Lucky 13; Buffalo Co-Workers Win $1,000,000 Powerball Second Prize

BUFFALO, NY (04/30/2012)(readMedia)-- Thirteen lucky co-workers from a Buffalo area packaging technology company are Erie County's newest Lottery millionaires of 2012. The group, calling themselves Winer 13, matched the first five numbers from the March 31 Powerball drawing earning them the $1,000,000 second prize. Group spokesperson, Richard Anzalone, explained that they always pool their money together when the Powerball jackpots start to grow.

"When the jackpot starts to get really big, we'll all throw a couple dollars into a pool for a chance to win the big one," said Anzalone. "When everyone was told the day after the drawing that we hit for a million dollars, we thought it was an April Fool's Day joke."

The winning numbers for the March 31 Powerball drawing were 05 – 14 – 36 – 54 - 58 plus Powerball 27. Winners to receive a share of the $1,000,000 Powerball second prize include:

• Richard Anzalone, of Grand Island • Greg Koeppel, of Buffalo

• Janis Boland, of Kenmore • Wayne Krytus, of Angola

• Leah Calkins, of Angola • Andrew McDonough, of Amherst

• Carmelita Cawthon, of Buffalo • Sarah Plenty-Paige, of Buffalo

• Diane Correa, Buffalo • Nancy Pokrywa, of Depew

• Karen Dickey, of Buffalo • Cynthia Sudlik, of West Seneca

• Michael DuVall, of Kenmore

The $1,000,000 Powerball second prize is paid as a one-time lump sum cash payment. The group will, receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings. "We each put in the same amount for the drawing, so we'll split the prize evenly among us," explained Anzalone. "We don't really have specific plans for the money. We're just very thankful for the win."

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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