The New York Lottery's Jina Myers presented $3,000,000 in Lottery prize checks to four lucky winners today at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Fishkill. The winners each won their jackpot prizes on New York Lottery scratch-off tickets.
Thomas Wynn of Nyack was out running some errands for his wife and decided to use the change from his purchase to buy a $2 'Win $1,000 a Week for Life' scratch-off ticket. The infrequent Lottery player is guaranteed to receive a minimum payment of $1,000,000.
"I only buy tickets four or five times a year," explained Wynn. "I buy the win for life tickets because I like the annuity factor."
Wynn purchased his winning ticket at the Stop & Shop on Route 59 in Nyack on October 11. He claimed his prize on October 17 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Fishkill. Wynn is guaranteed to receive a minimum of $1,000,000 over the next 20 years. He will receive a minimum of 19 annual payments of $52,000 (net $34,414) each and a 20th payment of $12,000 (net $7,942) to realize his $1,000,000 minimum prize. After that, Wynn will continue to receive an annual net check totaling $34,414 for life.
Wynn said he plans to use a portion of his winnings to buy some land and build a new house.
The New York Lottery contributed $23,189,142.84 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Rockland County during fiscal year 2011-2012.
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Dawn Jackson and Edward Williams both of Mount Vernon have been friends for years. About a year ago, they started playing scratch-off tickets together on the weekends, agreeing to split any money they won. On October 26, Williams scratched off a jackpot winning Prism Payout scratch-off ticket earning the duo a $1,000,000 payday.
"When Edward showed me the ticket all I could say was 'Oh my God,'" explained Jackson. "It was the first time I think I ever saw him speechless!"
The winning ticket was purchased at Arnold's Stationery on Fifth Avenue in Pelham. The top prize on the Prism Payout scratch-off game is paid as $50,000 a year for 20 years. Jackson and Williams will each receive an annual check totaling $16,545 after required withholdings.
Jackson plans to spend her half of the prize on some home repairs. Williams plans to buy his newborn great niece bigger toys than he normally would with his portion of the winnings.
The New York Lottery contributed $63,526,317.29 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Westchester County during fiscal year 2011-2012.
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John Carter of Plattsburgh, Clinton County, spends a lot of time in and around Orange County. On November 2, he stopped at the Montgomery Valero on Route 17K in Rock Tavern and picked up a $1,000,000 Cashword scratch-off ticket. He scratched it in his car and saw something on the ticket he had never seen before. Carter brought the ticket back into the store and scanned what turned out to be a $1,000,000 winner.
"I scanned the ticket a few times myself, and then handed it to the store clerks to double check for me," explained Carter. "They started jumping for joy, but I remained calm as I normally do."
Carter claimed his prize on November 2 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Fishkill. The top prize on the $1,000,000 Cashword scratch-off game is paid as a single, lump sum payment. Carter will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings.
Carter said he plans to use his winnings to buy a few presents and maybe a newer car.
The New York Lottery contributed $17,245,554.38 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Clinton County during fiscal year 2011-2012.
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About the New York Lottery
The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing nearly $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2011-2012 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery's contribution represents nearly 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.
New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district's size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.
