call at work from a reporter at NBC12 notifying her that she had won the St. Jude Dream Home. Watkins, who couldn’t hold her excitement, cheered and screamed on the phone when the announcement was broadcast live on television.
“Around 6:15 p.m. they called. They told me,” said Watkins. “Candice Smith was on live and she said I won the house.”
Although the St. Jude Dream Home was open to tours to the public on the day of the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Watkins family took a virtual tour for the first time on her cellphone. According to NBC12, the family cheered and cried tears of joy as the reality of their new home set in.
“My house where I live at now is a blessing but this is just a bigger blessing,” said Watkins.
However, St. Jude market director Renee Fairchild says they are thankful for donors like Watkins who “give their last so another family can have that peace of mind. “
“When we have donors like Tyniqua, who give their last so another family can have that peace of mind – it’s beautiful,” Fairchild tells Yahoo Lifestyle.
“But when that donor then wins a home – something they have always wanted – it’s just a humbling experience. This campaign brings our community together. We change lives at St. Jude, but we are also changing lives right here at home.”
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