Two Cape Cod newlyweds got the wedding gift of a lifetime Saturday when they scratched their way into multimillionaire status on a winning Supreme Millions $30 ticket at a Tedeschi store in Eastham, Massachusetts.
David and Stacy Foster won $15 million — about $6.8 million after taxes — and have been hiding out at the home of Stacy's parents in Northampton, celebrating with family and letting their big win sink in. The couple, married May 1, sat down yesterday with Herald reporter Lindsay Kalter in the living room of their humble Orleans home to discuss their plans. David, 54, an electrical contractor, went first:
"I feel like I'm in a coma and I haven't come out of it yet. I would have settled for a million. Holy cow!
I've worked all my life and I like it. I'll keep my job. I took off Monday and I feel guilty because I've always worked.
I bought three tickets in Provincetown and three in Eastham, and won 40 bucks. I called (Stacy) and we had lunch in Eastham, and from there I said, 'Let's go get some scratch tickets.' So we bring them home, and right here, actually, this is where we scratched them off. Stacy scratched and she scratched, and boom. Of course she was crying. The only thing we've done so far is take my whole family out for dinner. There were 17 of us."
Some people who learned of their luck have warned the winnings will spell disaster for their new marriage — something David said he doesn't see happening:
"People (in online comments) are saying, 'You'll get divorced in a year. Hope you got a pre-nup.' I don't think so. We're never about the money. We love people. And that's pretty much the sum of it. We both really like to help people, too."
One of first things they did after winning, David said, was go to the store and give the clerk who sold him the ticket, 20-year-old Sherena Olinger, $1,000 in cash:
"I know the store gets 50 grand, but I wanted to give her a thousand bucks. I just like seeing people smile. She says, 'Can I help you?' and I said, 'No, can I help you?' And I put out the thousand dollars."
Stacy, 35, who said she works a handful of jobs as a bartender, spinning instructor and pet- and child-sitter, said the reality of the life-changing prize still hasn't sunk in:
"Saturday I just felt like I was going to throw up all day. I don't think my parents believed us. (David's) son thought he had been drinking. ... We'll probably get a house. We were saving for one anyway. We're in the process of talking to a financial adviser. It's hard to comprehend. I have student loans.
We're thinking about donating to something, but haven't really talked about it. We just want to figure out what we want to do. There's a couple things we would do. We were talking St. Jude (Children's Research Hospital) or something like that. I'd also like to do something because of the huge addiction problem. I was close to a situation. We're trying to think about what we'd be passionate about."
The store clerk, Olinger, recalled David's gracious visit to the store Monday:
"I was amazed. He put down the thousand dollars on the counter. And he said it was a lucky day today. I thought it was a joke, but then I realized he was serious. I said 'Oh my goodness, oh my God.' I choked up. It's amazing when people are generous. ... At that kind of job there are people who come in and treat you like a slave. And when people actually treat you like a human being, it's beautiful."
Wow truly a life changing win for this couple. Good luck to them, and it's good they're talking to a financial advisor. Would have been my first move as well though, I would have remained anonymous
Such a wonderful couple from the look of there picture, I truly hope this does not affect there marriage in any way,but we just never know what life has in store for them. But I do wish them all the best..
WOW!!!! Congratulations to the newlyweds
Congrats Dave & Stacy.
Congratulations to the happy lucky couple. I think they are going to make it, because they are trying to take things slow, instead of immediately going out and splurging on stuff they probably don't need.
Congratuations Dave & Stacy Foster on your scratch of a lifetime. Hope you have many blessed years together.
This is a great win. That would never be me because you gotta be in it to win it and $30 for the card is too much for me
Congratulations to the Fosters !!! Newlyweds !!!
They splurged a little on a family dinner and got that out of their system. Now they are going slow.
The world and all those charities will still be there after you experience a Decision Free Zone.
Wow...Great way to start off a marriage..Best of luck to you guys..
Congrats to the Foster family!
She's 35 and he is 54? a 19 year difference? wow. hopefully this win will cushion the age difference issues!
Best of luck to the newlyweds.
Congratulations to the both of you. And God blessed
I hope this money brings them great things in their life. What a way to start a life together. Congrats.