Member Stories

First-Year UFCW Member Wins $500 in Union Plus American Dream Sweepstakes

Union Plus Sweepstakes Team

April 29, 2017

Sergio Hurtado joined the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) in the past year, working as a zoning inspector in Rockville, MD. A typical day on the job for him involves investigating land-use complaints and ensuring building activities comply with zoning for their areas. Recently, Hurtado learned that he was randomly selected as a $500 winner in the Union Plus 30th Anniversary American Dream Sweepstakes.

The Union Plus member benefits program is celebrating three decades of serving union members with an American dream-themed sweepstakes sponsored by the Union Plus Credit Card Program.* Each week, 12 winners were randomly drawn to receive a $500 Mastercard® gift card prize. And, one winner, Frank Valone, an AFSCME retiree, was drawn to win the $30,000 grand prize.

Hurtado said he learned about the sweepstakes by reading one of the Union Plus e-newsletters. When he was informed he had won, it was difficult for him to believe.

When asked about the American dream theme of the sweepstakes, he described what it means to him.

“The American dream is about working in an area, which is fulfilling to you. It’s about having more time for family and being able to provide for them comfortably. That’s pretty much what it is, for me anyways,” he explained. “It applies to union members’ work as well. There are always times when employees might be treated unfairly and it’s important to have the representation and support, which unions provide.”

Now that Hurtado is $500 richer, he said he is starting to think of a few ways to spend the winnings. “I probably won’t buy anything too big. I’ll probably just pay some bills and buy some presents for my family members,” he said.

To read the stories of the Union Plus American Dream Sweepstakes winners, visit unionplus.org/winners.