RALEIGH – Edward Owens, a resident of South Boston in Virginia, plans to use the $200,000 Powerball prize he won in the Aug. 24 drawing to pay bills, help his church and save for a rainy day. His ticket, which he purchased at the Eighty Six Convenient Mart on Highway 86 in Providence in Caswell County, matched all five white balls but not the red Power Ball.

“I checked my ticket at the store and it said I had to claim it at the lottery,” Owens said. “I went home and checked online and couldn’t believe it. I feel good, very grateful. I hope to be back soon.”

Owens received a check for $136,003 after state and federal taxes were withheld. Owens appreciates the fact that the money he spends on lottery tickets goes to fund education in North Carolina.

“I like that the money goes to the schools because they really need it,” Owens said. “Every little bit helps.”

From March 30, 2006 through June 30, 2011, Caswell County players won more than $6.4 million in prizes and local retailers earned more than $950,000 in commissions on ticket sales.

During the same time frame Caswell County education programs received more than $4.1 million in lottery funds. By law, these funds benefit specific programs. More than $1.2 million paid for 25 teacher salaries in grades K-3; more than $1 million provided 267 prekindergarten opportunities for at-risk four year olds; and more than $258,000 went to 254 need-based college scholarships. Caswell County officials decided how to utilize more than $1.5 million in school construction funds provided by the lottery.

To date, the N.C. Education Lottery has raised more than $2 billion for these initiatives statewide.