RALEIGH – Kelly Thomas, 22, of Clemmons got the gift of a lifetime – $25,000 a year for life, for the rest of her life – from her grandfather, Peter Beckage after he bought a winning Lucky for Life ticket. Beckage, 85, who recently moved in with his daughter to be close to family, says Lucky for Life is one of his go-to games. He bought the winning ticket at Carlton’s Hampton Road Grocery in Clemmons on April 14th, after a Palm Sunday breakfast of pancakes with his granddaughter. “I knew if I ever won anything big, I would share it,” said Beckage. “I’m happy with the little wins, and I’m so happy this is a gift I can give to her.” Thomas, who will soon be attending UNC-Wilmington, plans to use her grandfather’s gift to pay for tuition, books and food as she studies to become an elementary school teacher. “To be able to focus on something I’m passionate about thanks to my grandpa is an amazing gift,” said Thomas. “I’ve always dreamed of being a Catholic school teacher and helping people. This money makes it possible for me.” Beckage stayed up late Monday night to check the drawing. “When I got all five, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I had a hard time getting back to sleep I was so excited.” The next morning at church, Beckage couldn’t focus on his prayers. He texted his daughter about his win and what he planned to do with the prize. They then waited together for his granddaughter to come home from volunteering. “Kelly, how would you like to have $25,000 a year for the rest of your life?” said Beckage as he greeted his granddaughter. “Oh my gosh Grandpa, did you win the lottery?” said Thomas. “I can’t believe it!” Thomas and her grandfather claimed her prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh Wednesday. Winners are guaranteed $25,000 a year for life and have the option of taking a lump sum of $390,000. Thomas chose the annuity and received her first annual payment. After federal and state tax withholdings, she took home $17,688. Lucky for Life has 10 ways to win a prize playing the game. This winning ticket beat the odds of one to 1.8 million to match all five white balls and win $25,000 A Year for Life. The top prize is $1,000 A Day for Life. Ticket sales from games like Lucky for Life made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $650 million a year for education. To learn how $9.6 million in lottery funds made a difference in Davidson County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.

May 31, 2019 – John Tessier of Woonsocket, RI is the winner of a $25,000 a year for life prize in the Lucky for Life game after the first five numbers on his Quic Pic ticket matched those selected in the drawing that took place Monday, May 20. Tessier, who visited the Massachusetts State Lottery’s Dorchester headquarters to claim his prize, chose to receive his prize in the form of a one-time payment of $390,000 (less tax withholdings). He purchased his winning ticket at Auburn Park ‘n Shop, 711 Southbridge St. in Auburn. The store will receive a $5,000 bonus for its sale. Lucky for Life tickets are $2 each. Drawings are held every Monday and Thursday at 10:38 p.m.

May 31, 2019 – Francisco Feliciano of East Springfield is the winner of a $25,000 a year for life prize in the Lucky for Life game after the first five numbers on his ticket matched those selected in the drawing that took place Thursday, May 30. Feliciano, who visited the Massachusetts State Lottery’s Dorchester headquarters to claim his prize, chose to receive his prize in the form of a one-time payment of $390,000 (less tax withholdings). He purchased his winning ticket at Lighthouse Liquors, 856 Memorial Drive in Chicopee. The store will receive a $5,000 bonus for its sale. Lucky for Life tickets are $2 each. Drawings are held every Monday and Thursday at 10:38 p.m.

May 20, 2019 – Amarjeet Makkar of Nashua, NH is the winner of a $25,000 a year for life prize in the Lucky for Life game after the first five numbers on his ticket matched those selected in the drawing that took place Monday, April 22. Makkar, who visited the Massachusetts State Lottery’s Dorchester headquarters to claim his prize, chose to receive his prize in the form of a one-time payment of $390,000 (less tax withholdings). He purchased his winning Quic Pic ticket at McGill’s Deli, 1317 Main St. in Wakefield. The store will receive a $5,000 bonus for its sale. Lucky for Life tickets are $2 each. Drawings are held every Monday and Thursday at 10:38 p.m. ET.

April 26, 2019 Alexander Wilson of Melrose is the winner of a $25,000 a year for life prize in the Lucky for Life game after the first five numbers on his ticket matched those selected in the drawing that took place Thursday, April 4.. Wilson chose the annuity option on his prize and received his first annual payment of $25,000 (less tax withholdings). He plans on using some of his winnings to fund his entries into the many ironman races in which he participates. He purchased his winning Quic Pic ticket at Garniss Market, 165 W. Emerson St. in Melrose. The store will receive a $5,000 bonus for its sale. Lucky for Life tickets are $2 each. Drawings are held every Monday and Thursday at 10:38 p.m. ET.

