LANSING, August 21, 2006 – It’s not quite back to school time, but this year’s Michigan State Fair will feature a very unique “school bus.”

One of the three Michigan Lottery SMART buses, which have been running regular routes in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties this summer, will be making a stop at the State Fairgrounds to spread the Lottery’s beneficiary message.

The bus will make its way to the Fair on August 26 and 27, and again on September 2 and 3. It is scheduled to make an appearance from 3 ? 6 p.m. each day and will be located across from the Band Shell.

The three buses carry the message “Over $12 Billion to Schools” on one side, “100 Percent of Lottery Profits to Schools” on the other side, and “You Play. Schools Win.” on the back. The commuter buses have been emblazoned with a graphic to change their appearance to that of traditional yellow school buses.

“Most people have no idea how much money the Lottery has contributed to schools since it began in 1972,” Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters said. “At over $12 billion, clearly, the Lottery plays a significant role in helping to finance public education in Michigan.”

The Lottery’s contribution to the School Aid Fund does not go to any specific district, school, or purpose, Peters said. It is part of the total revenue that is allocated on a per pupil basis each year by the Legislature. In fiscal year 2005, the Lottery’s contribution to the School Aid Fund was $667.6 million, which represented about 5 percent of the state’s total expenditure on public education.

The Michigan State Fair, which draws thousands of people over a 13-day period, is a great opportunity to share the beneficiary message. Additionally, traveling regular routes throughout three counties, the message has been visible to over 1.8 million commuters daily. The buses will run through the end of August.

For additional information about the Michigan Lottery, please visit https://www.michiganlottery.com/.

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NOTE: To access an accompanying photograph of the Lottery bus, click on http://www.michigan.gov/images/20060816-LotterySchoolBus-Large_168717_7.jpg