MORRISTOWN, N.J. — A Morristown, New Jersey, school board member has come forward as the winner of the March 13 $211.7 million Powerball jackpot, the third largest single-ticket lottery payout in New Jersey.
Sandra McNeil is a middle-aged mother, said her attorney, Perry A. Pittenger of Scotch Plains. She was employed before the Powerball win, but has since taken a leave of absence from her job.
She has been serving part time as a member of the Morris School District school board for four years.
McNeil, whose main occupation was not disclosed, chose the cash option when she purchased her ticket, meaning she will receive about $101.6 million before federal and state withholding taxes are taken out.
"I give God all the glory for this blessing that He has given to me," McNeil said in a statement released by the New Jersey Lottery Commission. "He has seen and knows the highs and lows of my life, and knows the good I have done, and the good I hope I can continue to accomplish in His name."
The payout for a single lottery ticket is only surpassed by a $258 million win by Harold and Helen Lerner of Rutherford in 2005 and a $216 million jackpot won by a group of 10 Chubb employes in 2009.
McNeill bought her winning ticket at Gene's II Deli in Morris Plains, a popular lottery vendor on Speedwell Avenue. The jackpot had been growing since Feb. 10, and McNeil's win marked the first time a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket had been purchased in New Jersey since the state started offering the game on Jan. 31.
McNeil's win also marks the first time one state has ever sold the only winning ticket for both a Powerball jackpot and a Mega Millions jackpot, said Dominick DeMarco, a spokesman for the New Jersey Lottery Commission.
McNeil, who issued her statement through her attorney, said she planned to use her winnings to make sure her children were comfortable and could continue their education. Pittenger said McNeil waited the month after winning to consult with her lawyer, financial planner and accountant, as well as members of her family.
Although McNeil said she appreciated the attention of the Powerball win, she said she hoped to live her life quietly.
"I was a private person before God blessed me so generously, and that is how I wish to remain," she said.
Thanks to petergrfn for the tip.
Sweet win!
Good for her.
'Although McNeil said she appreciated the attention of the Powerball win, she said she hoped to live her life quietly'...
Might be hard to live quietly now that her name's out there. Do NJ winners have to disclose their identity?
I give God all the glory for this blessing that He has given to me
I thought God didn't believe in gambling...
Why can't you just be happy for her...why all the negativity?
because it wasn't me LOL
She was expressing her beliefs not those of her God.
Congratulations to Ms. McNeil - a very nice win indeed!!!
I wish her and her family all the best
I'm certainly happy for her.
Was just curious if she had the option to remain unidentified. That's the way to go if you can.
Congrats, to Mrs. McNeil on her win!
And no McCaskey, I don't believe that NJ allows someone to claim their winnings anonymously.
That is a common misconception started by people who aren't religious. There is nothing in the Bible that opposes gambling, and in fact there is hinting at the use of lotteries in the Bible.
It is refreshing to hear people like this fortunate winner make sure to mention the one thing that transcends their Earthly wealth.
Good for this lady....I hope she can quietly get away and not make too many mistakes....I was also glad to see that she Thanked GOD! Not for her win...but for the opportunity to DO GOOD with her win....
1. I bet nobody remembered who the Lerners were, until it was just mentioned here.
2. Notice that when I yelled for the winner to come forward, they did.
3. And IT'S NOT ME so people can now stop asking and I don't have to worry that I misplaced the winning ticket. I'll play at Gene's for the next one but you watch the next winner will be at Stop & Shop where I didn't play!
lol wow!!!
Some people say gambling is a sin....but whatever!!! when i win ima think GOD too. just like she did.....Congrats to her and very smart woman....she didnt take to long to collect and she grabbed all the right people to help,handle, and manage her windfall......
I respectfully disagree, i think it was started by the southern baptists so they would get more tithe $$$ hahaha
seriously though my father was a southern baptist preacher for years and felt strongly about gambling and drinking. I also have a feeling should I ever win a large jackpot my Christian grandmother would never accept a penny of it.
And many non-religious people are against gambling too.
Like I said, there is absolutely nothing in the Bible, and nothing in Christian doctrine, that is anti-gambling. I don't remember seeing a commandment about gambling either.
