Office Pool Wins Powerball

18 July 2005

ALTOONA, Pennsylvania –- (PRESS RELEASE) -- An office pool of 15 FEMA workers hit it big this week, winning the $10 million Powerball drawing in West Virginia. The winning ticket was purchased at the Sheetz store on Washington Street in Charles Town, WV, where the "FEMA TEAM" had been loyal lottery customers for years. The winning numbers were randomly chosen for a drawing held June 29th.

"We couldn't be happier to see our Sheetz customers win big," said Louie Sheetz, executive vice president of marketing for Sheetz. "This is what makes the lottery so exciting!"

The winners opted for the $5.8 million cash option, with Debbie Bucher of Winchester, VA claiming the prize on behalf of the 15 FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) workers. Each of the 15 winners received $388,048.12 before taxes.

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin and Sheetz representatives were on-hand to present the winners with an oversized check made payable to "FEMA TEAM," on July 13th in Charleston, WV.

Sheetz is a leading lottery retailer in West Virginia, selling a record $3.35 million in lottery products in their 23 stores last year, generating nearly one million dollars in revenue for the state. As compensation for selling lottery tickets, retailers are paid a bonus by the lottery commission for selling winning tickets. Sheetz, wanting to share this good fortune with the Charles Town community, presented $10,000 to St. Jude Children's Hospital on behalf of the employees from Sheetz Store #240 in Charles Town.

Sheetz District Manager Ramona Kitt said employees at the store were in unanimous agreement to donate to the children's hospital. As the check was presented to Julie Janes, regional representative for St. Jude's, Kitt said her company's enthusiasm is two-fold. "While celebrating with the winners, we are grateful for the opportunity to be able to share with St. Jude's. We're thrilled for our customers; and we're thrilled for the children of St. Jude's."

The "FEMA TEAM" has been buying lottery tickets together as a group for over five years. They have hit winning numbers a few times in the past, but nothing of this magnitude. The group all agreed they owe a debt of gratitude to Paul Whittemore, who buys the tickets for the group.

Contacted at home, Whittemore said buying the tickets has been a pleasure. "Getting 14 other people together to talk about the details of the win, has been something else, sort of like herding cats and mice at the same time. For his part, Whittemore said he would pay off a home mortgage, donate to a couple charities and continue to celebrate. Whittemore said he's been on a roller coaster since June 29. "I bought 15 tickets for the drawing, but quite frankly, I was so excited over the $10 million, I didn't even check the other tickets!"

Established by Bob Sheetz as a single store in 1952, Altoona, Pennsylvania, based Sheetz, Inc. is one of America's fastest growing family- owned and operated convenience store chains, with more than $2.8 billion in revenue and more than 10,000 employees. The company operates more than 300 convenience locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina. Sheetz provides an award-winning menu of made-to-order subs, sandwiches and salads, which are ordered through unique touch-screen order point terminals. Sheetz currently ranks 87 on the Forbes list of largest private companies and was named fourth best place to work in PA this year. All Sheetz convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.