Jackpot has potential to ‘snowball into something special’

August 19, 2015 Posted by NC Lottery at 10:58 AM

We often hear from players that, if they had the good fortune to win a big lottery prize, they’d want to support good causes.

Since Wednesday is World Humanitarian Day – and tonight’s Powerball jackpot annuity is $80 million, worth $51.2 million cash – we'd like to know: If you won it, is there something you'd like to do to help your family, your community or even the world?

One of our biggest lottery jackpot winners, Frank Griffin of Asheville, used some of the $141.4 million he won playing Powerball to build something lasting for his community. Where the Enka High School softball team once needed its own place to practice and play, now stands a state-of-the-art facility: Griffin Field.

“For Enka softball, it’s a home run,” said Frank Fraboni of WLOS-TV in Asheville. “The Powerball has snowballed into something special.”

We appreciate that folks play the lottery for a chance to win and, in the process, help us raise money for education in our great state. If you were to win a big prize, would you use some of your winnings to make a difference?

51 COMMENTS

8/24/2015 03:24 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER - We appreciate you and all our players. But we talk with folks every day about the importance of playing for fun knowing it takes luck to win a prize playing games of chance - and while we hope you win a prize, there is never a guarantee so it is important not to look at the lottery as a plan or solution for financial challenges. We certainly wish you the very best with all things.

8/23/2015 07:44 - Tiffany S.

i have never played powerballs,etc. I play scratch offs like a crack addicted and never won more than 10.00. o well i still play. but if i ever won big. my first thing would be to help the children with asthma. you hear all these foundations, etc for other dieases but not for asthma. my daughter is 4 and been resisitated 2 twice for asthma. then i would move on to a house and a car. i have a 99 neon and its holding on by threads, and taking her to raleigh from fayettevile for dr. appts is making it worse i pray get back home.(lol) then the house the way the economy is and bouncing from job to job is ughh.. so then i woundnt have worry about landlord it would be mine..... so thats my lotto dreams.

8/22/2015 08:56 - Maria M.

Yes, if I won big, I would help my family with any financial situations and I would put my great grand-nieces through college. I would donate to Cancer Center as I am a cancer survivor.

8/22/2015 07:25 - Carol H.

I would help my handicapped brother and others like him as well as my disabled mom and some other family members. I would help a small mountain community center that gives hope to the community, cancer research, and St. Jude's. So really, I would be giving to the things I do now, just in a larger and more impactful way.

8/21/2015 11:22 - denise b.

I'm telling u North Carolina pick 3 and 4 cash 5 mega and lotto is rigged any time u play all the time and u don't win a dollar to funny when I was in New York u at least when something sometime. NC Lottery
Sorry you feel that way. All our drawings are conducted with auditors watching. We also do live drawings for those games each night. We report each week on the results. This week, we reported that North Carolinians won $3.7 million in draw games. You can read more here. https://www.lucke-zone.com/Details/2015/8/21/Twenty-tickets-pay-off-in-a-big-way-this-week

8/20/2015 01:31 - scottie t.

If i ever got lucke i would give to the needy God grant me that i would be given to places that really needs it.

8/20/2015 01:01 - coriante s.

I want to know when u start promoting the new scratch off ticket that cost 30 dollars top prize 10 millionNC Lottery
You will be hearing/seeing a lot about the new game as we get closer to First Tuesday in September! Stay tuned! :)

8/20/2015 11:56 - Betty O.

we need some winning tickets in Union Mills, N.C. and yes I would give part of it back.

8/20/2015 11:51 - Sharon S.

There is so much going on in the world you can never run out of doing good towards mankind! I would start with my family and extend daily the kindness that God has extended towards me.i would love to be in the right the right time and pay it forward all day everyday! Grocery store,beginning of school n during. There are so many children and families in need! We can help!

8/20/2015 11:04 - Phyllis R.

I've aready did

8/20/2015 10:39 - Ronald C.

Spreading your wealth is a very good thing!

8/20/2015 10:19 - Sue A.

We have won - the most so far was $175 and we gave it to a family at Christmas who was and still is struggling. There are many families out there that even $20 would be a huge help. We often discuss how we could help by winning even a small share of a large jackpot. Reading this blog and seeing the huge hearts of everyone is the real prize.

