2nd Winner Of Colorado's $1 Million Comeback Cash Announced

DENVER, CO — Gov. Jared Polis announced Friday the second $1 million winner of Colorado's Comeback Cash vaccine drawing.

And the winner is ... Stephanie Ward, of Littleton.

“It is my honor to be Colorado’s second comeback cash winner," Ward said. "Initially, my family wasn’t in agreement with getting the COVID vaccine. But we weighed the risks and benefits and ultimately, we decided the benefits outweighed any fears that we had.

“COVID is a very real thing and for myself and a lot of people, we’ve all had losses over this past year and time lost that we can’t take back with our loved ones. Our hope in getting the COVID-19 vaccine is to get back to normalcy and protect our loved ones.”

Ward attended a news conference with her family to accept the oversize $1 million check. Ward and her husband have several jobs, and she said the money will allow them to cut back on work.

"This money is going to take a big burden off," she said.

Ward was at work when she got the call letting her know she won.

"I didn't believe it was real ... we get a lot of solicitation calls," she laughed.

Three more Coloradans are set to become $1 million richer — a winner is set to be announced each week through July 7. The next drawings will be held June 18, June 25 and July 7.

“Each person has their own reason for getting vaccinated and everyone who gets protected is a winner," Polis said. "Whether it’s to protect your own health, travel again, see family, or maybe it’s to win a million dollars, there are so many reasons to get the lifesaving COVID vaccine. Congratulations to Stephanie and her family on winning $1 million just for quickly and easily getting vaccinated.

“From any free drive-thru options at one of Colorado’s six community vaccination sites, to your family doctor, or even the local CVS or Walgreens down the road, there are a variety of ways to get a shot today. Don’t wait, get the highly effective, free COVID vaccine as soon as you can.”

Sally Sliger, of the town of Mead in Weld County, was the winner of the first draw.

The winners of Colorado's Comeback Cash scholarship program were announced Thursday. Twenty more residents between ages 12 and 17 — who have at least one dose of their vaccine — will be eligible to each win a $50,000 scholarship.

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Successful incentivization programs were launched in other states, such as Ohio's Vax-a-Million $1 million lottery, which caused vaccinations to spike more than 25 percent; however, Colorado hasn't seen a large spike in vaccination rates as a result of its sweepstakes.