Lehigh County Woman Wins Lottery's First Lucky For Life Jackpot Prize

6 October 2004

BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Donna DeMatos, 54, of Center Valley, Lehigh County, is the first winner of the $3,000 a month for life top prize in the Pennsylvania Lottery's new LUCKY FOR LIFE LOTTO game. She became the first LUCKY FOR LIFE winner when she matched all six winning numbers in the game's initial drawing October 2, 2004.

Lottery Field Operations Project Manager Randy Knapp, Bethlehem Area Manager Craig Rogan and District Lottery Representative Christina Pelanne today presented DeMatos with a commemorative check representing her winnings of $3,000 a month for life. The check presentation took place at the store where DeMatos purchased the top prize-winning ticket, Route 378 Mobil, located at 3655 Route 378 in Bethlehem, Northampton County. Store manager Paula Odor hosted the celebration for owner Joe Topper.

DeMatos purchased her winning ticket when she stopped to buy $5 worth of Powerball(R) tickets.

"I had a $10 bill, so I also purchased two of the new LUCKY FOR LIFE tickets," DeMatos said. "I think I'm still in shock. I didn't believe it at the time, not even when my husband, Jack, said 'I think you won the Lottery.' And to think I was disappointed when the terminal didn't play the Lottery jingle when I bought the tickets!"

DeMatos said she has dreamed of attending nursing school and she now will enroll. She is employed by Harriet Carter(R) catalog and said that she loves her work, but is looking forward to a new career helping others, thanks to her good fortune. The three DeMatos children also will benefit from their mother's lifetime prize.

Route 378 Mobil will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning jackpot ticket. Topper indicated he plans to share most of the bonus with the store's five employees. "They're the best in the world and I want them to continue working with me," he said.

LUCKY FOR LIFE players receive one play for $2. Players select six numbers from 1 to 38, or they may elect the quick-pick, computer-selection method. LUCKY FOR LIFE tickets may be purchased up to 13 weeks (26 draws) in advance.

With each $2 purchase, players have a chance to win the jackpot annuity prize of $3,000 a month for life, $1 million guaranteed, by matching all 6-of-6 winning numbers drawn. The jackpot prize is paid in annual installments of $36,000 per year less appropriate federal withholding. Unlike other jackpot games, the top prize does not "roll" when no one wins. Prizes are set for matching 5-, 4- and 3-of-6 winning numbers. Odds of winning the LUCKY FOR LIFE jackpot prize are 1-in-2,760,681. Odds of winning any prize are 1-in-11.5.

Players also can win $10 instantly for each $2 LUCKY FOR LIFE purchase. The instant-play portion at the bottom of each ticket will either indicate "Instant Winner $10" or "No Instant Win, Try Again." The odds of winning $10 instantly are 1-in-20 statewide. When a player wins $10, the Lottery terminal plays the PA Lottery's signature jingle.

Instant wins can be paid to the player at the time of purchase. The player will then be issued an exchange ticket with the online LUCKY FOR LIFE portion of the ticket intact. Winning instant tickets can be redeemed up to one year after purchase.

The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only state Lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception 32 years ago, the Lottery has contributed more than $13.8 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free and reduced-fare transit; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including 650 full- and part-time senior centers throughout Pennsylvania. The Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older. For more information on the Pennsylvania Lottery, visit the Lottery's Web site, http://www.palottery.com.