LANSING, March 13, 2009 – Richard Jefferson of Garden City won a huge Mega Millions prize from the July 18, 2008 drawing. Jefferson matched four white ball numbers and the gold Mega ball number to win the $10,000 prize.

The 52-year-old plans to pay bills with the easy-pick winnings.

Jefferson purchased the lucky winning ticket at Tweeny’s Paradise Liquor, 32669 Warren Rd., in Garden City.

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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