8/20/2015 08:18 - Michelle H.

Pay my bills off and my family bills put something asand spend atleast 5million helping the less fortunate

8/20/2015 08:08 - Geraldine J.

Yes I would because there is no boys and girls club where I grew up.The kids don't have any type of access to anything.Where I'm from people are so tight with their old money that they could do something but they just won't.I grew up with a park that had a swimming pool ,but we weren't allowed to go swim only certain ones' were allowed.Even though my family paid taxes to the county it was no trespassing for us.

8/20/2015 07:01 - MR. Kenneth R.

IF I ever win of course I will help my community, start a foundation and help people any way I can because I need help sometime

8/20/2015 05:07 - delma f.

I find great joy and satisfaction in giving,so definitely I would give first to my family then to a lot of very worthy causes like The Meals On Wheels and so on. We cannot take it with us. If we have a roof over our heads, food on the table and cloths on our back, what more do we need?

8/20/2015 03:53 - Phyllis R.

Yes, I will give back. First I will give my 10% to my church,then I will fill all the food banks in Winston-Salem. I will start my own foundation to give to the people when they are in need.

8/20/2015 01:23 - Tony T.

I would give to the Humane society or a local SPCA for starters. Also, since our legislators won't let winners remain anon. I would flat out turn down anyone that comes around looking/calling for handouts ! Have a few other charities in mind too, would be very giving if I had a windfall for sure !

8/20/2015 12:44 - Lawrence L.

I am 90 days form becoming homeless. After I either secure my home from foreclosure or find another home in NC. I would give to two organizations dear to my heart. The Children Shriner's Hospital and Wounded Warriors Project. Then I could live with myself.

8/20/2015 12:24 - michael m.

I would definitely help others. I have made a promise that when I win the Mega Millions or Powerball, I will give half of the money away. Set up a large portion in trusts so that friends and family will receive weekly checks. Houses and land that are paid for with them having lifetime rights and never having to worry about paying taxes or rent. Starting businesses that as long as they make a profit, the employee's receive those profits as an end of year bonus. New vehicles for friends and family that they only have to put gas in. No insurance, tags, taxes, or payments. Vehicles and housing for veterans and family's that are actually trying but can't seem to get ahead and are struggling. Of course, my family and myself would have nice things and a nice house with acreage, but it wouldn't mean anything if I couldn't share my good fortune with others. If you are blessed, be a blessing to others.

8/20/2015 12:16 - welford c.

First I would give to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then I would give to my family.(brother, sisters, )Next I would share with my favorite charity.

8/19/2015 11:04 - sheleen j.

I definitely would do something for the community as well as help others having a hard time in life. It never hurts to pay it forward, offer a helping hand just because. Hoping to win something one day. Good luck

8/19/2015 10:45 - craig d.

Sure I would help my family, some of those who I see daily that live well below means that most of don't talk about. Plus there would be a certain charity I'd give too and church.

8/19/2015 10:13 - Michelle G.

The kids school is currently in a lot and consists of trailers. They also don't have a free lunch program. I would implement a school lunch program for the kids who cannot afford it. Right now the teachers are doing it but I would like to take make sure It's something carries through from year to year

8/19/2015 09:34 - April S.

I have a son with autism so i would donate to autism society. And of course help my family

8/19/2015 09:22 - Clarence W.

I definitely would. If I ever do, I am donating 50% of it to help children and needy families. I would also give 25% to my two daughters. I figure the other 25% would do me.

8/19/2015 09:15 - Annie M.

Would set up a fund to help victims of stalking, it seems to me that there is very little assistance for these victims...especially the local police and the court system as well.

8/19/2015 08:58 - mary r h.

Every time I make a comment it is NEVER post.Stop asking me to post.

8/19/2015 08:53 - james c.

Please do survey on why people play the nnc scratch off .I fair to say ,it is not for ,it is not for the dream world fun,fun fun ,as you,ll often say .as for reason please make scratch tickets payout fair.

8/19/2015 08:48 - Betty K.

I would definitely give back .To my family and my church.And I would donate to good causes .If God Blessed me I would definitely Blessed other's .

8/19/2015 08:44 - Ellen F.

