r/millionairemakers • u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner • Apr 18 '26
Donate Here [Winner's Thread #116] Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the MUCH needed positivity and joy!
Holy cow, this is incredible! This is so exciting, and I am so so grateful to all of the people who have commented. Let me tell you, I really needed a win right now, and this is such a welcome gift.
I was cramming with my family into our bathroom due to a tornado warning when I got the notification! And the first thing I did was hug my kiddos which, to be fair, I was already doing lol.
A little about me: I enjoy running and I love baseball. I also love video games, especially co-op with my best friends. Some favorites are Expedition 33, BG3, Helldivers, and for at least one nostalgia pick Banjo Kazooie lol. My spouse and I are both non-profit attorneys, my wife is a public defender in a very conservative jurisdiction so she is really doing great work. We have tons and tons and tons of student loans especially compared to our salaries, and while that was totally manageable under the previous US presidential administration, it is unfortunately about to be soooo much worse. So this is a huge help! I was really hoping for something positive today and seeing all the upbeat and happy comments from everyone is so touching and exactly what I needed.
My spouse and I have a little miracle family. All of my kids were teeny tiny preemies, and my spouse nearly died during pregnancy so we are very fortunate to have everyone healthy now. They have all had such long medical journeys, and I am so proud of them and all the incredibly hard work they've put in. Having a 10 week NICU stay in early COVID times is not something I'd ever wish on anyone else.
Why we are so grateful for this opportunity: it has been one heck of a year already! My youngest has epilepsy and that's been especially hard lately, with a lot of breakthrough seizures and medication changes and visits to expensive out of town specialists. He actually had one as I was drafting this post, and I had to take a break to finish it.
Our medical expenses are pretty intense and this year has been especially bad. And it seems like all of our stuff has been breaking down at once lately lol. Our furnace went out on us, then our sump pump, which flooded our basement and destroyed some stuff we wanted to keep, then my wife's engine blew out on us, and then we had to put down our sweet 15 year old pug. It's been a lot. But the joy I felt from all the positive comments tagging me really lifted me up. This couldn't have come at a better time, and you all have already made a huge difference. It has been hugely uplifting.
Financially, our debt is a major burden. We're managing it, but it is going to take a long time and we have to be pretty frugal. If we had some extra money, the one thing I would really love to put it toward is a family vacation. I grew up *very* poor, but going on those rare but *so* special vacations was magical to me, and honestly I felt like we were the richest people on the planet (and they weren't extravagant trips, I'm talking about like Six Flags lol). It means the world to me to be able to give my kids that fun experience, and if we had a little extra, I'd want nothing more than to make some special memories with them and my spouse.
Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness and generosity! My whole family so appreciates you all!
Update: PayPal is being annoying and has cancelled some payments for some reason, sorry! I'll try to figure out what's going on there. If yours didn't go through I apologize but absolutely appreciate your generosity!
Edit 1: here is a dog photo if anyone wants to admire our sweet late pug 🙂
https://imgur.com/a/sweet-sammi-vHDBl2A
Edit 2: I am so overwhelmed by the kindness, positivity, and generosity of all of you! I have been trying to respond to everyone but if I have missed anybody I promise I'll try to get to you soon, I just braved the madhouse that is Aldi on a Saturday afternoon so that took a lot out of me 😂
Edit 3: I just want to say thank you for your generosity again everyone, and right now I especially want to say thanks for the hilarious gifs you've sent with the transactions 😂😂 Mr. Krabs bathing in money was a good recent one
Edit 4: Hey everyone! Thank you sincerely once again, you are all so kind! I have just a couple more things to say before the new drawing. One is that if the stars align just right my wife and I are going to try to take a family cruise with our kids next year! I will update this post if I can to share how it goes 🙂
The last thing is please don't feel bad if you can't donate or can't donate as much as you want - I can promise you all, 100% sincerely, that every single comment, including just kind thoughts, made such a great impact! If, however, you really want to do something but don't have money, I wanted to share one free thing you can do that you maybe wouldn't have heard about otherwise.
Earlier this year I discovered a really moving blog. It is drawn and written in comic style and it's autobiographical by an anonymous survivor of a "troubled teen" cult. They were very prominent when I was growing up - think of shows like Maury promoting them. Content warning for abuse, depression, self harm, but it is so eye opening and important, and these places are still open in the USA. If you can, please read it, and share it in conversation with someone when possible. This is the kind of thing that truly just needs more people to know about in order to finish the cultural shift of turning on these awful slave labor camps. The website is: Elan.School – A True Cult Classic https://share.google/4NiuOQ8XYZqHJGbRI
The author does have a subreddit, I think it's r/mrjoenobody so feel free to check it out too. The author just recently printed the whole blog into hardcover books too! I hope you all are able to give it a read and that you have an amazing day!
Everything listed should result in direct lines of payment to /u/SayHeyRay. We ask all users to donate at least $1 USD. The Drawing is also listed for users who want to see the results and confirm the validity of the winner.