Many churches have bingo fundraisers and raffles and such. Gambling, like most things in life, is fine in moderation.
People who slam lottery winners for thanking God for their fortune are mainly non-religious people who try to create hypocracy where none exists. It is more of a window into the soul of the accuser, rather than the accused.
New Jersey again?! it seems like guys there spend all their disposable income on lotto. It pay eh? nice!
ME 2....let shoppin begin!
Many men don't believe in Gambling, they don't want to spend the money on Numbers! To divede their Land, GOD had Israel Cast lots to see who would win, what part of the Land! The CREATOR of Numbers is GOD, IF GOD did not Create Numbers we would be playing What?!!!
She did good in Thanking HE who CREATED the numbers, so she could play in the first Place.
I am Happy for Mrs. McNeil WTG!!! Mrs. McNeil
Play On!!!
And He certainly didn't care about the WV coal mine accident....
Todd ....THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
Your comment was right on target.
I know we have been down this road before because in the past, I have posted scriptures from the Bible concerning the "casting of lots"........
Jesus talked more about money than he did anything else and for a good reason.
It is because of those scriptures as well as other biblical references that I truly believe that God is not against someone buying a lottery ticket just like He is not against someone drinking a glass of wine with dinner....
It is the addiction (idolatry) to these things (alcohol, the love of money etc.) that the Bible speaks against.
If you let these things take over your life.....it will ruin you, and that is what God warns us about.
As for this jackpot winner, this woman knows where her true wealth is....and giving HIM glory makes this win all the more sweeter.
(She is also smart for seeking advice BEFORE claiming her win!).
We have freedom of religion in this country and making light of someone's religious beliefs is a lowdown thing to do.
You wouldn't even be allowed to worship back in your country, unless it was worship of Kim il-sung or Kim jong-il.
Uh...Hello? Christianity wields massive political power in South Korea, which is my home country. And Buddhist temples own many expensive land properties.You are free to believe what you want in my home country, and SK is filled with all kinds of cults and fringe religious movements.
And I am an agnostic/deist. It's my strong belief that God (if exists) has no reason, intention, will to care about cosmic pond scums like us.
The good and the bad co-exist........
God says there will be trial and tribulations...but that does not mean that He does not care when they happen.
As far as the miners, they are like our firemen, policemen, and our armed forces....people who know the risk and yet they still step up to do the job anyway....that is bravery and courage that many of us will never display.
Like I said, in this country we are free to worship.
And keep in mind if it weren't for American forces South Korea would be under Kim jong-il and eating dogs to avoid starvation. Maybe you should thank God for that.
And when you say "pond scum like us" I know you're talking about your people and not Americans who fought and died to save your ungrateful asses from Communist dictatorship and starvation.
So much for remaining a private person. I just read another article about Ms. McNeil which discloses more personal information includng the location of her last job and the church she attends. The press is now interviewing her neighbors, co-workers and even her pastor. There is even this quote from her attorney:
Her attorney, Perry Pittenger of Scotch Plains, said his lucky client is wary of the notoriety that can follow sudden riches.
"She's not one for the limelight,' Pittenger said. 'While it's wonderful in many respects, it can also be a horror. We've all heard the horror stories about the pitfalls, the scam artists. We're trying to avoid that as best we can.'
I don't want to sound negative and I do wish Ms. McNeil every happiness but there's something about this "very private person" thing that bothers me. I consider myself a very private person and, if I won a big jackpot, the first thing I would want my attorney and financial advisors to do is find the best way to collect the money without putting my name out there. Why didn't Mr. Pittenger set up a blind trust and have the money put in the trust? Isn't that what you hire an attorney for - to protect your interest? It just doesn't sound like Mr. Pittenger did a very good job of protecting his client's privacy.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100417/COMMUNITIES/100416068/Attorney-Morristown-lottery-winner-wants-to-avoid-spotlight
I didn't mean by that, Mr. Inbred Hick.
The pond scum means the entire life in this planet Earth. Not just you or me. Everyone and everything.
I'll bet you look like Moe from The Three Stooges like everybody else in your country.
Better check the oven, the Dog Casserole might be done. I hear the Mongrel Gravy is a real treat!