J.C.’s big win came on the heels of Teacher Appreciation Week in May
Olympia, Wash. (May 31, 2024) – Every year during the first week of May, educators across the country are celebrated for the pivotal work they do in shaping the lives of students. This year, one Edmonds preschool teacher had an extra special Teacher Appreciation Week, as she received the gift of a lifetime from Washington’s Lottery: a $200,000 Scratch prize.
J.C., a lifelong Edmonds resident, visited her local Safeway on May 11 to grab a coffee with her mom before they headed out to run errands together. While there, she stopped at the Lottery Vending Machine where the new Cash Stacks Scratch game caught her eye. Using the $10 she had won from a previous Scratch game, she purchased a ticket and slipped it into her pocket before carrying on with her day.
Later that night, while unwinding in front of the TV, J.C. remembered she had not yet scratched her ticket. When she saw one of her numbers matched the winning number on the ticket for the $200,000 prize, she was in disbelief. J.C. used the Washington’s Lottery app to double check, but since she was still in shock, she showed her mom, who confirmed her ticket won the game’s top prize. They both were speechless.
With her winnings, J.C. plans to buy herself a new car and take a trip to Ireland, a destination she has long dreamed of exploring.
Who Benefits
Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated more than $5.3 billion to support several important state programs, including providing much-needed funds for the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account (WOPA). In FY23, WOPA received $199.9 million from the Lottery. Of this, $139.1 million helped fund the Washington College Grant, a financial aid program that supported more than 29,000 college students and apprentices across the state last year. Another $2.5 million helped fund the College Bound program to help eligible students attain a college or training degree or credential.
Washington’s Lottery Beneficiary Fact
Washington’s Lottery is proud to be a financial supporter of the Washington Student Achievement Council, which administers state financial aid programs. WSAC leads a variety of initiatives to increase educational opportunities for students, families, and educators across the state, with a particular focus on increasing equity by reaching communities of color and students from low-income families. The $141.6 million investment made in FY23 by the Lottery helps fund the Washington College Grant and College Bound programs, in order to improve access to postsecondary attainment for students across Washington.
About Washington’s Lottery: The state’s Lottery offers consumers several types of games, including Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Pick 3, Cash POP, Daily Keno and Scratch. For more information, visit www.walottery.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @walottery.
Keep it fun. Know your limit. Washington’s Lottery is an advocate for responsible gaming and collaborates with the Evergreen Council for Problem Gambling to provide resources for those in need. More information is available at www.walottery.com/Responsibility.
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Press Contacts
Dan Miller (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: dan.miller@curatorpr.com
Xiamara Garza (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: xiamara.garza@curatorpr.com