10 Pennsylvania co-workers share $2 million Powerball prize

Oct 29, 2014, 12:36 pm (17 comments)

Powerball

Maybe there was a glare on the machine, and maybe Stacia Thomas just didn't think it possible.

The Red Lion woman scanned her ticket and stared at the prize line on the Pennsylvania Lottery machine. She thought it listed $2,000, so she asked a clerk at the Sunoco A-Plus Market to read the amount for her.

$2 million. Yes, that really happens.

"'Oh, my God, I gotta go tell the girls!'" Thomas recalled yelling before rushing back across the street to the office at Industrial Distribution Group to tell her nine coworkers they'd finally struck it big.

Over the past 10 years, the female colleagues each chipped in $2 per week to play the Lottery. They'd previously only won enough to buy a special lunch for themselves, but the Powerball ticket Thomas bought for Wednesday's drawing was worth $2 million.

After a 25 percent federal withholding, each of the women will get a lump-sum of $150,000.

The bosses at Industrial Distribution Group joked that they were glad it wasn't a big enough win for all of the colleagues — who work in human resources, accounting, and data processing — to quit their jobs at the same time, the women said.

But $150,000 isn't scratch, and the friends were still in a daze during a news conference and giant check presentation at the Sunoco, 3167 Susquehanna Trail in Conewago Township.

One of the women, expressing disbelief over the weekend, sent Thomas a text. "Oh, my God. You know, we won the lottery the other day."

Susan Cunningham of Dover said the only thing she has decided to do with the money so far is give a portion to Tri-Town Boys Club.

Darlene Kroh of York said she wants to remodel her kitchen and bathroom. Then, she'll train some people so she can retire.

Maggie Blouse of York said she wants to pay off her house.

But many of the other winning colleagues — Susan Luman of Dallastown, Vickie Enterline of Mechanicsburg, Stephanie Groff of York, Prima Anthony of York, Michelle Cunningham of York, and Christine Hivner of South Carolina — stood shyly behind the other women to avoid the attention.

Cunningham said the unsolicited advice has already started, and it usually begins with the sentence, "It's not me to give advice, but..."

The win is York County's third big prize in three months. Jean Becker of Seven Valleys won $800,000 in a Cash 5 ticket in August, and Robert Boyd of York won $1 million in Mega Millions drawing in September.

The winning ticket from the group of IDG coworkers correctly matched all five white balls drawn, 29-30-40-42-50, but not the red Powerball 16, and added Power Play, which boosted the prize to $2 million, less 25 percent federal withholding.

Without purchasing the $1 Power Play option, this winning ticket would have been worth $1 million.

The odds of matching all five numbers is 1 in 5.1 million, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery.

The retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

York Dispatch

Comments

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Taking home $150,000 is still a nice chunk of change. Congrats to them!

needinghelp's avatarneedinghelp

Congrats ladies!!! Job well done....

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by needinghelp on Oct 29, 2014

Congrats ladies!!! Job well done....

 ....Please let there not be a lawsuit in the works because " other" players who did not pitch in this time feel they entitled to a piece of this pie!

All too often we read of some horror story of losers who think they winners. Enjoy your windfall girls- you earned it. Party

Skibunnylk's avatarSkibunnylk

Congratulations ladies! that money no doubt will come in handy for them.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Nice win for Pennsylvania!

Waiting for my big win in Western Pennsylvania!

Party

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Naughty  Powerplay is a wonderful feature. Congratulations ladies!

Teddi's avatarTeddi

This is a great story. Big congrats to them. It's enough for them to pay off pressing expenses, put a big chunk in a retirement account and have a little fun, but not enough for every Tom, Dick and Harry to stalk them for life. Awesome win-win.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congratulation ladies... Hurray!

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Congrats Ladies............I am sure that will make the holiday season a bit merrier around their respective households...Kudos to Maggie B for intending to pay off her house  Big Grin Santa

Teddi's avatarTeddi

Quote: Originally posted by CDanaT on Oct 30, 2014

Congrats Ladies............I am sure that will make the holiday season a bit merrier around their respective households...Kudos to Maggie B for intending to pay off her house  Big Grin Santa

Agreed. And I can think of nothing luckier than being in your own debt free home. Nothing like saying you're a homeOWNER and have it be true. That's what I call blessed.

I have never understood lottery winners or star athletes losing their homes over missed mortgage payments. Could never understand carrying a mortgage when you don't have to. Good for Maggie!

shadowlady's avatarshadowlady

Quote: Originally posted by Teddi on Oct 30, 2014

Agreed. And I can think of nothing luckier than being in your own debt free home. Nothing like saying you're a homeOWNER and have it be true. That's what I call blessed.

I have never understood lottery winners or star athletes losing their homes over missed mortgage payments. Could never understand carrying a mortgage when you don't have to. Good for Maggie!

Hubby and I haven't decided on whether or not we would pay off the house if we won.   If you make the payments on time each month, it can improve your credit score.  We might set up an account that gets interest, and have the payment taken out of that every month.

Teddi's avatarTeddi

Quote: Originally posted by shadowlady on Oct 30, 2014

Hubby and I haven't decided on whether or not we would pay off the house if we won.   If you make the payments on time each month, it can improve your credit score.  We might set up an account that gets interest, and have the payment taken out of that every month.

So you'd rather be a lottery winner who lives in a home the bank owns? 

 To each his own but I personally don't think I could really enjoy myself knowing I still have huge debts hanging over my head. I don't go to work because I like it, I go to eventually be debt free while actually owning the house I live in and love. I don't see the point of being in debt just to improve my credit rating when not only will my credit be improved by paying other smaller bills on time, but also by having a smaller debt to income ratio.

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

I would keep the mortgage until the end of the year, then pay it off in January. That way I could claim the interest on my tax return for the year I won. Might as well use what you can to your advantage.

Gleno's avatarGleno

Reminds me of the good ole days at work when participating in the office lottery pool. Congrats to the winners, but it looks they may still have to work. It sure will help with their bills. Dance

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