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

"Pay it forward" Believer from Sandpoint Wins $50,000

BOISE, Idaho ÔÇô Sherry Kelley wears angels on her clothes and faithfully practices random acts of kindness. Tuesday morning, the long-time Sandpoint resident claimed the last top prize of $50,000 on the Idaho Lottery Scratch GameTM Aerosmith Dream On.

"I had the guitar symbol on the ticket which means I win the prize shown instantly," described Kelly on her winning experience. "Well I saw the five and a zero in the prize amount, so I was excited because I thought I'd won $50. Then I kept scratching and there were a few more zeroes after that!"

Kelley is a big believer in "pay it forward." In addition to doing charitable community work in Sandpoint over the years, she's been known to return wallets intact to their rightful owner and always helps others in need. In fact, Tuesday morning at her Boise hotel during breakfast, she helped a young mother traveling through Idaho by giving her one of the angels that she wears and some gas money to make it home to Wyoming.

A year ago, Kelley quit her job to take care of her husband who had undergone numerous medical procedures leaving them to live on just their limited retirement income. She was considering returning to her job before she bought the winning ticket on Saturday at Babe's One Stop in Sandpoint.

"I guess I don't have to go back to work after all," exclaimed Kelley when she received her winning check at Lottery Headquarters. "This is unreal! After the year we've had, this couldn't have come at a better time."

"And it couldn't have happened to people who needed it more. Just makes you feel good when someone needs it who wins it," added Charlotte Carvalho, owner at Babe's One Stop. "It just brightened everything up around here for us when she won!"

For their part in selling the winning ticket, Babe's One Stop will receive a bonus from the Idaho Lottery for $6,000.

"Charlotte gets $6,000?" asked Kelley. "That's fantastic, she could really use it!"

# # #

CONTACT: David Workman
(208) 334-2600