Fonso Damron (center) poses for a photo with his mom Sadie and friend Russell after collecting his $300,000 prize from the Michigan Lottery.

Anyone who knows Fonso Damron, of Detroit, will tell you that he’s constantly helping others. One of Damron’s good deeds recently led to him winning a $300,000 top prize in the Michigan Lottery’s Triple Green Cashword instant game.

True to form, Damron was helping a neighbor in need when he drove her to the Kroger at 31145 Harper Avenue in St. Clair Shores so she could buy groceries. While he was waiting, he purchased a $5 Triple Green Cashword instant ticket to help pass the time and scratched it off while waiting for his neighbor.

“I had to look at it a few times before I figured out what I had,” said Damron. “At first, I only counted five words because I had missed a ‘u.’ Once I found that letter, I realized I had a big winner and shock set in. I took it into the Kroger and they told me I needed to give the Lottery office in Lansing a call.”

It should come as no surprise that with his winnings Damron plans pay for a renovation project at his mother’s home. With the remainder of the prize, he would like to take a vacation to the Smoky Mountains and purchase a new vehicle.

The 59-year-old is a regular Lottery player, and lists instant games – especially Cashword and Bingo – as well as the Daily 3 game as his favorites. He visited the Lottery headquarters today with his mother, Sadie, and good friend, Russell, to claim his prize.

The Triple Green Cashword instant game was released in early 2014, and gives players a chance to win a top prize of $300,000. Following Damron’s win, one top prize still remains. Each ticket may be purchased for $5 at the 11,000 Lottery retailers around the state.