West Chazy Man is "Fortunate" to Win a Lottery Fortune

WEST CHAZY, N.Y. (09/07/2012)(readMedia)-- David Fortune, 53, of West Chazy, Clinton County, was handed a giant $5,000,000 prize check today by the New York Lottery's Jina Myers. Despite having a "wealthy" last name, Fortune was not a millionaire until winning the top prize on the Lottery's $5,000,000 Cash! scratch-off game.

Fortune considers himself to be a very lucky person, but admits to almost losing his millions. Fortune initially scratched the ticket "in a rush" and thought it was a non-winner. He put the ticket in a pile of other non-winning tickets and left it there. While sitting in the Laundromat days later, Fortune went through the pile a second time. "I do that a lot," he said. "I comb through my losers looking for winners I missed." He then saw the match on the number 39 and realized it was a $5,000,000 winner.

Fortune claimed the top prize on the $5,000,000 Cash! scratch-off game on August 20 at the Lottery's Schenectady Customer Service Center. He bought his winning ticket at Kinney Drugs, 52 Boynton Avenue in Plattsburgh.

The top prize on the $5,000,000 Cash! scratch-off game is paid as a lump sum. Fortune will receive a net check of $3,309,000 after required withholdings.

Fortune admitted suffering through many nicknames during his life because of his last name, but is glad he "finally got the last laugh."

The New York Lottery contributed $17,245,554.38 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Clinton 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.