The Michigan Lottery’s first “Cash for Life” winner has claimed her prize! The winner, who prefers to remain anonymous, was driving home in a snowstorm when she discovered that one of the three tickets she had bought had the “LIFE” symbol. The $5 ticket won the lucky player $2,000 a week for life!

When the winner called her husband to tell him she had won, he didn’t believe it.  She picked him up at home and they braved the snowstorm to get the ticket verified by a Lottery retailer. They still had no idea what the cash value of the ticket was, and it was Friday night, so they had to wait until Monday morning to contact the Michigan Lottery. “I don’t think I slept at all Friday night,” said her husband. Previously he had chided his wife for spending money from their limited income for Lottery tickets, but she told him “stick with me, someday we’ll win!”

The Lottery winner and her husband intend to use their winnings to pay off debts and help their children.

The winning ticket was sold by Mr. Bill’s Market located at 1989 E. Miller Rd. in Fairview.

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 2011, the contribution to schools was over $727.3 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed over $16 billion to education in Michigan.

For information on all Lottery games, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at www.michiganlottery.com.

“The Michigan Lottery. All across the state good things happen.”

Contact:  Andi Brancato, PR Director  517-335-5648
Agency:  Michigan Lottery Public Relations