Prospect Hts. woman wins $20,000 shopping spree

When Roseann Kiddell learned she won a $20,000 shopping spree, her first thought was, "What will I buy," and the second was "how much will I owe?"

Kiddell, who works for the IRS, was awarded a $20,000 gift card today at Westfield Hawthorn.

The Prospect Heights woman was the grand prize winner of about 300,000 people who entered the "Get Connected" six-month contest.

She learned she won at the end of January, just a few days after her 30th birthday. Kiddell received a FedEx letter telling her it was her lucky day.

While she was a little skeptical at first, Kiddell said she doesn't enter many contests and she recalled entering this one in December.

Kiddell, who works in Vernon Hills, said she usually shops at Westfield Hawthorn and is looking forward to starting her shopping Saturday.

"I have to go back to work now," she said late Friday morning after a ceremony at the mall where she was given her gift card in a little black box.

First on her list is a new set of luggage from Kahler Travel Works. "I travel a lot," she said.

She is also considering buying a trip to Hawaii or somewhere else warm for herself and boyfriend, Brian.

"Then of course, I'll buy some clothes," said the avid shopper. Macy's and Cache are her stores of choice.

Following the thoughts of how to fill her shopping bags, she naturally wondered about how she'd be taxed on her prize.

"I thought of the tax consequences right away," she admitted.

Because she's being issued a gift card that has to be used over the next year, Kiddell figured she has to come up with about $5,600 to pay next year's tax bill.

"So, there's a little cost to the prize," she said.

Having been trained in Internal Revenue laws and codes, she has already adjusted her withholdings.

But for today, as she was handed the $20,000 black and red gift card and a bouquet of roses, taxes were not her primary concern.