All Five New York Lottery Turkey Raffle Millionaires

SCHENECTADY, NY (12/18/2008)(readMedia)-- Overlooking a panorama of the five boroughs of New York City at the Queens Museum of Art, the New York Lottery today introduced all five millionaire jackpot winners from its Thanksgiving eve Turkey Raffle.

The Lottery's Yolanda Vega presented oversized prize checks to the diverse group of winners with roots from all over the region including Long Island, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and New Jersey.

The $10 raffle tickets, which were sold between November 3^rd and November 26^th, each contained a unique randomly generated 9-digit number. A Thanksgiving eve random drawing from a computer system at the Lottery's headquarters in Schenectady selected a total of 5,050 cash prizes. The drawing offered five top prizes valued at $1,000,000.00 each. Other prizes included twenty-five prizes valued at $50,000; 150 prizes worth $5,000; 500 prizes worth $500 each and; 4,370 worth $50 each. Each non-winning raffle ticket was also a coupon worth $1.00 off any purchase of an instant game scratch-off ticket or numbers game from the New York Lottery.

All winning numbers are posted on the Lottery's website at www.nylottery.org.

Eighty-Nine-Year-Old from Queens Helps Fund Scholarship for Kids

Eighty-nine-year-old Lucille Kimble of Jamaica, Queens says she feels blessed after winning one of the five $1,000,000 top prizes from the New York Lottery Turkey Raffle. The world traveler already has a few plans for her newfound wealth.

"Over 20 years ago I organized the Northeastern/Southeastern Scholarship Fund. Some of these winnings will go towards continuing this wonderful scholarship," said the retired Columbia University employee.

She also plans to continue her passion for travel. "I have been all over the world, Spain, France, Italy, but I have always wanted to visit the Caribbean," she said. "Now I think I can finally make that happen."

Kimble purchased her winning ticket at Variety Drugs on 137^th Avenue in Jamaica. She claimed her $1,000,000 prize on Monday, December 1st, at the Lottery Customer Service Center in Manhattan. Her check will total $645,020 after required tax withholdings.

Staten Island Couple Attributes Turkey Raffle Flyer to Winning Purchase

Sixty-one-year-old Sheldon Skolnick of Staten Island stopped at a local card shop to play his Take 5 numbers for the nightly drawing when something caught his eye. He noticed a flyer for the New York Lottery Turkey Raffle and decided to buy a ticket. That decision paid off to the tune of $1,000,000.

"I happened to see a flyer on the counter and thought it looked like a neat game," explained the train operator for the New York City Transit Authority. "Talk about a wise decision on my part!"

When he found out he won, he immediately told his wife Francine. "When he showed me the ticket and said we just won a million dollars, I said you must be joking," said the fifty-seven-year-old homemaker. "I'm still in shock, but dreaming of the things we can do with the money sure makes it more of a reality."

The married couple of twenty years are used to sharing everything and their Lottery winnings are no different. They will split their winnings of $645,020 after required tax withholdings. They will each receive a check totaling $322,510.

Skolnick purchased his winning ticket at Greenridge Cards on Richmond Avenue in Staten Island on November 22, 2008. The couple claimed the $1,000,000 prize on Friday, December 5th, at the Lottery Customer Service Center in Manhattan.

U.S. Postal Service Supervisor To Share Prize with Mom and Dad

Fifty-seven-year-old Antoinette (Toni) Williams, of Manhattan, occasionally plays the Lottery for that chance to hit the big one. A random stop at a local retailer on November 21^st turned out to be the lucky day she had been waiting for. That's when she purchased the Turkey Raffle ticket that brought her a $1,000,000 windfall.

"I noticed the top prize for the raffle was $1,000,000," said the supervisor for the United State Postal Service. "I thought to myself, I could really use that kind of money!"

Antoinette doesn't have immediate plans for her winnings. "I will definitely give some of it to my parents. They have been very good to me over the years so they deserve a share of it." The rest she will invest for future use.

Williams purchased her winning ticket at IC Liquors on 1^st Avenue in Manhattan on November 21, 2008. She claimed her $1,000,000 prize on Tuesday, December 2nd, at the Lottery Customer Service Center in Manhattan. Her check will total $645,020 after required tax withholdings.

Stop for Carton Of Milk Pays Suffolk County Family Big Dividends

Bernard Gavan of Coram, Suffolk County, stopped at the store for a carton of milk. A store clerk mentioned the New York Lottery's Turkey Raffle game so he decided to buy two tickets for a chance at the $1,000,000 top prize. One of those tickets turned out to be the winner he was hoping for.

"I simply stopped in for a carton of milk," said the sixty-nine-year-old father of three. "I've played the Lottery in the past but really didn't plan on buying any tickets that day. I'm sure glad I did though!"

Gavan purchased his winning ticket at the Stop & Shop on Middle Country Road in Coram. He is sharing his winnings with his three children, Brian, Mark and Patricia. The four claimed their $1,000,000 prize on Wednesday, December 10th, at the Lottery Customer Service Center in Garden City. Each family member will receive a payment totaling $170,375 after required tax withholdings.

"I can't think of a better gift for the holidays than sharing my good fortune with my family," said Gavan.

Retired Baker Parlays Holiday Spirit into a Million Dollar Prize

November 26^th started out like any normal day for Salvatore Tartamella. The retired baker from Forked River, New Jersey went to meet his wife, Claire, in Manhattan for lunch. While out to lunch he noticed the advertisements for the New York Lottery's Turkey Raffle and decided to buy a few tickets.

"I was in a Thanksgiving mood that day and I noticed the Turkey Raffle sign," said Tartamella, or as his friends call him, "Big Sal". "It seemed fitting to buy a few tickets and let's just say I'm glad I did!"

Salvatore already has something in mind for his winnings. "Thirty seven years ago I took a vacation to Italy. I think it's about time I made a return trip," he said.

Tartamella purchased his winning ticket at the City News Stand on East 53^rd Street in Manhattan on November 26, 2008. He claimed his $1,000,000 prize on Friday, November 28th, at the Lottery Customer Service Center in Manhattan. His check will total $681,500 after required tax withholdings.

The New York Lottery contributed nearly $2.6 billion to help support education in New York State on revenues of $7.549 billion in fiscal year 2007-08 - - a profit margin of 34.3%. The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, earning over $34.2 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago.

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