The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Woman wins new Buick in St. Jude Car Giveaway
A North Olmsted woman said she was surprised to learn she had won a car as part of the St. Jude Car Giveaway.
Patricia Bella, 52, said she didn’t even remember buying the $100 ticket in February that led to her winning a 2019 Buick Encore from Nick Abraham Auto Mall, 1115 E. Broad St. in Elyria.
“When the tickets went on sale, I was doing a Disney run down in Walt Disney World,” Bella said. “I had bought the ticket, actually, in the corral getting ready to do a 5k.”
Bella said she was sitting at work back in June when the winners were announced and thought nothing of the drawing.
“Somebody had sent me a message saying ‘hey, you just won a car,” she said. “And I was like ‘wait, what?’”
While the winning was surprising, Bella said it came at a great time.
“The transmission just went out in my daughterin-law’s car, and we were a little bit nervous what was going to happen with the kids going back to school,” she said.
“So, as soon as I get the title to the car, I am going to transfer it to her.”
Bella said she has supported St. Jude Children Research Hospital for more than 20 years.
She was able to tour the facility after winning a previous contest as part of a country music artist’s fan club.
“It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also hopeful when you’re in that hospital, because you’re just seeing all the kids that they are treating and the ones who are cured of cancer and everything they do for the families,” Bella said. “I just can’t say enough about St. Jude and the whole heart that they have for the patients and the families; it’s just amazing.”
This was the sixth year Nick Abraham Auto Mall has partnered with St. Jude for the giveaway.
Bella was given her choice of the Encore or a 2019 Ford EcoSport.
The contest also gave away a house in Avon Lake built by Cleveland Custom Homes.