LANSING, September 7, 2010 – Doniesha George became a very rich woman on September 3 when she won the grand prize in the Red Hot & Blue 7s Instant ticket drawing at Arts, Beats & Eats in Royal Oak.

George, of Detroit, and her fellow finalists were randomly given colored Michigan Lottery t-shirts before the drawing that corresponded with color blocks on the prize wheel used for the drawing. George, wearing the yellow shirt, walked away the big winner.

Other finalists in the drawing, whose names were selected August 19, were Kathleen McGrath of Dearborn Heights; Janice Carda of Traverse City; Thomas Tuck of Frederic; and Anna Seelbinder of Metamora. They each received a $5,000 appearance fee for participating in the live drawing on September 3.

All $700 winning tickets for Red Hot & Blue 7s that were claimed before the close of business on August 17 were automatically entered into the finalist drawing.

Over 94 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 2009, the contribution to schools was $724.5 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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EDITOR’S NOTE: To access a photograph to use, go to http://www.michigan.gov/   /images/lottery/9.3.10_finalists_on_stage_331988_7.jpg

Michigan Lottery finalists who participated in the Red, Hot and Blue 7s grand prize drawing Friday at Arts, Beats and Eats in Royal Oak were (l to r, front row) Kathleen McGrath of Dearborn Heights; Anna Seelbinder of Metamora; Doniesha George of Detroit;  (l to r, back row) Thomas Tuck of Frederic; and Janice Carda of Traverse City. George was the winner of $270,000 and the other finalists each received an appearance fee of $5,000. Pictured conducting the drawing are the Lottery’s Beth McLeod (left) and Aggie Usedly. (Photo by http://www.domagalskiphotography.com)