RALEIGH – Joseph Rickman, a billboard salesman from Gibsonville, won $100,000 playing the Jingle Big Ol’ Bucks game just three days before Christmas.

“It’s remarkable to win this money,” Rickman said. “It’s just amazing to have a blessing like this come at this time of year.”

Rickman and his wife purchased the lucky ticket at Sheetz on South Main Street in Archdale on Saturday morning.

“I was driving and she was scratching the ticket,” Rickman said. “My wife just started shaking and hollering. She was so excited.”

Rickman said he plans to use a portion of his winnings, worth $68,001, to give to his church, share with his family and save for retirement.

“We’re not at retirement age yet but this will certainly help us in our golden years,” Rickman said as he collected his winnings.

Two more $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed in the $5 Jingle Big Ol’ Bucks game as of Monday afternoon.

As of September 2013, the lottery has raised more than $3 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, need-based college scholarships and financial aid and digital learning initiatives.

To see how more than $40.5 million in lottery dollars have made a difference in Alamance County, go to the Where the Money Goes webpage at http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/beneficiary.aspx.