Massage therapist Boni Hutchinson-Ennis of Boise, Idaho, has been touched by Lottery luck twice in the last three years — most recently, when she won and claimed a $250,000 top prize on the Scratch Game Idaho $250,000 Jackpot.
She purchased her winning ticket from a WinStation vending machine at the Fred Meyer on Chinden Boulevard in Garden City.
Three years ago, Hutchinson-Ennis won $100,000 on the Idaho Lottery's Black Ticket, from a ticket purchased at the Fred Meyer on Federal Way in Boise.
"Just like last time, my husband and I got about two hours of sleep," said Hutchinson-Ennis, after scratching the winning ticket Wednesday night. "And the story was the same as last time, we stopped in to buy some groceries and had $20 left over, so, we bought one ticket."
Hutchinson-Ennis admitted that since she's told people she won for the second time, many of them are hoping that her touch of luck will rub off.
"I became a massage therapist so that I could help people. I believe in good Karma. I'm not doing it to become a millionaire," she said. Then added, laughing, "I'm playing the Lottery to do that."
On her last win, Hutchinson-Ennis put most of her winnings into making her massage business successful. This time, she plans to purchase a new motorized wheel-chair for her daughter who has Spina Bifida. She and her husband, Dave, also plan to help their family pay funeral expenses for Ennis's late mother, purchase a new vehicle, and then save and invest the rest.
"I'm trying to convince her to take a cruise somewhere sunny," added Ennis. "She works hard. She deserves to take a nice vacation someplace warm."
For their part in selling the winning ticket, Fred Meyer receives a bonus from the Idaho Lottery for $20,000.
Miss Fortune sure loves to play favorites. Majority of us can't even win $5,000 and elsewhere she's dishing big winners time and again to others. A $250,000 is a good good catch!
Congrats on the double win! I'm still looking for my first substantial one...
They seem like good people who deserve it. I could never win a lotto and give someone else a massage.
Congrats to Boni
Guess she is the exception to the rule, that lightning does not strike twice in the same place. Poor comparison, I know, but could not resist!
Congratulation Boni
Lucky lady,can even hit a pick 3 or 4 in this state.
Hello tennessee if you could win more we would play more.I guess who runs it dont get it yet.I know I'm not gonna win so why waste my gas going to store.
Gotta love it !!!!!!........Keeep on winning Boni
Lightning struck in Boise, then it struck in Garden City. Boni just happened to be in both places when it did strike
I wonder if she increased her frequency of play or lottery expenditures after winning the first time, or if she has stuck with the "one ticket" routine. I know that if I won a sizable amount I might be more lax on my spending.
In due time, lady luck will be knocking at our door. Congrats on the win to this lucky lady and her husband
I got a tweet from the Idaho lottery saying this scratcher was 90+% sold and still one grand prize out. I decided to splurge $20 and buy one, but the likker store didn't have this game. So the next day I took a walk to a Stinker store planning on buying one, but I had some time to think about it on the way there. I decided that it was extremely unlikely that the winning ticket was even at the store I was going to, so by the time I arrived, I had talked myself out of buying one.
Good thing, because it was sold on the other side of town just 2 days later. Whew, saved myself $20. LOL I guess I'm just not cut out to play scratchers.
Winning the lottery has allowed her to expand her massage business.
Well that will certainly bring her many "happy endings" to daily bank deposits, lol.
$20 for a scratch off with a top prize of $250k? Seems stingy to me. Usually the top prizes on $20 scratch tickets are much more. Idaho is being stingy............