Lottery Players from Rochester, Hamlin and North Rose Share $4,000,000 in Prizes

ROCHESTER, NY (07/27/2012)(readMedia)-- The New York Lottery's Gretchen Dizer today presented $4,000,000 in prize money to three Rochester-area Lottery players. The check presentations took place at the Tops Market on Lake Avenue in Rochester where one of the winners purchased a second-prize winning Powerball ticket worth $1,000,000.

Rochester Woman Matches Five of Six Powerball Numbers, Wins $1,000,000

Forty-seven-year-old Regina Gonzalez of Rochester is not a regular Powerball player. Gonzalez said she purchased a single set of Quick Pick numbers on June 11 for the June 13 drawing "because the jackpot was so high." She returned to the Tops Market on Lake Avenue where she purchased her ticket the day after the drawing to see if her jackpot-driven decision would turn out to be a boon or a bust.

"I didn't know right away," she explained. "I tried scanning my own ticket, but the self-scanner was broken, so I handed it to the customer service clerk to check," she said. 'That's when I learned I had a million dollar winner." The jackpot winning numbers for the June 13 Powerball drawing were 07- 10- 14- 33- 57 and Powerball 18. Gonzalez matched the first five numbers drawn, missing the $241,000,000 jackpot by one number, but earning her an automatic $1,000,000 second prize.

"I went home and double-checked the numbers on my computer, and then put the ticket away to protect it," she continued. "The initial shock has worn off and now I'm just excited," she said. Gonzalez claimed her $1,000,000 winner on June 22 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Rochester.

The $1,000,000 Powerball second-prize is paid as one lump sum. Gonzalez will receive a one-time net payment totaling $659,105 after all applicable withholdings.

Gonzalez said she planned to buy a house and take her whole family on a dream vacation to Disney. "It's something I've always wanted to do."

The New York Lottery contributed $157,204,810.72 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Monroe County during fiscal year 2011-12.

North Rose Woman Wins $2,000,000 Prize on Monopoly Scratch-Off Game

Patricia Murphy, 56, of North Rose, Wayne County, recently won $40 on a New York Lottery Monopoly scratch-off ticket and decided to "have another go" at the same ticket. She said even with luck on her side, there was nothing that could have prepared her for the shock of seeing the words "Jackpot - 2 Million" printed underneath her winning number.

"I scratched the ticket in the parking lot outside the market and cried tears of joy and relief when it dawned on me," said Murphy. "I knew right away." Murphy won the $2,000,000 top prize by matching the number "3" on the top and bottom portion of the ticket she purchased June 25 at the PPZ Supermarket on West Main Street in Sodus. "All I could think was, 'Now, we can be secure.'"

Murphy said she called her husband from the car, but he was not easily convinced. "He kept saying I was full of it," she laughed.. "I was finally able to show him the ticket when we both got home and then he wouldn't let go of it!"

Murphy will receive her $2,000,000 prize in one lump sum payment, netting her $1,323,600. When asked about her plans for the money Murphy said, "I can invest some, fix up the house and put some away for my grandchildren," she said.

The New York Lottery contributed $23,072,034.63 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Wayne County during fiscal year 2011-12.

Forty-Four-Year-Old from Hamlin Wins $1,000,000 Prize on the Ruby Red X 12 Scratch-Off Game

A routine, after work stop to pick up "this and that" turned into a life changing event for 44-year-old Cory Whitney of Hamlin, Monroe County. Whitney said he is usually "more of a weekend Lottery player" but something caught his eye one fateful day last month that made him rethink his routine.

"I stopped in the store to pick up some things, and I saw this new Ruby Red X12 game in the machine," said Whitney. "I said to myself, 'I'm here. It's right there. I'll buy it now.'" Whitney purchased his $1,000,000 Ruby Red X12 winner on June 26 at Crosby's on Lake Road in Hamlin.

Whitney said he scratched several Lottery tickets that evening while sitting at his kitchen table. "I got to this ticket, and I had to keep looking at it over and over – at least 10 times – because I couldn't believe it," he said. "I went to work the next day, and then headed to Rochester to turn it in."

The jackpot prize on the Ruby Red X12 scratch-off game is paid as $50,000 a year for 20 years. Whitney will receive a net check totaling $33,090 a year through 2031. "I have no plans for the money because I never really thought I'd win," he said. "I always just played for fun."

The New York Lottery contributed $157,204,810.72 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Monroe County during fiscal year 2011-12.

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.

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