The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega today presented a ceremonial prize check worth at least $1,000,000 to Richard Heath of Syracuse. The check presentation took place at the 4730 S. Salina St. Mobile Mart where Heath purchased his jackpot-winning Win $1,000 A Week For Life scratch-off ticket.

Heath, who retired from his job as a truck driver for Pennzoil in 2001, said he enjoys playing the $2 Win For Life game because he’s won smaller amounts on it in the past.

“I’m retired 16 years. What else have I got to do?” joked the 77-year-old father of four and grandfather of three. Heath said he purchased his lucky ticket en route to his second career as a school crossing guard.

“It’s part of my daily routine. I cash in my winning tickets and get a couple of new ones to scratch in the car while I wait for the kids to arrive,” he said. “I do the same thing in the afternoon as I’m waiting for school to get out.”

Heath and his wife of 38 years, Beverly, claimed the winning ticket together. Beverly said she was dumbfounded by the whole experience. “I didn’t know anything about this,” she laughed. “But now, I don’t really care if he buys tickets or not. He can buy as many as he wants!” she continued.

New York Lottery players who win the Win $1,000 A Week For Life top prize are guaranteed to receive a minimum payout of $1,000,000 and an annual payment of $52,000 thereafter, for life. Heath opted to receive the cash value of his guaranteed $1,000,000 payout and will receive a single payment totaling $810,255 (net $536,227). Heath said he planned to use his windfall to help family.

Heath is the second Onondaga County resident this year to claim a top prize on the Win $1,000 A Week For Life scratch off game. Twenty-two-year-old recent college graduate Elizabeth Nolan of Manlius claimed her life-changing prize in January. She chose the annuity option.

The New York Lottery contributed $109,010,722 in Lottery Aid to Education to school districts in Onondaga County during fiscal year 2016-2017.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.27 billion in fiscal year 2016-2017 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents approximately 14 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.