For Immediate Release:                                         Contact: Communications Office

July 15, 2014                                                             (518) 388-3415

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NEW YORK, N.Y. – The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega and Jenny Garcia today presented  ceremonial prize checks worth a collective $8,000,000 to a mix of recent Lottery scratch-off and draw game winners. The check presentations took place at the Lottery’s Customer Service Center in Manhattan.

East Harlem Jogger on the Road to Riches with $5,000,000 Set For Life Win

Fili Rodriguez of East Harlem claimed a top prize winning Set For Life scratch-off ticket just days before his 22^nd birthday. The prize comes with a guaranteed minimum payment of $5,000,000.

The soft-spoken father of one said he has a healthy habit to thank for his new found fortune. “I bought a sports drink and a ticket to go with it at the end of a run through Central Park with my uncle,” he said. “I bought it and then forgot about it,” he laughed. Rodriguez purchased his ticket at Stop 1 Gourmet Deli at 1775 Lexington Ave. in Manhattan.

The new millionaire said he wasn’t counting on being a big winner. “I got home, laid down, took a shower, ate dinner and, after all that, remembered I bought a ticket.” Rodriguez, who calls himself an infrequent Lottery player, said his laid back approach to winning didn’t last long. “When I saw the coin, it made me want to scratch a little faster,” he said. The coin symbol printed on Rodriguez’s ticket indicated an instant win on the prize shown, in this case, $5,000 A Week For Life.

Rodriguez said his parents were the first to know about his $5,000 a week for life prize. “They just told me to be smart about the money,” he said. “They just want me to have fun.”

Rodriguez opted to receive the cash value of his for life prize and will receive a one-time payment totaling $2,468,752.

He said he doesn’t have any concrete plans for the money just yet. “A lot of things go through your head, but you just gotta wait and see what feels right,” he said.

Mega Millions Subscriber Returns from Business Trip and Learns He’s $1,000,000 Richer When Russell Levitt, of Manhattan returned from a business trip back in May his wife told him there was a message from the Lottery regarding his Mega Millions subscription. Levitt dismissed it thinking it was a call to remind him to renew his subscription. After several more calls the software salesman learned his numbers matched the first five numbers drawn on May 16 earning him a $1,000,000 pay day.

“When I heard the messages I thought the Lottery was just calling to remind me to renew my subscription. My son was the one that convinced me that maybe they were calling to tell me I won something,” he explained.

Levitt eventually checked his numbers on the Lottery’s Web site. That’s when he was convinced he was now $1,000,000 richer.

The winning numbers from the May 16 Mega Millions drawing were 13-14-16-50-56 Mega Ball 11.

Levitt will receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment. He will receive a net check totaling $623,040 after required withholdings. He plans to use the winnings to either purchase an apartment in Manhattan or a new house.

New Jersey Woman Hits $1,000,000 Powerball Prize in New York

Rosemary Franqueira, of Wanaque New Jersey admits she plays both the New Jersey and New York Lottery games daily. Franqueira glanced at the television and saw the results from the June 21 drawing and immediately checked the Powerball app. The app confirmed that her first five numbers matched the first five drawn earning her a $1,000,000 pay day.

“I was watching television early Saturday morning when I saw the winning numbers for Powerball flash across the screen,” explained Franqueira. “The numbers looked familiar so I got my phone, opened my Powerball app and checked. Sure enough my first five numbers matched!”

Franqueira claimed her prize at the Lottery’s Beaver Street Office on June 27. The $1,000,000 second prize is paid out as one-lump sum. Franqueira will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings.

Franqueira is still unsure of her plans for the winnings. “No plans yet, except to take care of my family.”

The winning numbers from the June 21 Powerball drawing were 5-6-37-41-54 Powerball 26.

Brooklyn Woman Wins $1,000,000 Scratch-Off Prize After Following Brother’s Advice

Fadila Kurshumlija, 49, of Brooklyn is $1,000,000 richer and has her brother to thank. Kurshumlija admits she rarely plays the Lottery, but decided to try her luck on a scratch-off ticket while visiting her brother in the Bronx. He suggested she try the Million Dollar Money Stack ticket. Kurshumlija followed his recommendation, purchased one $5 ticket and won the $1,000,000 top prize.

“I scratched the ticket right away and showed my brother,” explained Kurshumlija. “He told me it was a million dollar winner, but I was in disbelief.”

Kurshumlija purchased her jackpot winning ticket on June 22 at Go Hyang Jip on East 204^th Street in the Bronx. She claimed her prize on June 25 at the Lottery’s Manhattan Customer Service Center.

Kurshumlija chose to receive her prize in one lump sum payment totaling $830,000 (net $517,123). The newly minted millionaire said her plans for the money are simple. “I will help out my family and save for college for my children.”

The New York Lottery contributed $1,048,350,198.80 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout New York 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.