Dream Home win came just in time for growing family ...

By Staci Dennis
The Virginian-Pilot
? April 27, 2013

VIRGINIA BEACH

Julio and Justine Gavino found their happily ever after thanks to some spur-of-the-moment spending.

The couple had already discussed and bought three tickets for a chance to win the St. Jude Dream Home in Virginia Beach's Ashville Park. However, after an impromptu visit to the house, Justine bought two more $100 tickets.

"I didn't know she was going to buy more tickets," Julio said. "I am glad she did."

The couple, who have 9-month-old twins, learned Sunday that one of the tickets Justine bought at the last minute was the winner. They're now the new owners of a 3,100-square-foot, four-bedroom, 2-1/2-bath home constructed by Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods and valued at $525,000.

"We were getting ready to go to a birthday party, and I was watching the (WTKR NewsChannel 3 St. Jude) telethon," Julio said. "They pulled out the winning ticket, and Barbara Ciara said the winner lived in Suffolk. I started screaming for my wife to come to watch the TV."

Julio couldn't believe it when his wife's name was called out. He had to rewind the broadcast and watch it again. A few minutes later, they got the call informing them.

"We were both screaming, and we scared the babies, and then they started crying," Julio said. "It was a crazy moment."

The 13th annual St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway set a new record with 12,000 tickets sold and raised $1,229,355, the greatest amount of monies raised in the local campaign's history.

In addition, 23 other prizes, each valued at $1,000 or more, were awarded to people who purchased tickets.

All proceeds, after costs, benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Since the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway program launched in 1991, St. Jude has given away more than 300 houses and raised more than $240 million in ticket sales, making it the largest single-event fundraiser for the hospital. It's because of programs like this that no family ever pays St. Jude for anything.

St. Jude covers the cost of treatment, travel, lodging and food for patients and a family member.

"I never thought we would really win, but that was OK since the money was going to St. Jude," Julio said. "We are committed to St. Jude mission and really believe in the work that the hospital does."

Julio, an IT network analyst, and Justine, a commercial property consultant, live in Suffolk. They'd already been looking to sell their 1,800-square-foot home and find something bigger in Virginia Beach, where the grew up.

"We wanted to get back into the Ocean Lakes area and be near our family," Julio said. "When I looked up the St. Jude house and saw it was in that area, I told my wife it might be a sign."

Even after buying the tickets for a chance to win the house, the Gavinos still kept looking and planning their return to the Beach. Now, instead of house hunting, they're planning a move.

"The day we won the house was the first day I saw it," Julio said. "We made the decision right then and there that we wanted to move in it. We think God gave us the house, and there's no way we are going to get rid of it. It's the perfect ending to what we have been working for our whole lives."

Staci Dennis, sdennis@cox.net

Source: http://hamptonroads.com/2013/04/dream-home-win-came-just-time-growing-family

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