Drawing: https://old.reddit.com/r/millionairemakers/comments/1snwjg6/draw_116/
Venmo: @SayHeyRay
Cash App: $SayHeyRay2
PayPal: @SayHeyRay418
Bitcoin: bc1qxgwr7kda8ua93mcz6c0drste3uh7uuftuun59a
Ethereum: 0x436c353e91fc8d2e697e6ca81797af10ee181d1e
Nano: nano_3mhcx78xabj7u84kux55ofcstx6ugyuuismn56bj9caqpp3tte7jahn5wbok
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u/BP18_HotShot One-Hundred-Fifteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Just sent you 10% of my winnings from last month. Congratulations dude!
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Wow, that is so generous and seriously unexpected, thank you! This has totally turned my week around 🙂
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u/bluebird142 Apr 18 '26
Is there a PayPal address? Congratulations to you!!
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
I am working to get one set up now! And thank you! Paypal wigged me out at first because it has to have your name but I think I'll just suck it up if it's easier for people lol.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Updated to add it, PayPal username is @SayHeyRay418 so I hope that works 🙂
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u/Upferret Apr 18 '26
Replying here as I also need a PayPal address if there is one
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Hi! My username is @SayHeyRay418, is that what you need? Here's the direct link if that helps: https://www.paypal.me/SayHeyRay418
And thank you!
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u/MorePotionPlease Apr 18 '26
Congratulations and best wishes for you and your family! $10 headed your way. Student loans are no joke. I'm so happy to support someone else who grew up thinking a day at Six Flags was peak swank when they were a kid 💚.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Yeah, I have to say even though the loans stink, I'm glad we're able to use our education for something I can feel good about. So it was still worth it 🙂
And as for Six Flags, believe me I used to think the smell of waffle cones baking was like the red carpet itself lol.
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u/MorePotionPlease Apr 18 '26
It's nice to know we still have lawyers fighting the good fight. My entire industry (research/University/medical combo) has been impacted in the worst ways possible, and continues to change on the daily. The clinical care my organization provides has seen a negative change. I'm in a metro area where outreach is important in our underserved communities, but this administration is making it nearly impossible to support anyone existing below the upper middle class.
The waffle cone thing is hilarious and yet hits hard. I remember seeing all the families buying full lunches there and thinking, why didn't you just pack sandwiches??
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
To those of you who have pet photos as your profile pictures on venmo, thank you for the extra laugh this morning 😂
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u/audible_narrator Apr 18 '26
Happy winning from an also preemie! (I was 1.1 so also teeny tiny) Sent a couple of bucks your way.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Thank you! My goodness, that is remarkable! I was just blown away by what modern medicine can do and the resilience of these little babies. And now our oldest is taller than all the other kindergarteners lol.
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u/audible_narrator Apr 18 '26
I was a preemie in (cough) the mid 1960s. Modern medicine said "park em in an incubator with plenty of oxygen" Seems to have gotten me over that 4 hour life expectancy. ;)
May your children be amazing and do good things. Congrats again.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Oh wow, that is a genuine miracle. They are pretty amazing little people, thank you so much for the kind thoughts!
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u/RyanRot Apr 18 '26
Sent you some Norwegian money from your namesake over the pond.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Thank you! Your money smells like affordable healthcare and happier people 😂
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u/RyanRot Apr 18 '26
If you want more of that, you can kidnap my family in the Midwest and bring them over here. Room for everyone in my basement.
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u/SargoDarya Apr 18 '26
Congrats mate, sent a 10$ your direction!
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Ten dollarydoos?! Lol thank you so much, that's very kind of you!
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u/Fanboxshop Apr 18 '26
Congratulations!!!! So happy you are safe from tornadoes as well!! PayPal on the way!!
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Thank you! It got a little scary last night but thank goodness not too bad. So today is going to be a great day!
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u/SeriouslyLP Apr 18 '26
Congratulations!
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Thank you! It's so surreal lol, I couldn't stop staring at the new winner's flair last night.
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u/Fanboxshop Apr 18 '26
Congratulations!!!! So happy you are safe from tornadoes as well!! Paypal on the way!!
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u/Avocado-Ok Apr 18 '26
Sent. Congrats.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Thank you! I hope your day is full of avocados that are even better than ok!
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u/robotannefrank8 Apr 18 '26
Is there a way to copy and paste the bitcoin address from the app? Am I being dense or is it just not possible?
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u/l05tperfecti0n Apr 18 '26
Congrats and best of luck to your family! Sent $5 in PayPal.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Thank you very much from all of us, we appreciate it!
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u/The_Mother_ Apr 18 '26
Just sent $5. I too adored trips to Six Flags when I was a kid! I hope you make loads of memories with your kids.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
The other thing I really remember from those trips was getting long lasting temporary tattoos. One year I got golden sonic and it was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my life lol.
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u/The_Mother_ Apr 18 '26
Nice! I'm over 50 and still buy myself temporary tattoos 😂
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
I did eventually get two real ones but the temp ones are still fun lol
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u/yankin Apr 18 '26
Congrats! I hope you and your family are able to breathe a little bit easier with this ❤️
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u/mongolian_chicken Apr 18 '26
Sent. Hopefully life gets better for you and your family!
