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November 21, 2014                                          Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

GARNERVILLE, N.Y. – Edwina Silvera, 49, of West Haverstraw is set “for life” now that she has won a top prize of $2,500,000 on the New York Lottery’s popular $2,500 A Week For Life scratch-off game.

 Silvera, who works in hospital administration, says she plays the lottery only occasionally, and what prompted her to play this time was a dream. Silvera said she dreamed one night of her late father. “I had a dream about my father, and in the dream he encouraged me to play a scratch-off game.” Silvera said she remembered the dream and followed her intuition. “I knew it was a sign, and I had to buy a Lottery ticket,” said Silvera.

 Silvera said she chose the $2,500 A Week For Life ticket because she likes the “for life” scratch-off games. After scratching her ticket, Silvera said she wasn’t sure if she had a big winner and showed it to her husband who then took it to the store to validate it.

“I’m still in shock. I can’t believe I won. I guess I have to see the money to believe it,” Silvera said. When asked about her plans for the money Silvera said, “I’m not sure yet, but I know I will continue to work and I want to make some investments for the future.”

Silvera will receive her $2,500 A Week For Life prize in annual payments of $130,000 per year. After required withholdings, she will receive a net check totaling $86,034 every year for the rest of her life.

Silvera purchased her ticket on October 14 at Railroad Deli at 146 W. Railroad Avenue in Garnerville. She claimed her ticket on October 21, 2014 at the Lottery’s Fishkill Customer Service Center.

She is the 140th New Yorker to claim a New York Lottery prize of $1,000,000 or more so far this year.

The New York Lottery contributed $28,070,316.83 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Rockland County during fiscal year 2013-2014.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.17 billion in fiscal year 2013-2014 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 15 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.

About the New York State Gaming Commission

The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the state, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, class III Indian gaming, video lottery terminal facilities at race tracks, the state lottery and charitable gaming.