Honorata Jamrozik, a 48-year-old foster care mother, won a life-changing tax-free prize of £1 million (approximately $1.3 million) in the UK Omaze Monthly Millionaire Draw. Her first act after learning of her windfall was one of selfless generosity: she gave her neighbors of 14 years £5,000 to spend on their first family vacation abroad.
The woman from Dartford, Kent, who has lived in the United Kingdom for 25 years after emigrating from Poland, learned of her fortune after returning from her father's funeral in Poland. Her father had passed away just two weeks before her win, and Jamrozik believes his spirit played a role in her good fortune.
"He'll always be the angel sitting on my shoulder, and I know it was him who sent this gift to me," Jamrozik told Good News Network.
For Jamrozik, the million-dollar prize represents more than personal financial security. It offers her the opportunity to return to the work she loves most: fostering children in need.
"It's a life-changing prize for us, but also for our friends and family," she told Good News Network. "Now we can help make life easier for our loved ones—and that is the best feeling in the world."
Jamrozik had spent seven years providing foster care before having to give it up to care for her elderly parents in Poland, which required extensive travel between the two countries. The financial burden and time commitment made it impossible to continue her fostering work, a sacrifice that weighed heavily on her.
"I just wanted to change the lives of kids who haven't had an easy start in life," she told Good News Network. "I'm blessed that I was able to help children of all ages find a better future. I absolutely love fostering—and this win means I can carry on doing what I love. Winning just makes everything so much easier."
The decision to immediately share her wealth with her neighbors reflects Jamrozik's values and the close relationship she has built with them over the years.
"Good neighbors are one of life's true blessings," she told Good News Network. "They have been wonderful since the day we moved in, and they feel like family to us. Being able to give them money for a holiday so they can make some magical memories together makes me so happy."
Jamrozik's husband of almost 20 years had no idea she had been entering the monthly drawings through her £15 monthly subscription (approximately $20). He had always been skeptical about their chances of winning anything.
"I'll never forget that moment for as long as I live," Jamrozik recalled, speaking to Good News Network. "My husband always joked I had more chance of being struck by lightning than winning a million pounds. I guess I better be extra careful next time there's a storm outside."
Beyond helping their neighbors, the couple plans to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in October with a once-in-a-lifetime family trip. Jamrozik's mother will join them on the vacation.
"We can afford to do something really special for our 20th anniversary now—go on a big family holiday somewhere lovely, I've already started planning," she told Good News Network. "We will take my mother as she deserves a break more than anyone, I'm so happy we can enjoy this win together. Helping the people we love is what this win is all about for us."
The Omaze Monthly Millionaire Draw guarantees one UK winner £1 million tax-free each month. Since launching in 2020, Omaze has raised more than £140 million to support UK charity partners through its prize drawings, combining life-changing wins for individuals with meaningful contributions to charitable causes across the United Kingdom.
Jamrozik's story stands as a testament to the power of generosity and the importance of community bonds. In a moment when many might focus solely on personal gain, she chose to share her good fortune with those who have enriched her life, demonstrating that true wealth lies not just in what one possesses, but in what one gives away.
