LANSING, March 6, 2009 – Maria Vanderheyden had to pinch herself after she scanned her Mega Millions ticket at a retailer. The Macomb woman matched five white ball numbers in the January 16 Mega Millions drawing and won $250,000!

The regular Lottery player hid the winning ticket before cashing it at Lottery headquarters in Lansing. Vanderheyden plans to use the prize money to pay bills and save for her children’s education.

The lucky winning easy-pick ticket was purchased at Kroger Store #684, 21555 21 Mile Rd., in Macomb.

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game in Michigan, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at nearly 11,000 Michigan 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 2008, the contribution to schools was $740.7 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $15 billion to education in Michigan.

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

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