Saturday, August 9, 2008

Family Wins $42.5 Million Powerball Jackpot Cash Prize

Barrie Edwards of Willow Street did not buy the Aug. 2 Powerball ticket that earned him over $42 million - he received the promotional ticket for free when he purchased two Pennsylvania Lottery Match 6 tickets. Now, Edwards and his wife are sharing their good fortune with a dozen relatives.

Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf and Lottery Executive Director Ed Trees today presented a ceremonial check for $42,529,765.37, less 25 percent federal withholding, to 14 members of the Edwards and Funk families of Lancaster County, holders of the single jackpot-winning ticket from the Aug. 2 Powerball drawing.

The families' jackpot-winning ticket matched all five white balls, 02-05-28-33-54, and the red Powerball, 30, to win the jackpot, which grew over nine drawings to an annuity value of $86.3 million. The $42.5 million cash prize won by the Edwards and Funks is the 10th largest prize awarded in Pennsylvania Lottery history.

"The Edwards and Funk families weren't the only winners in the Aug. 2 Powerball drawing," said Wolf. "Pennsylvania's older residents benefit from programs funded by Lottery proceeds, and the Aug. 2 jackpot generated more than $6.2 million for those programs."

Barrie Edwards watched the televised Powerball drawing to learn he held the jackpot-winning ticket. He immediately ran to share the news with his wife, Jean, who had gone to bed. Shortly after the drawing, the Edwards called Terry and Linda Edwards, Barrie's brother and sister-in-law, to inform them of the jackpot win.

Barrie and Terry Edwards and family members have purchased Lottery tickets for years, and long ago they made a verbal agreement that if one of them won a large jackpot, the prize would be split among family members, all of whom are natives or long-time residents of Lancaster County.