OSWEGO, NY – Nancy Howard of Oswego won the prize of a lifetime on the Lottery’s popular Set For Life scratch-off game. The newly retired SUNY Oswego cook explained that this win was a long time in the making.

“I’ve played the Set For Life game since it came out,” she said.  “The most I won in the past was $500.  When I saw the word ‘LIFE’ under my matching number I almost fainted!”

Howard purchased her life changing ticket at Kinney Drugs on West Bridge Road in Oswego.  “I stopped at Kinney to pick up a few things on my way home from work and decided to buy my ticket there. I brought it to my friend’s house to see if she saw what I was seeing. She’s the one that convinced me that I really did win.”

Howard chose to receive her prize as one lump sum. She will receive a one-time payment totaling $4,186,978 before required withholdings. Her net check will total $2,770,942.

“When it really sunk in, I just started jumping around all excited,” said Howard. “My plans for the money are pretty simple, investments and home improvements to start. Then we hope to take a trip to visit our son in Oregon.”

The New York Lottery contributed $33,922,931 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Oswego County during fiscal year 2013-2014.

About the New York Lottery

The NY 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.

NY 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.