You Never Know when "Hey Fill this Out" can Turn into $1,000 by Helena Mitchell & Erika Murillo - City News Group, Inc.

Community Calendar

FEBRUARY
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
View Events
Submit Events
directory

You Never Know when "Hey Fill this Out" can Turn into $1,000

By Helena Mitchell & Erika Murillo, Editor & Community Writer
February 5, 2014 at 11:17am. Views: 95

Jessica Gonzales, a life-long resident of Colton, was elated and surprised as Abe Sanchez, her boyfriend of 3 and a half years, told her she was the winner of the most recent Shop N’ Win monthly coupon book sweepstakes and would take home the $1,000 grand prize. Gonzales, who celebrated her 27th birthday on Friday, Jan. 30, had no idea her boyfriend knew the news beforehand. Sanchez was the first to know about his girlfriend being named the winner, after receiving a voicemail from Margie Miller of City News Group, but wanted the moment to be special and surprise her so he called her and told her he wanted to tell her something, but not over the phone, in person. “I have something to tell you, but I want to tell you in person,” is what Sanchez said according to Gonzales. “I didn’t know if it was good or bad,” recalls Gonzales, "It was good." As is one of 10 siblings in her family, and the aunt to 20 nieces and nephews, it's no surprise that the one of the first things that Gonzales did after finding out she had won the sweepstakes was contact her family. Her mother has survived two types of cancer, colon and ovarian; all within the past two years. Last year she was part of her family's Team Acosta at the Walk for Cancer event at Eisenhower High School for her cancer surviving mother and her grandmother, Mary Acosta who succumbed to cancer in 2000. When Gonzales is not with her family you can find her hiking Mt. Rubidoux or The Loop in Claremont. Gonzales who works as a professional eyebrow artist at Zia Threading in Colton said the money was truly a surprise and knows exactly what she is going to use her winnings on. Although she aspires to one day open her own salon in the Inland Empire, Gonzales is going to use her winnings towards something else that is close to her heart: her church. A life-long member of Redeemer’s House Praise Chapel, now located in Moreno Valley, formerly in Fontana, Gonzales looks forward to contributing to the church's current expansion efforts. “I was excited,” recalled Gonzales thinking of the moments after she found out she had won the sweepstakes, “I never win anything. My boyfriend is the one who gets the coupons and tells me to fill them out. He says 'you never know if we are going to win'”, and that they did. For your chance to win $1,000, be sure to snag a copy of the Shop N' Win coupon sweepstakes book, and use the coupons for your chance to win! To obtain a copy of the Shop N' Win, call (909) 825-1115.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: Dr Bernadine Irwin

By Dr Bernadine Irwin, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:49am. Views: 373

Meet the Pony creating joy and healing for all ages
Cheyenne an Australian Appaloosa Pony, Dr Bernadine Irwin, & Dr. Robert Soderblom

Photo Courtesy of: Truly Adams

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:49am. Views: 383

Riverside racing driver Truly Adams with Cars N' Coffee Riverside organizers Johnny Silva and Natalie Trujillo at the Dec. 20 fundraiser at Cable Airport. The event raised $5,000 to support Adams' Formula 4 racing career.

Photo Courtesy of: Van Howard

By Car lM. Dameron, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:49am. Views: 449

Cheryl and Hardy Brown are the Grand Marshals for the 47th Annual Black History Parade along Baseline from Mt. Vernon to California Street, ending at Arryo High School. They are a powerful duo in San Bernardino, using media, publishing, and politics to uplift their community and advocate for representation and equality.

Photo Courtesy of: The National Sports Association of Wellness and Mental Fitness (NSAWMF)

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:49am. Views: 419

Making mental fitness education proactive, practical, and accessible across the sports ecosystem.
A group of adults stand close together, smiling and clapping enthusiastically while looking toward an unseen event, suggesting a moment of celebration or support.

Photo Courtesy of:

By William Cortez, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:49am. Views: 404

Make sure you have the new schedule for 2026.
Two women greet each other at a train platform. One woman stands inside an open train doorway, smiling with her hands clasped, while the other stands on the platform facing her. The train is blue with red doors, and the station’s glass-and-steel roof is visible overhead.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:50am. Views: 253

GTHS Athlete of the Week: Gabriela Jacome Avendaño

Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By William Cortez, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:50am. Views: 235

Sister City Survey will help the community
A split image shows a hillside neighborhood landscape on the left and a historic cathedral with twin towers on the right. Centered text reads “City of Moreno Valley Sister City Program” with a colorful abstract logo representing people connected together.

Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:50am. Views: 241

Come check out Flight Deck Bike Park!
Flight Deck Bike Park is the largest Velosolutions pump track in Southern California.

Photo Courtesy of: City of Morneo Valley

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:49am. Views: 270

Who doesn't want a gentle dog with a lopsided grin and a gleam in her eye?
Shasta, a female, three-year-old, black and tan Boxer mix.

Photo Courtesy of: Dr Luis S Gonzalez

By Dr Luis S Gonzalez, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:50am. Views: 293

Check out the barber shop celebrating 12 successful years!
Aiden Valdez, David Negrete, Council Member DrG, Reuben Martinez, owner; Steven Rosas, Jason Blackcloud, and Isaac Toledo, not pictured Jose Nunez.

Photo Courtesy of:

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

January 29, 2026 at 09:50am. Views: 308

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer & Photographer

March 28, 2024 at 06:10am. Views: 800

GTHS Athlete of the Week Kenneth Jaquez on January 16, 2024 at the GTHS Varsity Boys soccer game against Rim of the World High School.

--> -->