ico-game-tile-shape Asset 1 ico-game-tile-shape
$1,288,023,815 returned to Idaho since 1989! VIP Club
$1,288,023,815

returned to Idaho since 1989!

Back

Friendship Foundation Founder Wins $614,731 Wild Card Jackpot

BOISE, Idaho ÔÇô Two times a week, Kevin Russell of Boise stops at his favorite Lottery store, On the Fly at the corner of Collister and State Street, on his way home from work to pick up his lottery tickets for Powerball and Hot Lotto Sizzler. At the encouragement of the store clerk, he also picked up a $5 Wild Card ticket for Wednesday night. Usually over morning coffee the next day, he reads the paper and checks his tickets for winners. While he didn't have winners on his other tickets, Russell discovered he'd matched every single number on one of his Wild Card ticket lines.

"I looked down and checked the wild card itself. It said 'Queen of Hearts', and sure enough, I had that too," laughed an elated Russell, the store manager for Tates Rentals on both State Street and Fairview in Boise. "I was so nervous and sweating, I just about passed out."

The long-time Boisean and lottery player is the founder of the Friendship Foundation and their fund-raising golf tournament, the Friendship Scramble. Originally started by Russell, his family and a group of friends from Sacred Heart School in Boise, the Friendship Foundation is now in its 25th year and benefits one child recipient who is battling a life threatening illness. The Friendship Scramble is an annual fund-raising golf tournament held each May for the Foundation's beneficiaries.

"I do plan on making a contribution to the foundation," admitted Russell who says he plans to retire a few years sooner than he'd expected and continue his work with the Friendship Foundation.

For their part in selling the Wild Card winning ticket, long time Idaho Lottery retailer On the Fly will receive a bonus of $20,000.

# # #

CONTACT: David Workman
(208) 334-2600