If asked what your favorite month of the year is, August probably isn't it. And, who would

Tom Butler, AAF, George Jarrell, Jimmie Jarrell and Herman Meinders ,AAF, chairman emeritus of Teleflora, at the check presentation.

disagree? It's hot, it's sticky and sales are slow.

But, August for Jimmie Jarrell of Flowers by Georgia in Picayune, Miss., has a special significance. For the past 20 years, Jarrell has received a $50,000 check each August as part of her million-dollar winnings from the American Floral Services (AFS) Million-Dollar Sweepstakes. (AFS was acquired by Teleflora in 2000.) However this year was bittersweet for Jarrell -- on Aug. 3, she received her final check.

"Winning the million dollars gave me a chance to provide for my family in ways I wouldn't have been able to; I was able to make improvements in my home and flower shop when necessary and help my children when they needed it," said Jarrell in a press release, who also used some of her earnings to support her local community.

In 1987, AFS' convention in Las Vegas brought an end to AFS's three-year Million-Dollar Sweepstakes promotion. During this promotion, florists received numbered "puzzle pieces" for AFS orders sent. Prior to the convention, AFS released a newsletter that announced the winning puzzle pieces determining the 50 finalists -- and on Aug. 4, 1987, Jarrell's name was drawn randomly as the winner.

Teleflora is "proud to be a part of this celebration," Tom Butler, AAF, the company's chairman said in a press release.

--Vanessa Machir
vmachir@safnow.org

Previous Article    Next Article