Richard “JJ” Ledford, a painter from Enka in Buncombe County, said he plans to use his $100,000 win playing the $100,000 Treasure Tree game to help a charity and boost his savings.
Ledford’s good luck came Saturday night when he bought instant tickets at the One Stop on Wiggins Road in Candler. He said he first won $10 on an instant ticket, bought some more tickets and won $15, and then used the winnings to buy a Carolina Gold ticket and a $100,000 Treasure Tree ticket. His lucky streak continued with a $50 win on Carolina Gold and then the top prize in the $100,000 Treasure Tree game.
“I called my wife and she didn’t believe me,” Ledford said Friday as he collected his check. “She said, “How come you are so calm?’ I said, ‘I’m speechless.’”
Ledford received a check for $68,001 after taxes were withheld. One top prize remains to be claimed in the $100,000 Treasure Tree game as of Friday afternoon.
Asked about his plans for his winnings, Ledford said, “Hopefully make do with it. Make the best of it. I’m going to give a bit to charity and try to put some back for a rainy day.”
From March 30, 2006 through June 30, 2011, Buncombe County education programs received more than $31.7 million in lottery funds, including $11.7 million for teacher salaries in grades K-3; $12.7 million for school construction or repair projects; $4 million for prekindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds; and $3 million for college scholarships based on financial need.
To date, the N.C. Education Lottery has raised more than $2.1 billion for these initiatives statewide.