Lucky Spot: Two Players Win Big on Tickets Bought at Family Fare in Grand Rapids

Winning Fire & Ice Cashword ticketMichigan Lottery players may have found a new lucky spot to buy lottery tickets in Grand Rapids.

While it’s impossible to predict when a retailer may sell a big winner, the Family Fare Quick Stop, located at 2755 Lake Michigan Drive NW in Grand Rapids, has been especially lucky for players in October and November selling two big winners.

In October, a Kent County man, who chose to remain anonymous, won $300,000 playing the Lottery’s Fire & Ice Cashword game.

“I scratched the ticket when I got in my truck. When I revealed the sixth red word, I checked the ticket over at least 10 times before taking it back into the store and scanning it,” the player said when claiming his prize. “When the ‘file a claim’ message came up on the Lottery machine, I walked back to my truck, locked the doors, and drove straight home to put the ticket in a safe spot.

“I’ve always dreamed about what I would do if I won a large Lottery prize, so it feels like a dream that it happened! I’m still having a hard time believing it’s real.”

This month, Sonia McCarthy, of Grand Rapids, won $25,000 a year for life playing Lucky for Life hours after telling her parents it was her lucky game.

Winning Lucky for Life ticket“I told my parents one night how I have been quite lucky on the Lucky for Life game, so I was going to continue playing it,” said McCarthy. “I checked my ticket the next morning and was totally floored when I saw I won $25,000 a year for life! It’s almost like I spoke it into existence since I won the night I told my parents it was my lucky game.

“It feels incredible to win! You always hope it will happen to you, but you never expect it to, so it is an amazing feeling!”

McCarthy chose to receive her winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000, rather than annuity payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or life, whichever is greater.

Posted in Instant Games, Lucky For Life, Michigan Lottery, Winners List | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wayne County Man Wins $472,295 Fantasy 5 Jackpot from the Michigan Lottery

Winning TicketA Wayne County man ran out of his shoes after winning a $472,295 Fantasy 5 jackpot from the Michigan Lottery.

The 38-year-old player, who chose to remain anonymous, matched the winning Fantasy 5 numbers on Oct. 28 – 03-04-09-19-39 – to win the big prize. He bought his winning ticket at Victor’s Market, located at 17104 Quarry Street in Riverview. Riverview is about 15 miles southwest of Detroit.

“I play Fantasy 5 regularly and pick my own lucky numbers based on some research I do online,” said the player. “The morning after the drawing, I was in my garage having coffee and scanned the ticket with the Lottery app on my phone.

“When I saw the message and confetti on the screen, I dropped my coffee and went running into the house so fast that my shoes came off!”

The player recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim his prize. With his winnings, he plans to invest in his retirement.

Each Fantasy 5 play is only $1. For an additional $1 per play, EZmatch may be added to a Fantasy 5 ticket, giving players a chance to win up to $500 instantly. For an additional $1 per play, Double Play may be added to a Fantasy 5 ticket, giving players a second chance to win up to $110,000 in the nightly Double Play drawing. Fantasy 5 players select five numbers from one to 39. Players who match all five Fantasy 5 numbers drawn win a jackpot that starts at $100,000. Fantasy 5 drawings are held seven days a week at 7:29 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at a retailer or online at MichiganLottery.com until 7:08 p.m. on the day of the drawing.

Posted in Fantasy 5, Jackpot, Jackpot Winner, Michigan Lottery | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Oceana County Lottery Club Wins $1 Million Powerball Prize from the Michigan Lottery

Winning TicketAn Oceana County lottery club had to use their special code word for the first time after winning a $1 million Powerball prize from the Michigan Lottery.

The two-person CCKMA club matched the five white balls in the Sept. 11 drawing to win the big prize: 09-25-27-53-66. The club’s representative, Kristi Sadler, bought the winning ticket at her bar, Kristi’s Pour House, located at 211 East Main Street in Hart. Hart is about 75 miles northwest of Grand Rapids.

“We started our Lottery club after my husband passed away,” said Sadler. “The morning after the drawing, I got a call that my business had sold a $1 million winner and I just had a feeling it was our ticket.

“After I checked the ticket, I had to call the other club member, who was on vacation out of the country, to let him know we had won. We had always joked that we’d use a special code word if we won, so when he answered and told me he had to pay extra for overseas calls, I said the code word and I told him he wasn’t going to have to worry about the bill!”

The club members recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim their prize. With their winnings, they each plan to invest in their retirements.

