LANSING, August 13, 2009 – Covenant Life Worship Center and its 25 parishioners are the lucky beneficiaries of a $70,000 Lucky 7s Raffle prize!

Pastor Marilyn Parmelee and parishioner Toby Louckes claimed the winning ticket today at Lottery Central on behalf of the church. Pastor Parmelee said, “We didn’t realize the ticket was a winner until one of our parishioners looked up the raffle number online. We are lucky the ticket didn’t get thrown away!”

The pastor then went on to say, “We get scratch-off tickets in the offering plate, but I can’t believe this time we actually won!”

Because Covenant Life Worship Center is tax exempt, its coffers will receive the full $70,000 prize which Pastor Parmelee said “will come in handy.” In addition to a building fund, the church plans to set up a missionary fund and would like to help support Haslett community service projects.

The lucky winning ticket was purchased at Quality Dairy Co. #15, 5930 Marsh Rd., in Haslett.

Other winners claiming top prizes in the May 4 Lucky 7s drawing include Kimberly Nadjkovic of New Era who won $700,000 on a ticket purchased at Wesco #23, 5685 W. US Highway 10, in Ludington; an anonymous woman from Alma who won $700,000 on a ticket purchased at Southfield Fuel Stop, 26450 Lahser, in Southfield, Jennifer Harris who claimed $70,000 on a ticket purchased at TJ’s Party Store, 1208 Fort St., in Lincoln Park; Colleen Morrison who claimed $70,000 on a ticket purchased at Meijer #172, 3883 E. Grand River Ave., in Howell; the E & J Lottery Club who claimed $70,000 on a ticket purchased at Dominick’s Market, 7025 E. Mich’n Ave., in Saline; and John Heise who claimed $70,000 on a ticket purchased at Andy’s Market, 205 W. Garfield Ave., in Charlevoix.

Additionally, 11 anonymous players have claimed $70,000 on tickets purchased at the Red Wagon Shoppe, 1613 Livernois Rd., in Troy; Ford Tel Service, 23645 Ford Rd., in Dearborn; Ernie’s Beer & Wine, 13167 N. Saginaw Rd., in Clio; Ionia Shell #4380, 342 N. Dexter St., in Ionia; Thrifty Convenience Store, 140 N. Saginaw St., in Pontiac; M59 & Ormond BP, 3685 Highland Rd., in White Lake; CVS Pharmacy, 25380 5 Mile Rd., in Redford; Speedway 5519, 3346 E. Michigan Ave., in Jackson; Ford Tel Service, 23645 Ford Rd., in Dearborn; the Fenton Party Store, 502 W. Silver Lake Rd., in Fenton; and Monroe Mobil, 2731 Monroe St., in Dearborn.

Since the drawing, over $2 million has been claimed by thousands of Lucky 7s Raffle winners. Three of the $70,000 prizes remain unclaimed.

The Lucky 7s Raffle was the Michigan Lottery’s 11th Raffle to date. Featured were two prizes of $700,000 each, 18 prizes of $70,000, 1,800 prizes of $700 and 18,000 prizes of $70.

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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