Updated: 6:06 PM EDT Apr 3, 2021
WXII12.com Web Staff
The North Carolina Education Lottery is celebrating its 15th anniversary.The game has given out nearly $18 billion in prizes over the years and raised about $2 million each day for education in the state.“Every ticket that is purchased provides money for education,” said Mark Michalko, the executive director of the lottery. “We’re proud to play our part in supporting our students and schools and will work to continue this success for the next 15 years.”For its anniversary, WXII 12 News picked a few of its favorite winner stories to look back on.In February of 2015, a single mother of four from Shallotte won $564 million. She chose the lump sum payment of $127 million and bought her family a house with the winnings."I scared my kids because I was jumping up and down in the house," Marie Holmes said. "And they ran away from me because I scared them."She said because of the win, she hired security to accompany her, a lawyer and a financial advisor.In May of 2016, a lucky man in Greensboro won three times in two years. Plus, two of the times were within less than a month.Ralph Havis won $1 million paying scratch-offs. He said he loved playing them with his late wife, Alma, who had died earlier in the year.He chalked up his latest win to her and God, and said he would give it all up in a heartbeat just to see her again.Havis said he wouldn't quit his job, because he loved cooking up burgers. He said he would probably give some of the money to his employees and save the rest.During the holidays of 2016, a Forsyth County man bought the winning ticket at the same place where he got lucky just months before.Jimmy Bean won $1 million just months after he won $10,000 at the Quality Mart on Hanes Mall Boulevard. He said he planned to buy a new truck, invest and keep working.