LANSING, March 17, 2008 – James Pearson of Plainwell had a very happy birthday after the Detroit Red Wings ticket he was given as a gift turned out to be worth $20,000!

The winner was “stunned” when he scratched the ticket. He has no immediate plans for the prize money.

The winning ticket was purchased at Harding’s Market, 135 N. Anderson St., in Plainwell.

Detroit Red Wings is just one of many Michigan Lottery Instant tickets available at nearly 11,000 Lottery retailers statewide.

Over 95 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2007, the contribution to schools was $748.9 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $14.3 billion to education in Michigan.

For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at https://www.michiganlottery.com/.

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