Brian Baer of Cary will start the Memorial Day weekend as a $1 million Powerball winner.

Baer’s lucky Quick Pick ticket matched all five white balls in the March 15 Powerball drawing, beating odds of 1 in 5.1 million. He purchased the ticket at Dolphins on Commons Hill Drive in Cary.

After taxes were withheld, Baer received $692,000. Since the start of the year in January, North Carolina has had lottery players claim three Powerball wins of $1 million and two Powerball wins of $2 million. Matching all five white balls wins a $2 million prize when the ticket is a $3 Power Play ticket.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.3 billion for the state. 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 $233.6 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Wake County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.