The prize was won during the $1.765 billion Powerball jackpot run. The jackpot run began July 22 and ended Oct. 11 when one ticket purchased in California won the $1.765 billion jackpot. The jackpot was the second largest lottery jackpot ever won. During the jackpot run, Michigan Lottery players won more than $13 million in prizes, including six prizes of $1 million or more:

  • Aug. 26 – $1 million winning ticket was purchased at Wild Bills Tobacco Livonia III, located at 27424 6 Mile Road in Livonia.
  • Sept 11. – $1 million winning ticket was purchased at Kristi’s Pour House, located at 211 East Main Street in Hart.
  • Sept. 23 – $2 million winning ticket was purchased online at MichiganLottery.com.
  • Sept. 30 – $1 million winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven, located at 34951 Garfield Road in Fraser.
  • Oct. 2 – $1 million winning ticket was purchased at Purk’s Inc., located at 875 East Lincoln in Ionia.
  • Oct. 7 – $1 million winning ticket was purchased at Northview Wine Shoppe, located at 23015 21 Mile Road in Macomb.

Powerball plays may be purchased for $2 each at Lottery retailers across the state and online at MichiganLottery.com. A “Power Play” option that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times to a maximum of $2 million may be added to any Powerball play for only $1. For an additional $1 per play, Double Play may be added to a Powerball ticket, giving players a second chance to win up to $10 million in the nightly Double Play drawing.

The Powerball drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday and may be watched live online at: http://www.powerball.com. Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Posted in Michigan Lottery, Powerball, Winners List | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Crain’s Detroit Recognizes Michigan Lottery’s Keesha Garrett as a Notable Leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Crain’s Detroit Business has recognized the Michigan Lottery’s Keesha Garrett as a Notable Leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

In her role as the Lottery’s Corporate Responsibility Director, Garrett is tasked with developing DEI programs as well as overseeing responsible gaming initiatives and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. She developed Lottery’s first comprehensive DEI Action Plan which establishes objectives and benchmarks and is focused on training and development; building DEI infrastructure; and recruitment and retention. She also has increased employee engagement and awareness of DEI programs through a book club and producing a monthly newsletter.

“Keesha’s approach to DEI has created an engaging, welcoming environment for the Lottery team to discuss important topics,” said acting Commissioner, Jessica Weare. “Her development of the agency’s first comprehensive DEI Action Plan has provided a roadmap for the Lottery to formalize its commitment to prioritizing DEI and ensure that all employees are working together to foster openness and inclusion in our daily work. On behalf of everyone at the Lottery, I would like to congratulate Keesha on this tremendous honor.”

Garrett has more than 20 years of experience in promoting DEI initiatives. She joined the Lottery team in April 2022.

Posted in Michigan Lottery | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

St. Ignace Woman Wins $100,000 Playing the Michigan Lottery’s 500X Money Maker Second Chance Game

Blanche Micale-Thomas holding $100,000 checkA St. Ignace woman has a new favorite lottery game after winning $100,000 playing the Michigan Lottery’s 500X Money Maker second chance game.

Blanche Micale-Thomas, 73, won $100,000 after she was selected in a random drawing that took place Nov. 2. She earned entries into the giveaway by scanning non-winning 500X Money Maker tickets on the Michigan Lottery app.

“I bought two 500X Money Maker tickets and won $500 on one, but the other was a non-winner so I scanned it for a second chance entry,” said Blanche. “I saw an email that I won $100,000 in the second chance drawing, but I didn’t believe it was real, so I called the Lottery. When they confirmed I was the winner, I couldn’t believe it. 500X Money Maker is my new favorite game!

“I didn’t sleep at all last night because I was so excited to get my check today. I got out of bed at 3 a.m. and was ready to head to Lansing!”

Micale-Thomas recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim her prize. With her winnings, she plans to take a trip to Vegas, donate to a few charities, and then save the remainder.

Each non-winning 500X Money Maker ticket is eligible for a second chance to win a prize ranging from $500 up to $100,000. Players may enter by scanning their non-winning tickets on the Michigan Lottery mobile app ticket scanner by June 21, 2024. Nine more second chance drawings will be conducted. Each drawing will award:

  • One winner of $100,000
  • Five winners of $10,000
  • Twenty winners of $1,000
  • Sixty winners of $500

Players can visit www.michiganlottery.com/500XMoneyMaker for complete game rules and drawing dates. The next drawing is scheduled for Nov. 30.

Posted in Michigan Lottery, Winners Gallery, Winners List | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment