Blair County Couple Claims $1 Million Prize from Lottery's Millionaire Raffle

ALTOONA, Pa., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Shawn and Stephanie Benton of Altoona, Blair County, won $1 million from the Pennsylvania Lottery's Millionaire Raffle drawing on Jan. 2.

Lottery Executive Director Ed Trees today presented a ceremonial check to the Bentons at Sheetz on 7th Avenue in Altoona. Sheetz received a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

"We play Raffle religiously and occasionally Cash 5 or Powerball," said Mrs. Benton. "We bought three tickets this year, gave one away at Christmas, and almost gave the other two away as presents!"

Mrs. Benton works for the Sheetz office in Claysburg and Mr. Benton is a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He recently returned from a tour in Iraq, where he served with the 56th Stryker Brigade. The Bentons plan to use the money to help toward their three children's college educations and live debt-free.

The Bentons purchased one of four tickets drawn as a Millionaire Raffle top-prize winner. Each of the top-prize tickets sold was worth $1 million cash, less 25 percent federal withholding.  

All four $1 million top raffle prizes have been claimed. The other three top-prize winners were Thomas Stein of East Berlin, Adams County; Larry Chestnut of Shippensburg, Cumberland County; and John Dailey of Selinsgrove, Snyder County.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception 37 years ago, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $19.2 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free and reduced-fare transit; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including more than 600 full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Lottery, visit www.palottery.com.

Media contact:  Kirstin Alvanitakis, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

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