RALEIGH – James Cherry, a resident of Hope Mills in Cumberland County, says he will use the $103,627 he won playing Carolina Cash 5 to pay off bills, invest for the future and have a big Christmas.

Cherry matched all five numbers in the Nov. 10 drawing to win the jackpot. He purchased the winning ticket at the Short Stop on Legion Road in Hope Mills. He said he picked out one of the five Cash 5 play slips he carries in his wallet to pick his numbers for the evening drawing.

“It was just lucky,” Cherry said. I’m thrilled. It probably won’t sink in until I see it in my bank account.”

After taxes were withheld, Cherry received a check for $70,466. He said he may use a portion of his winnings to travel. He was happy to know that the money spent on lottery tickets goes to education in the state.

“There’s certainly a good benefit,” he said. “Teachers and schools really need it.”

From March 30, 2006 through June 30, 2011, Cumberland County players won more than $152.9 million in prizes and local retailers earned more than $20.6 million in commissions on ticket sales.

During the same time frame, Cumberland County education programs received more than $79.4 million in lottery funds. By law, these funds benefit specific programs. More than $21 million paid for salaries of 426 teachers in grades K-3; more than $24.1 million provided 6,236 prekindergarten opportunities for at-risk four year olds; and more than $5.4 million went to 4,654 need-based college scholarships. Cumberland County officials decided how to utilize more than $28.7 million in school construction funds provided by the lottery.

To date, the N.C. Education Lottery has raised more than $2.1 billion for these initiatives statewide.