Sedro-Woolley resident Merlin Underwood is packing his bags for a much-anticipated vacation after winning $75,000 from a Scratch ticket he purchased on his way home from work on December 30, 2016. Underwood was still in the QFC (27008 92nd Ave NW, Stanwood, WA 98292) parking lot when he scratched his ticket and found out it was a winner.

“I started screaming like a little girl when I saw how much I won,” said Underwood. “It’s funny because I probably wouldn’t have chosen this particular game, but I just picked the first one that caught my eye and turns out, it was a good choice!”

Underwood and his wife are in the midst of planning a trip to Alaska with their prize money. “I’ve never been to Alaska,” said the winner. “My wife and her family are from there, so I’m excited to see where she grew up.”

Underwood also plans to pay off some bills and then invest the remainder of his winnings.

Proceeds from Washington’s Lottery benefit the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account, providing grants to college students statewide. To learn more about Washington’s Lottery, its beneficiaries and to review all up-to-date winning numbers, please visit www.walottery.com.

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WASHINGTON’S LOTTERY: Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated more than $3 billion to support important state programs including the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account. Money in the Pathways Account goes toward helping students achieve their higher education dreams and supports early childhood education learning programs. The state’s Lottery offers consumers several types of games: Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Daily Game, Daily Keno and Scratch. For more information, visit www.walottery.com or join our online community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walottery and follow us on Twitter @walottery.

Press Contact
Erin Brown (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
Office: 206.971.0707
E-mail: erin.brown@curatorpr.com