RALEIGH – Hilda Martinez of Washington plans to use the $100,000 she won playing Mega Bucks to take a trip to Florida and buy a new car for her daughter.

“I haven’t had a vacation in a long time,” Martinez said. “I was planning on taking my kids to Florida later this year for a couple of days, but now we’re going to make it a longer trip. And my oldest has been needing a new car, so this comes at a great time. This feels really good.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Martinez received a check for $68,001. As of Wednesday morning, seven top prizes remain to be claimed in the Mega Bucks game. Martinez purchased the lucky $5 ticket at the Family Country Store on Cherry Run Road in Washington.

As of June 2013, the lottery has raised more than $2.9 billion to support education programs. Lottery dollars support teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction and repair projects, prekindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, college scholarships and financial aid based on need and digital learning initiatives.

To see how more than $11.2 million in lottery dollars have made a difference in Beaufort County, go to the Where the Money Goes webpage at http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/beneficiary.aspx.