RALEIGH – Kevin Riggs, a Martin County EMS volunteer from Pitt County, plans to use the $250,000 he won playing $250,000 Cash Money to make repairs to his home and purchase a new truck.

Riggs, who works as an appliance repairman, scratched off the lucky $5 ticket after purchasing it at the Food Lion on N.C. 55 in Durham.

“As soon as I scratched it, I started looking around for a pen to sign the back of the ticket,” Riggs said. “I’ve always felt like a big win was coming my way, but it was still unbelievable. This feels wonderful.”

After state and federal taxes were collected, Riggs received a check for $173,001. As of Tuesday afternoon, two more top prizes remain to be claimed in the $250,000 Cash Money game.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.19 billion for education programs statewide. Net proceeds are used for prekindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction, digital learning initiatives, 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.