Yes , I would give more to St. Judes Children Hospital. I try to give to them when I can . Also would give to my church .

8/19/2015 08:43 - natasha D.

I would give to St. Judes, aspca or humane society. I would also supply schools in onslow county with money for textbooks! Kids need textbooks, education should not be taught on a computer!

8/19/2015 08:24 - donna j.

I would donate to type1 diabetes and to cerebral palsy...would also donate to my grand kids school to get them new play ground equipment....donate to food pantry....then help out some family members and a few others in need....

8/19/2015 07:58 - Kimberly P.

Yes,I would catch up on my bills since I've been out of work battling cancer,then I would donate a huge portion to a cancer foundation & research on finding a cure to end Cancer

8/19/2015 07:42 - Martha T.

I would like to send all five grandchildren through college and definitely give back to my community in some way.

8/19/2015 06:48 - velrice w.

Yes if I was to win the lottery which I know I will one day I would help my family and I want help those less fortunate as myself I don't have a lot but I thank God for what I do have but also if I win the lottery that would make my life so much easier and I can help so many people.loving every minute of my life

8/19/2015 04:32 - Christopher b.

Yes I would give back.I'm a 26yr old african American that want to see everyone in the world doing good.I can remember as a kid growing up how the families would come together.It didn't matter if it was for dinner or if you just wanted to go to a family member house.I also remember how on Christmas all the kids would be outside playing with there new toys.These days 2015 family don't really talk like that,kids don't be outside.Everything is about Facebook or texting or video games.I guess my point of writing all of this is to say it doesn't matter what size or color you are we all trying to make it to the same place.WITH GOD.Peace,love and happiness I'll give back

8/19/2015 04:06 - darrell t.

Absolutely, if you win something like the Powerball you have to give back. No person needs that kind of money !! I would give to some charities and help some less fortunate people.

8/19/2015 04:02 - Jackie B.

Ovarian Cancer early testing a memorial for my daughter

8/19/2015 03:21 - napoleon d.

I would build a basketball gym for my aau team and for the kids to attend and learn how to play the game

8/19/2015 02:37 - jimmie h.

Good deeds go a long way ! That's what I will do if I hit for that amount or more is build something for the kids in my hometown.

8/19/2015 02:17 - jason r.

Please.please....tell us when we enter winning tickets...it can not be that hard to tell us we just entered a winning ticket or just don't let us enter winners..most people don't even enter winning tickets they take them straight in the store to get there money....please go back like it was...NC Lottery
We hear you, and the folks who manage the Lucke-Zone read the blog. We can't tell you there are plans at this time to update the ticket entry system.

8/19/2015 01:58 - Gregory W.

A community center for Harrells NC a place for the kids and adults could go 2 have fun everything is so far away from this place.

8/19/2015 01:54 - Pamela H.

You better believe it! Winning is half the fun and making life better for those around you is the other half.

8/19/2015 01:54 - January R.

Build homes to help homeless men, women n children. Me and my son like to volunteer and helping others is what we do. There are not enough shelters in Charlotte to help people that are down. The ones here are always over crowded

8/19/2015 01:35 - carolyn j.

nice thing you did for the community.

8/19/2015 01:14 - Michelle B.

Absolutely! I would help out my family financially, start an animal rescue, donate money to animal and human charities and build a modest sized home on a few acres of wooded land.

8/19/2015 12:45 - charlotte b.

Yes of course!

8/19/2015 12:22 - dennis s.

I would look to share with those who struggle to pay student loans. And those with criminal past trying to live normal lives with the weight placed on them of life crippling convictions. And also to the reform of our justice system.

8/19/2015 11:20 - zenja d.

I recently lost my mom,my dad passed in 2002. They were givers.They gave, helped others regardless of what others had. Now they are gone but not forgotten so to honor them my good fortune lottery or not will be tide in to helping others through the foundation we started.To help others with simple things they did without like meds,the everyday needs of life water,lights,heat,etc.This is just a few missions we have.Just for the sake of helping someone else

8/19/2015 11:15 - dowand k.

I would I couldn't live with myself if I didn't give back

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Jackpot has potential to ‘snowball into something special’

August 19, 2015 Posted by NC Lottery at 10:58 AM

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