Lottery Players from Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island Share $14,000,000 in Jackpot Prizes

JAMAICA, NY (07/05/2012)(readMedia)-- The New York Lottery's Yolanda Vega today presented five over-sized prize checks worth a collective $14,000,000 to New York's most recent Lottery millionaires. The five downstate winners received their checks at Resorts World Casino New York City

Stay-at-Home Mom Wins Lottery Prize of a Lifetime

Thirty-one-year-old Dana Harchuck of Brooklyn couldn't believe her eyes when she read the word 'Life' on the Win For Life Spectacular scratch-off ticket she purchased on June 17. The jackpot win guarantees the stay-at-home mom $10,000 a week for the rest of her life.

"I was in the car with my mom and my aunt when I scratched the ticket. I made them pull over and look at it because I couldn't believe what I was seeing," said Harchuck. "Once it started to sink in, we all just started screaming!"

Harchuck purchased her life changing ticket at A&E Convenience on Avenue U in Brooklyn on June 17 and claimed it the very next day at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City.

The top prize on the Win For Life Spectacular ticket guarantees a minimum payout of $10,000,000 to be paid over 20 years. Harchuck will receive her $10,000,000 in 19 annual payments of $520,000 (net $323,981) and one additional payment of $120,000 (net $74,765). After that, she will continue to receive an annual net payment of $323,981 for the rest of her life.

"I still can't believe that it's true," admitted Harchuck. "All I can think of right now is taking care of my family with the money. It's pretty unbelievable."

Lynbrook Woman Goes Against Fellow Customer's Advice and Wins $1,000,000

Scratch-Off Prize

Jacqueline Parry was waiting in line to buy two $5 scratch-off tickets when a customer in front of her told her not to buy the Ruby Red X12 ticket. So what did Parry do? She bought two Ruby Red X12 tickets and won the $1,000,000 top prize on the second one she scratched.

"The guy in front of me in line said he didn't have a lot of luck on that particular ticket and said I should buy a different one," explained Parry. "Something just told me to buy them anyway and that's exactly what I did."

Parry purchased her jackpot winning ticket on June 14 at Ocean Sunrise on Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre. She claimed her prize on June 15 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City.

The $1,000,000 top prize on the Ruby Red X12 ticket is paid as an annuity. Parry will receive her prize in 20 annual payments of $50,000. Her annual net check will total $33,090.

"This has been a little over-whelming, but in a good way," said Parry. "I haven't really thought about what I will do with money, but it will definitely be something I normally wouldn't or couldn't do before I won."

Queens Man Credits Past Luck on the $1,000,000 Winfall Scratch-Off Ticket

for His Jackpot Win

Born in Nepal, Kamal Kamu has called Queens his home for just over three years. The 37-year-old explained that it was his past luck on the $1,000,000 Winfall ticket that led him to purchase his $1,000,000 winner.

"I really like this ticket," said Kamu. "Whenever I play it I usually win a prize so that's the ticket I buy. I will say that I was a little shocked when I saw the amount of the prize I won this time though."

Kamu purchased his jackpot winning ticket on June 7 at the Mount Everest Deli on Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood. He claimed his prize on June 8 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center on Beaver Street in Manhattan.

The $1,000,000 top prize on the $1,000,000 Winfall ticket is paid as an annuity. Kamu will receive his prize in 20 annual payments of $50,000. His annual net check will total $31,152.

"I am very happy and thankful for my win," said Kamu. "I don't really know what I will do with the money. I might buy a new house. I've also been thinking about opening my own business so this will help with that as well."

Ridgewood Man's Random Powerball Numbers Earns Him $1,000,000 Second Prize

Twenty-six-year-old Benjamin Colon, Jr. of Queens said there was no rhyme or reason to the numbers he chose to play for the June 9 Powerball drawing. Colon matched the first five numbers from that night's drawing earning him the $1,000,000 second prize.

"I just randomly picked some numbers hoping to hit the jackpot," explained Colon. "Obviously I was disappointed that I was one number away from the jackpot, but I'm getting over it," he joked.

The winning numbers for the June 9 Powerball drawing were: 18-22-45-56-57 Powerball-27.

Colon purchased his winning ticket on June 7 at the C&B Luncheonette on Wyckoff Avenue in Ridgewood. He claimed his prize on June 11 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center on Beaver Street in Manhattan.

The $1,000,000 second prize on Powerball is paid as a one-time lump sum payment. Colon will receive a net check totaling $623,040.

"My plan for the money is pretty simple. I plan on making the money work by spending it as wisely as possible," he explained.

Islip Terrace Powerball Player Says He Was 'Floored' By $1,000,000 Win

Thirty-three-year-old Peter Gioia of Islip Terrace had one word to describe his reaction to his $1,000,000 Powerball second prize win. Floored. Gioia matched the first five numbers from the June 16 drawing making him Suffolk County's newest Lottery millionaire.

"I checked my ticket on the Lottery's website and couldn't believe my eyes. I called my wife into the room and asked her if she saw what I was seeing. I was floored when I saw the five matching numbers," explained Gioia.

The winning numbers for the June 16 Powerball drawing were: 8-14-15-16-27 Powerball-26.

Gioia purchased his winning ticket on June 16 at the 7-Eleven on Sunrise Highway in Islip Terrace. He claimed his prize on June 20 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City.

The $1,000,000 second prize on Powerball is paid as a one-time lump sum payment. Gioia will receive a net check totaling $661,800.

"I'll use some of the money to help out family and friends. The rest will be invested for the future," he said.

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.

###