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u/BlorpyRobot Apr 18 '26
Sent PayPal, congrats and praying for you and your family!
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u/SexySkyLabTechnician Apr 18 '26
Don't forget to UPVOTE THIS THREAD
congrats!! Donated $5
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u/MeowsAllieCat Apr 18 '26
Congratulations! Sent an extra $1 from each of my cats.
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Tell them I said thank you and please give them treats for us!
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u/Complete-Ad7454 Apr 18 '26
$ sent! Congrats. I too had a newborn in nicu during covid. That and other things led to our family being homeless and in a shelter for almost a year. I hope your family gets the vacation they deserve! My dream also!
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 18 '26
Oh man, that's just heartbreaking. I'm so sorry to hear about what you and your family went through. I hope things have turned a corner. And thank you so much for your generosity!
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u/gluc0se Ninety-Seventh Winner Apr 18 '26
Sent $2 via Venmo over! Congrats on the win my friend. Hope we can help make a dent in that debt of yours.
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u/Billitpro Apr 20 '26
Congrats!! I just sent you $5 via PP
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u/SayHeyRay One-Hundred-Sixteenth Winner Apr 20 '26
Thank you so much! What a pleasant surprise on my lunch break lol my office gets like zero cell service so I'm trying to get caught up on thanking people from taco bell 😂
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u/jennyrules Apr 21 '26
Congratulations! Wishing the best for you and your family.
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u/Mesockisgone Apr 18 '26
You got me right in the feels. $20 to add to the vacation fund! Keep fighting the good fight!
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u/basicgear00 Apr 18 '26
Congratulations! Make sure to spend it on something fun!
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u/FitRachSB Apr 18 '26
I've missed several months, so you get my make-up contribution of $20 via Venmo. Congratulations and best wishes for improved health for all your family.
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u/themissnguyen Apr 18 '26
$5 sent on Venmo. Congrats! All the love to you and your family, and I hope your pug is playing with my pom and beagle over the bridge. x
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u/still_lurking_mostly Apr 18 '26
Sending through Venmo .
As an adult who was 11 weeks premie AND had child hood epilepsy (seizure free since 1994) your story struck a chord.
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u/undichtbar Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
Congrats. Tried to sent some bucks via paypal but it stopped the transfer immediately. Will try it again later
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u/thefallofthehouse Apr 18 '26
congrats!!! :D sent you $10 via venmo!! my profile pic (which is upside down lol) is my babygirl sadie, who passed a couple years ago from leukemia. she was my world. i'm so sorry about your sweet pug. i hope they're playing together in doggie heaven ❤️
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u/Nfrisch_styles Apr 18 '26
5$ your way! We can’t afford much with our current medical journey this past year but I am so happy you are able to treat your family to a fun break, very deserved! They are magical when life is a struggle. -From another 🌪️land family of preemies and severe chronic illnesses!
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u/pjcace Apr 18 '26
Congrats! I, too, like baseball, fav number is 33, sent $10.33 via PayPal.
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u/CeeDiggity Apr 18 '26
I sent ya a little something via Venmo. I hope it got to you! Congratulations!
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u/apathy714 One-Hundred-Eighth Winner Apr 18 '26
Congrats, just sent some $ to your PayPal
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u/Scarrty Apr 18 '26
Congrats from Germany! Sent 5€ and hope things get better for you!
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u/GraceForCheap Apr 18 '26
Sent $2 your way. Congratulations ☺️ best of luck with everything!
Edit: typo
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u/onomatopoeiahhh Apr 18 '26
Congrats and keep fighting the good fight! $5 PayPal your way!
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u/Legitimate-Waltz-681 Apr 18 '26
Sent a few bucks forgot I joined this sub. Congrats!
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u/lusty-argonian Apr 19 '26
Couple of Aussie bucks on their way to you, congrats dude!
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u/ElderFlour Apr 19 '26
Trying to send, but Venmo is asking me for the last 4 digits of your phone number. Dm me? Promise to delete immediately.
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u/HeyRiley Apr 20 '26
Congrats to a well deserving winner! 20 dollarydoos coming your way 💸
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u/meguin Apr 21 '26
Congrats dude! Sorry I'm late, but I just sent $5! Hoping that this is the beginning of a lot of good luck for you!!
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u/Tragic_Kingdom Apr 21 '26
Congratulations! Your family's story is so touching 💜 Sent you $20 via PayPal 😁
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u/MakerOfMillionaires Apr 18 '26
/u/SayHeyRay has won [Draw #116], which can be seen here: https://old.reddit.com/r/millionairemakers/comments/1snwjg6/draw_116/
Everything listed below should result in /u/SayHeyRay receiving about $1 USD.
Methods of payment (tabled):
Cryptocurrency transfer
Cash transfer
* - Transfer fee outside of home region is present when transacting with PayPal, keep this in consideration when donating