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Lottery winner plans to build medical center11 August 2008SACRAMENTO, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- "Look at all these zeros," said Kris Schoonmaker of Pleasanton when holding the $1 million check that represented his Big Spin prize winnings. Schoonmaker is a millwright who recently married his wife Allana from the Philippines. She is in the process of moving to the U.S., but Schoonmaker didn't hesitate when asked what he might do with his new wealth, "We're going to build an infirmary or medical facility in my wife's hometown. There are 15,000 homeless kids in her province. I'm sure this is 'God's grace.'" Schoonmaker and other contestants won a grand total of $1,255,000 on the latest episode of the Big Spin show which aired Saturday, August 9. Three contestants added to the game show's suspense by playing the Fantasy 5 Dream Machine. Usually contestants wrestle with whether they should put another ball in play during the game because they could lose a prize they have already won. Not so with Rick Lewis of Morro Bay. While his wife and other members of the studio audience wondered if he would continue to risk his winnings, he responded, "You can ask, but I'm still playing." He did keep playing and won $80,000. Patrick Soltero of Spring Valley began playing Fantasy 5 three months ago. He played all five balls and said he would have played more if given the choice. Soltero walked away with $75,000, plans to buy a brand new car, start a DJ company and maybe take a trip some place where the dollar is strong. Norman Boyer of San Diego has been married to his wife for 61 years. Boyer won $60,000 and would like to take a cruise to visit the Hawaiian Islands. His advice for future Lottery game show contestants, "Try to stay calm. I was nervous." The final big winner of the day was Serif Cakisic of San Jose. "It's very exciting to be here," Cakisic said before he spun the wheel. The tall, young man -- along with his parents -- moved to the U.S. eight years ago from war-torn Bosnia. Today, Cakisic supports his parents and will use his $40,000 prize to continue providing for them. Cakisic works for a cable company in the Silicon Valley. |