Machesney Park woman wins $15K in Gannett's Spring Home Makeover Sweepstakes
You can't win if you don't enter.
Danielle Ellis of Machesney Park is living proof of that. She is the national grand prize winner in Gannett's Spring Home Makeover Sweepstakes.
The biannual contest, held in the spring and fall, ran online in all of Gannett's .com publications, including on the Rockford Register Star's rrstar.com website.
Ellis won the $15,000 grand prize.
"I couldn't believe it," Ellis said. "Honestly, I didn't believe it for about two weeks. I had to really do some research and make sure this was real. My mon was like, 'I don't know.' And I'm like, 'I don't know either. But I sure want it to be real.'"
She already has a plan for the $15,000 windfall she received earlier this month.
"I'm adding a gazebo and firepit to my patio, and I have a few projects: flooring and a new ceiling in the basement, new carpeting in the living room, and I'm fixing up my kids' rooms."
Her 11-year-old son requested a basketball-themed bedroom, which will entail new painting and new furniture. Her 4-year-old daughter requested a unicorn-themed bedroom. Ellis will have her bedroom painted and outfitted with new furniture, as well.
Some of the winnings also will be used for landscaping.
Ellis, a single mom and a certified nursing assistant, said, "This is all stuff that I wanted to do, but just didn't have the funds."
The $25,000 sweepstakes ran from March 1 to April 28 and featured one national grand prize of $15,000 and two national second place prize winners of $5,000 won by Alan Rosenberg of Warwick, Rhode Island; and Martha Whealon of Melbourne, Florida.
Martin Exteriors Roofing and Siding was a local sweepstakes sponsor in the national contest.
Martin Exteriors is a family-owned and operated company that prides itself on family values and treating clients with care and respect. The company is based in Roscoe, serving all of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Machesney Park woman ushering in spring with a $15,000 home makeover
