A $250,000 prize means Terry McClelland and his wife, Terry, of Statesville are able to fulfill a life-long dream of starting a nonprofit to help people battling substance abuse.
The 22-year Army veteran stopped by the Speedway on Turnersburg Highway in Statesville on Saturday to try his luck on the $250,000 Diamond Dazzler scratch-off.
“When I scratched that ticket,” said McClelland. “I couldn’t believe it. It’s still unbelievable.”
The couple claimed their prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Upon seeing the big check, the husband and wife embraced, realizing what the prize money could do for their hometown. It had been the wife’s dream to help others find hope when overcoming substance abuse.
“This is what I was put on this earth to do” said Terry who is pursuing her doctorate in psychology. “It’s my calling. This is why I did all those years of college. There’s people out there that need something, and now we are going to be able to help and bless someone else.”
After required state and federal tax withholdings, the couple took home $173,754.
The $5 game launched in September with five top prizes of $250,000. Two top prizes remain to be claimed.
Ticket sales from instant games like $250,000 Diamond Dazzler make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Iredell County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.
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