Ohio lottery winner to help charities, friends

Jun 16, 2011, 9:55 am (6 comments)

Ohio Lottery

Includes video report

LOGAN, Ohio — An Ohio man won $5 million in the Ohio Lottery Tuesday, but even though he's dependent on kidney dialysis, he says he plans on helping friends and charities with financial gifts.

Phillip Withem, of Logan, won the second chance drawing called the Top Prized Drawing.

In 2006, Withem turned a $20 instant lottery ticket into $2,500. Then, he won another drawing out of 86 entrants. He said the fact that he is now a millionaire hasn't sunk in yet.

"It's not going to sink in for maybe the rest of my life," he said.

Withem's life is sustained by kidney dialysis three times a week and said his sense of humor gets him by for now.   Asked whether he had any children, Withem replied: "I have no kids that I know of.  But I'm sure I'll have them coming out of the woodwork now."

He said his plans include helping some children's charities and friends who helped him during his illness.

"I'm going to help people because I love it. It makes me feel good and I think that's what God put us here for," he said.

Before his illness forced him to quit, he worked part-time cleaning and maintaining the Hocking County Courthouse.

"The people at the courthouse were very nice and I appreciated that," Withem said.

"Phil is a good person and I think he deserves it. He needed a break," said Nancy Powers, a former coworker.

After many years of cleaning the courthouse, Powers is getting a break, too. She will retire on Friday.

Withem said that $5 million will go a long way toward making his life more comfortable.

"No more disability, but I don't think I need it," he said.

Thanks to truesee for the tip.

Lottery Post staff, with reports from NBC4i

Comments

myturn's avatarmyturn

I hope he is not so helpful, he ends up back at square one again!

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

He's got a good heart, God bless him.

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Jun 16, 2011

He's got a good heart, God bless him.

I Agree! but I hope he doesn't find out he has more family and friends than he thought. Though most of us probably would share some of our winnings, I would put on my Nikes and "just do it" after I got the money and not mention it in the press conference.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Congratulations on your big Ohio Lottery jackpot win Phil.  Lovies

 

Phil, I realize you want to share, however, you probably shouldn't give away any of it, since the $5M annuity amount after 35% federal and 6% state will only net you $2.95M at end of apx. 26 years or so of payouts.

Phil, it's never too late to change your announced plans.  Probably the best plan would be to collect the apx. 1/2 cash, lump sum amount instead.  Either payout method, you could use quarter of net monies prize to pay for replacement kidney(s) and surgery (even in another country if easier to obtain kidneys) as a way of loving yourself.  Three times a week of certain body pain, for the rest of one's life, is a bummer even if experiencing for another 5 years.

CashWinner$

CONGRATS PHIL Party

Best wishes on a fantastic future ahead!!

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Nice win for a nice man !

I would help others out also, but I would not make any public announcements !

Just waiting for the first Mega Millions Jackpot in PA ! Coffee

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