RALEIGH – Victor Blackwell of Matthews said his church and his retirement fund will be the beneficiaries of a $173,465 Cash 5 jackpot he won Friday night.

Blackwell, a physical trainer, said he had just left the gym Saturday morning when he called the N.C. Education Lottery’s customer service line to get the five winning numbers from the Dec. 12 drawing. He said he knew as he listened that the set of numbers he had put together the day before had matched the five winning numbers.

“I got a knot in my chest,” Blackwell said. “I couldn’t believe it. I got on my knees first thing. I knew who to thank.”

After taxes were withheld, Blackwell received a check for $120,038. He said he planned to donate 20 percent of his winning to his church and use the rest to help his retirement fund.

Blackwell bought his lucky ticket at the Adams Mart on East Independence Boulevard in Matthews. It beat odds of 1 in 575,757 to win the game’s jackpot.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the Education Lottery to raise more than half a billion a year for education programs in North Carolina. Lottery proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Mecklenburg County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.