Matthew Sherlock of Seekonk is the winner of a $25,000 a year for life prize in the Lucky for Life  game after the first five numbers on his ticket matched those selected in the drawing that took place Thursday, January 17, 2019.

Sherlock opted to receive his prize in the form of a one-time payment of $390,000 (less tax withholdings). He plans on using part of his winnings to buy a new motorcycle.

He purchased his winning ticket at Landry Liquors, 134 Central Ave in Seekonk. The store will receive a $5,000 bonus for its sale.

Lucky for Life tickets are $2 each and can be played in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Drawings are held every Monday and Thursday at 10:38 p.m. ET.

John Ballard Jr. of Raleigh said a $25,000 A Year For Life prize is going to help him with retirement.

“I always thought I would have to be working until I’m at least 80,” said Ballard. “But now, with being able to invest this win, I don’t have to work until I’m 80 anymore! That’s awesome.”

Ballard bought the lucky $2 ticket for the Nov. 15 drawing at Lowes Food on Bass Lake Road in Holly Springs where he is a manager.

He claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of getting $25,000 a year every year for the rest of his life or a lump sum of $390,000. He chose the lump sum and, after federal and state tax withholdings, took home $ 274,952.

“I’ve been playing the lottery for 20 or so years,” said Ballard. “But I have never won more than $25. I love Lucky For Life. I’m going to continue to tell everyone about this game.”

Players win the $25,000 A Year For Life prize by matching all five white balls. Ballard is the 18th player in North Carolina to claim the game’s second prize since the game started here in February 2016.

In all, there are 10 ways to win a prize playing Lucky For Life. The game’s top prize is $1,000 A Day For Life. So far, two North Carolinians have won the top prize.

Ticket sales from draw games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $650 million a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.

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Palmer Lewis of Haw River said he’s making big plans after he won a $25,000 a year for life Lucky For Life prize.

“This is going to be life-changing,” Lewis said. “Right now I have a 98’ Ford. I’m going to get a new car, maybe a van. Something that’s easier for me to get in and out of. I’m also going to fix up my home.”

Using his own numbers, Lewis bought the ticket for Thursday’s drawing at the Food Lion on South Main Street in Graham.

“I knew I should’ve waited until the morning to check the numbers,” Lewis said. “I couldn’t sleep after I checked them I was so excited. I only slept for an hour and a half.”

He claimed his prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of getting $25,000 a year, every year, for the rest of his life or a lump sum of $390,000. He chose the lump sum and, after federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $274,954.

The $2 ticket beat odds of one in 1.8 million to win the game’s second prize of $25,000 a year for life. So far, two North Carolinians have won the top prize, $1,000 a day for life, and 17 tickets have won the second prize. There are 10 ways to win a prize playing Lucky For Life.

A Marshall County couple arrived at the Kansas Lottery headquarters in Topeka on June 28, 2018 to claim their Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life! The winners, who chose to remain anonymous, matched all five numbers and the Lucky Ball on a Quick Pick ticket in Monday’s June 25th Lucky for Life drawing.

“For ten years now, we’ve bought tickets twice a week for the draw games,” said the winners. “For some games we pick our own numbers, and on other games we just do Quick Picks. We’re glad we did a Quick Pick this time for sure!”

The couple didn’t check their tickets until Wednesday, even though they knew that someone had won the big prize.

“I got a push notification on my phone that the Lucky for Life top prize was hit in Kansas, but I didn’t check it against my numbers. I just went to work,” said the winner. “We keep all of our tickets on a clip next to the refrigerator, and we check them once or twice a week.”

“When we finally remembered to check the tickets, I saw that Lucky for Life ticket and figured out that we were the winner. I showed my wife, and then she made me check it one more time. We couldn’t believe it at first,” said the winner. “It still hasn’t fully sunk in yet. It truly is a life-changing thing, and we just had it clipped next to the fridge for a couple days,” the winners said with a laugh.

The couple opted to take the cash option instead of the annuity prize, which is $5.75 million dollars before taxes. The prize is large enough for both of them to consider retiring early and quitting their jobs.

“We’re both close enough to retirement that this win will make it possible for us to retire early,” the winner said. “Now we just have to figure out what we’re going to do with our spare time!”

The couple said they plan to use their newfound free time and money to get back into old hobbies and to take a few trips they’ve been putting off.

“We don’t really know what the future holds for us,” the winners said. “But we’ve got a lot to think about, and plenty of options. It’s a great problem to have!”

The winning ticket was sold at CJ Express 1 at 1202 11^th Road in Marysville.