What would you do if someone knocked on your door and handed you a giant check for US$100,000? Scream? Cry? Jump up and down? For one lucky employee, all she could do was stare in disbelief.
“I was just stunned,” says Andrea O’Shea, a senior publishing specialist from Legal Editorial Operations in the US Law Firms business. Andrea and her family were recently surprised at their home outside of St. Paul, Minn., with balloons, flowers and $100,000 from the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes team.
Andrea’s husband, Doug, entered the sweepstakes multiple times online, yet they never thought they’d actually win anything. But the timing of their surprise couldn’t have been better.
“My husband has been out of work for the last two years, and unemployment checks have run out, so I’ve been the sole breadwinner,” she says. “Having something so fantastic happen when you’re at your wits’ end … I can’t even explain the pressure it relieved. It’s been such a blessing.” 
Andrea, Doug and their two children, Mark (10) and Brenn (13), are already making plans for how to use some of their winnings, which include paying off bills, investing, contributing to college savings accounts and paying for a family vacation. However, the money itself hasn’t been the most rewarding part of the experience.
“The outpouring of support has been amazing” says Andrea. “We’ve received nothing but good wishes. The money is almost like a bonus – the main blessing is having the people you know and love so happy for you.”
You can watch a video of Andrea and her family receiving their giant check here. And as for the future of that giant check? The O’Sheas are planning on having it framed.
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