Just in Time for Halloween: Lottery Scares up $23,500,000 in Jackpot Prizes for Eight Downstate Winners

MANHATTAN, NY (10/31/2011)(readMedia)-- New York Lottery Draw Team members Yolanda Vega and Jina Myers today treated eight lucky New Yorkers to $23,500,000 in over-sized prize checks just in time for Halloween. The lucky recipients from Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Long Island got into the spirit of things at Midtown's Abracadabra Superstore before receiving their respective prize checks in front of a captive audience of ghouls, ghosts and goblins.

Bronx Stay-at-Home-Mom Wins $9.5M Lotto Jackpot

A recent change in strategy led lifelong Bronx resident Gina Ruisi, 43, to a $9,500,000 Lotto jackpot. The stay-at-home mom explained, "I had played the same numbers for years but three months ago I decided to switch them up."

Ruisi's numbers -- 3, 5, 11, 12, 17, and 27 -- made her a multimillionaire when all six were drawn on October 5. She purchased her ticket on at A & J Candy on Eastchester Road in the Bronx.

"I decided to put my (deceased) dad's birthday and his grandkids' birthdays all on one line for a change," said Ruisi of her change of strategy. "Yeah, I guess you could call it a miraculous." Ruisi claimed her prize at the Lottery's Garden City Customer Service Center on October 14. Her plans for the windfall are simple. "This is for my kids' future."

Ruisi elected to receive her jackpot prize in one lump sun payment of $6,478,363. Her net check will total $4,026,562.

Other New York City jackpot winners to receive prize checks today included:

• Karen Dennis, 68, of Old Town, Staten Island who won $5,000,000 on the Set For Life scratch-off game. Dennis purchased her ticket at Hylan Stationers on Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island. She will receive her For Life prize in 19 annual payments of $260,000 (net $161,600) and a 20th payment of $60,000 (net $37,292) to realize her $5,000,000 minimum prize. After that, she will continue to receive an annual net check totaling $161,600 for life. Her plans for the money include buying a house.
• Jasmine Jones, 44, of Flushing, Queens. The Singapore native claimed her $3,000,000 Triple Million scratch-off prize on October 11. Jones, a babysitter, said she plans to donate to charity and, "Throw a big party for my family and friends!" She will receive her jackpot in 20 annual payments of $150,000 (net $93,231). She bought her ticket at Lucky D&J Convenient Store on College Point Boulevard in Flushing.
• Clayton Wint, 51, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn who won $1,000,000 on the New York Poker scratch-off game. "I love poker," said the happy winner when he claimed his jackpot on September 28. Wint's win allowed him to up the ante on his wedding anniversary. "There's a diamond ring in it for my wife," he said. Wint purchased his winning ticket at Fine Fare on Remsen Avenue in Brooklyn. He will receive his $1,000,000 prize in 20 annual payments of $50,000, netting him $31,077 through 2030.

Winners from Long Island to receive their prize checks today included:

• Salvatore and Patricia Manzitto, ages 71 and 68 respectively. The Westhampton, Suffolk County couple opted to split the $3,000,000 Make Me Rich jackpot the pair claimed on October 20. Each will receive $75,000 a year (net $49,522) through 2030. "I thought a trip to the store would help him pass the time while it was raining," Patricia said of her husband's lucky stop. Salvatore Manzitto purchased the pair's ticket at Speonk Stationery on Montauk Highway in Speonk.
• Jei Pierre, 48, of Valley Stream, Nassau County. Pierre purchased his winning Win $1,000 A Week For Life ticket at JRC Corner Deli Grocery on Maple Street in Brooklyn. The housekeeper and dad claimed it on October 3. "I'll be taking care of my daughters with my [For Life] prize," said Pierre of his windfall. "They are my life." Pierre 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 $34,336) each and a 20th payment of $12,000 (net $7,924) to realize his $1,000,000 minimum prize. After that, Pierre will continue to receive an annual net check totaling $34,336 for life.
• Andrea Wurthmann, 53, of North Massapequa, Nassau County. The nursing home recreation director claimed her top prize on the $1,000,000 Cashword scratch-off game on October 19. The working mom said her plans for the $660,300 lump sum prize include fixing up her kitchen, "Right now, it's stuck in the '60s." Wurthmann purchased her $1,000,000 winner at Bar Jay Cards on North West Drive in Farmingdale.

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing over $3 billion in fiscal year 2010-2011 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery's aid represents over 15 percent of total state education funding to local school districts.

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.

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