RALEIGH – Jerry King, a retired utility worker from Greenville, plans to use the $100,000 prize he won playing Mega Bucks to pay bills and help a local family have a special Christmas.

“I’m going to use this money wisely and do some good with it,” King said. “There’s a family that I really want to help out and make sure they have a wonderful Christmas this year. And my church will get a donation, as well.”

King bought the lucky $5 ticket last week at the Fuel Doc on North Memorial Drive in Greenville.

“I wasn’t wearing my glasses at the time so I took the ticket up to the counter to have them scan it,” King said. “When the clerk said I had to claim the prize in Raleigh, I knew it must be some big stuff. I felt wonderful.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, King received a check for $69,201. As of Monday afternoon, four more top prizes remain to be claimed in the game.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.5 billion for the state. North Carolina Education Lottery net 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 more than $48 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Pitt County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.