By By Adam Prestridge
For some winning has come easy.
For Atmore's Carissa Weaver, winning is something she's not accustomed to, until last Saturday.
Weaver, 23, was the winner of a 2001 Chevrolet Lumina from Chuck Stevens Chevrolet in Atmore after her name was drawn from more than 800 registrants.
"It's pretty incredible, but pretty overwhelming at the same time because I've never won anything," Weaver said. "I didn't think I was going to win. I actually asked my mom why we were up there because I didn't think I was going to win. You never think you are going to win until you do."
According to Chad Bartz, general manager/owner of Chuck Stevens, the dealership sent a direct mail out to 15,000 people in Escambia County including Atmore, Brewton, Flomaton and the surrounding area including Escambia County, Fla.
"We at Chuck Stevens appreciate the support of the community," Bartz said. "We enjoy making a difference and think this was something fun and exciting for the community."
Exciting it was. Bartz said more than 300 people showed up at the dealership Saturday afternoon anticipating the announcement of the winner.
"It was pretty fun, it was a good time," Bartz said. "I can't believe how many people showed up,"
The crowd was even a shock to the promoters of the giveaway.
"We thought we would have 150 people," Bartz said. "Atmore's a pretty active community, so if you do something, people are going to come out. The people that did the direct mail piece said that this was the largest turnout they have ever seen. They do mail outs in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee."
But everyone who received the mail out was a winner. Bartz said that everyone who received the flyer received a $1,000 goshoppingmall.com shopping spree. More than 700 people visited the dealership during the two extended weekend promotion, which was held Aug. 24, 25, 26 and 28 and Sept. 7, 8, 9 and 11.
"I think it created excitement in the community," Bartz said. "It's a chance for us to promo our dealership in the community."
As for Weaver, a 2001 graduate of Escambia County High School, she had nothing but good things to say about Chuck Stevens Automotive and its "friendly" staff.
"They have been great," she said. "They have been very eager to help."