FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska (Army News Service, July 13, 2007) - It's a dream come true for one Fort Wainwright Soldier. Pvt. Michelle Tracy won a $50,000 cash prize by playing the at-home version of National Bingo Night.
The ABC show ran for six episodes this summer.
Pvt. Tracy received her prize in front of fellow Soldiers just before lunch July 6. Her husband, Kevin, and their son, 2-year-old Nicholas, were on hand to share the joy.
Both in-studio and at-home contestants are eligible for prizes, according to Glassman Media, the show's producers.
In the first six weeks of production, prizes and cash were awarded to the tune of a half million dollars.
A search of the Web site, www.abc.com, shows Tracy was luckier than most, winning the largest available cash prize for at-home contestants.
Top prizes include $10,000 department store shopping sprees and trips to NASCAR races.
The prize was awarded by the show's co-host, Sunil "the Commissioner" Narkar, in front of her motor pool brethren from the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment.
Pvt. Tracy, due with another child in September, appeared to be in a mild state of shock when she said, "We only played twice. I thought bingo was for old people, you know.
"My mom told me I should play. I am so surprised. I never thought I would win," she added.
Tracy explained both she and her husband played the three different rounds available while the show was on the air using cards printed from the Internet. Rules explain each card has a bar code and must be verified before prizes are awarded.
Pvt. Tracy said she never expected to hear back from the show after she sent her card in.
She said she would love to fly her parents up for a visit, and now she will have the money to do that.
"It's potentially life-changing money," she said. "Now we have money for the kids' college and we can pay off some bills. This is a blessing. Anyone can print out the cards and play. Anyone can win."
Show rules and updates are available at <a href="http://www.abc.com"target=_blank> www.abc.com</a>.
(Connie Storch works for the Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Public Affairs Office.)
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