by Garrett Fodor
For many, winning the lottery is nothing but a daydream – but for one local couple, that dream has become a reality.
While some people have lucky numbers or special traditions, when it comes to the Brentwood Lottery, for Essex’s Mariette Campeau and her husband, Clifford, none of those apply. They are first-time buyers and supporters of the lottery, and came out the winners of this year’s grand prize home, which was built by Lakepoint Homes.
“We were actually watching the lottery drawing online and the last number came up. And, we looked at our number and they said our number,” Campeau recalled. “We still didn’t believe it at the time, because it’s not something that happens, within minutes they announced my name and called us, and we still didn’t believe it.”
Last Wednesday, the local couple verified the ticket, and were tasked with a decision of taking the dream home, located at 146 Summer Street in Belle River – valued at over $750,000 – or taking the $600,000 cash. For the couple, the decision was not a difficult one.
“We thought for a minute, but at the end of the day, we decided to take the cash,” Campeau said. “The money, it’ll help with our retirement, do some updates to our existing home, and we’ll be able to give some to our family and charities as well. The home was beautiful, but we just thought it was not for us.”
The Brentwood Lottery offered tickets sold from October 1 to December 31. The grand prize drawing was on January 15. Prizes for the Brentwood Lottery ranged from cash to vehicles, and the grand prize of a brand-new home.
The Brentwood Lottery has been an annual fundraiser for 30-years, and serves to raise money for the Brentwood Recovery House. The proceeds of the lottery help fund programs the facility offers, along with upkeep and other costs. Since opening over 55-years ago, the Brentwood Recovery House has assisted over 20,000 people who have struggled with addiction.
According to Brentwood Executive Director, Elizabeth Dulmage, 2021 marked the most successful year to date for the annual lottery, with over 50,000 tickets sold.
Dulmage credited the generosity from community members, who have helped to make this year’s edition of the event so successful, noting without the support it would not have been possible. She is looking ahead and is very excited for the planning process for the 2022 edition.
Looking ahead to the next edition of the ‘Dream Home Lottery,’ Campeau notes they will support it once again.
“With this lottery, they have helped so many people and there are so many great prizes from cars and cash to the dream home,” Campeau said. “Win or lose, at the end of the day, we will continue to support Brentwood and the great work they do. We will buy for years to come and are very grateful to them.”