PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwire - December 14, 2010) - The owner of the winning Powerball jackpot ticket came forward Monday to claim her $95.3 million prize, announced the Arizona Lottery at a press conference yesterday afternoon. Sheila Verke, a resident of Fort Mohave, realized she was holding the winning ticket the day after the Powerball draw on December 1. Verke has been working under the guidance of financial advisors and came forward with the winning ticket yesterday.
A retired substitute school teacher in the Mohave Valley Elementary School District, Verke is an avid lottery player who always uses the same numbers which are family members' birthdays. The 64-year-old mother of two sons says her first major purchase will be an RV, and she plans to travel the country once temperatures warm up.
"Anybody that buys a Lottery ticket should feel like they are going to be a winner," said Verke at the press conference. "I'm delighted because I can make so many changes, not only in my life, but also in the lives of others."
"The dream of striking it rich came true yesterday for Sheila Verke," said Jeff Hatch-Miller, executive director of the Arizona Lottery. "It was a pleasure to award one of our own residents with a check for $95.3 million and shake the hand of someone whose life will never be the same."
Verke had the option of a 30-year annuity for the entire $95.3 million prize or a cash lump sum of $49.9 million. She chose to take the lump sum.
This win also resulted in a $25,000 selling bonus to the Safeway store in Fort Mohave where the winning ticket was purchased. Safeway donated $5,000 of their bonus to the Boys & Girls Club of Colorado River, which serves the Fort Mohave area.
Winning numbers for Powerball are broadcast Wednesday and Saturday during the 10 p.m. news on Channel 13 (CBS) in Tucson and posted on www.ABC15.com.
Players can check their numbers by logging onto www.ArizonaLottery.com or by calling the winning numbers hotline at 480-829-PICK in Phoenix and 1-800-499-3798 in all other Arizona areas. Players can also opt-in to receive winning number text alerts by texting "AZLOT" to 411247.
Players must be 21 or older to purchase or redeem tickets. Overall odds vary by game. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, these materials may be made available in an alternate format. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-NEXT STEP. Please Play Responsibly.™
About the Arizona Lottery
The Arizona Lottery operates entirely from the revenue it generates through the sale of its products; it receives no General Fund dollars from the State. Proceeds from sales of Lottery tickets-nearly $3 million per week-fund a variety of state programs. Since July 1981, the Arizona Lottery has paid out over $4.2 billion in prizes to players, more than $2.5 billion in net profit to the state, and almost $510 million in commissions to retailers.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Karen Emery
Arizona Lottery
(480) 921-4472
Jennifer Adler
E.B. Lane
(602) 417-1594