South African is July Winner of Millionaire Draw
SINGAPORE, 8 September 2010 – The second monthly winner of the 'Be a Changi Millionaire' Draw hails from South Africa. Mr Jacobus de Vries, 51, the winner for July, now stands a one-in-six chance of winning S$1 million cash after purchasing a PlayStation Portable (PSP) game console and a VCD player at Singapore Changi Airport.
The South African businessman took part in Changi Airport Group's 'Be a Changi Millionaire' Draw when he visited Singapore with his family for a holiday in July. The father of five resides with his family in a picturesque town surrounded by lakes and a beach in the Garden Route region of Western Cape, South Africa.
As the monthly winner, Mr de Vries wins S$5,000 in cash plus return airfare to Singapore with a three day/two night stay in a luxurious hotel1. The 'Be a Changi Millionaire' Draw, which kicked off on 1 June 2010, is possibly the largest cash prize ever to be given away in a retail draw in Singapore or by an airport anywhere in the world. The Millionaire will be selected from among six monthly winners. In addition, there are 188 other cash prizes totalling more than S$200,000.
"I first thought it was not for real," said Mr de Vries. "I feel so fortunate just to win an air ticket and S$5,000. How lucky I am if I really do win S$1 million! I am very excited and anxious," he added.
If he does win the Grand Prize of S$1 million, Mr de Vries intends to donate a portion of his winnings to a local charity. "First, I will give 5% to a charity of my choice in Singapore. Then, I will use a small amount for travelling and the rest, I will invest for my retirement," said Mr de Vries, when asked what he would do with the money if he becomes the Changi Millionaire.
In July this year, Mr de Vries brought his wife and three of his teenage children on an exciting two-week holiday to Asia. After a ten-day trip to Phuket, the de Vries family went on to spend three fun-filled days in Singapore visiting attractions like Sentosa, Universal Studios, the Singapore Flyer, and of course, lots of shopping.
Before taking their Singapore Airlines flight back to Johannesburg on 7 July 2010, the de Vries family made it a point to arrive at Changi Airport five hours early just to shop and relax. Indeed, Mr de Vries and his family had a very fruitful shopping spree with many great buys, among which were a PSP game console and VCD player bought from the Cameras, Electronics and Computers store at Terminal 2. Worth about S$430, this transaction turned out to be the winning lucky draw entry that bagged the de Vries the amazing chance to win a million dollars.
In January next year, Mr de Vries will return to Singapore to participate in the 'Be a Changi Millionaire' Grand Draw alongside five other monthly finalists, whose names will be drawn upon the close of every month from July to November 2010.
"It is my wife's biggest dream to go back to Singapore... Her 45th birthday falls in the month of January 2011 and she can't dream of a better birthday present. We said this is our lucky charm for the Draw! The Draw will be the main topic in our family for the next few months. My wife said this is the return for my goodwill towards people around me," said Mr de Vries.
Thirty-one daily winners
In addition to the monthly winner, 31 daily winners (one each day) have also been drawn from the qualifying entries submitted during the month of July. Each wins a cash prize of S$1,000. The daily winners comprise nationals of many countries including ten from Indonesia, seven from Singapore and five from Australia. Other winners come from Britain, China, France, India, Malaysia, Philippines and the United States.
Winning entries ranged from a purchase of just S$80 from Aldo at Terminal 2 to a more-than-S$10,000 purchase at Gassan Watches at Terminal 1.
