RALEIGH – Efrain Sanchez, a landscaping foreman from Charlotte, plans to help his family with the $100,000 prize he won playing the Ultimate Crossword game.

“This feels great,” Sanchez said as he collected his winnings on Tuesday.

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Sanchez received a check for $69,201. He purchased the lucky $5 ticket at Food Lion on West Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte.

The $5 Ultimate Crossword game arrived in stores on Dec. 3. As of Tuesday afternoon, two more $100,000 top prizes remain to be claimed in the 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 and need-based college scholarships and financial aid and digital learning.

For details on how more than $254.5 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Mecklenburg County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.