The dream of being a Lottery jackpot winner has come true for a Three Rivers woman who won a $310.5 million Powerball jackpot from the Michigan Lottery.

Julie Leach, 50, matched all of the winning numbers drawn in the Sept. 30 Powerball drawing: 21-39-40-55-59 and the Powerball, 17, to win the enormous jackpot. Leach's big win marks the third time a Michigan player has won the Powerball jackpot. The $310.5 million jackpot is the second-largest ever won in the state.

"I've played the Lottery for a long time and have dreamed of this day, but I never thought it would actually come," said Leach. "I have been in shock since I checked my ticket Thursday morning, and I don't know if it will ever wear off." Leach bought her winning ticket about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Three Rivers West Shell gas station, located at 1223 West Michigan Avenue in Three Rivers. Three Rivers is about 30 miles south of Kalamazoo.

"My boyfriend told me I should stop and buy some Powerball tickets on my way to work because the jackpot was so huge," said Leach. "I stopped at the Shell station and bought 10 Powerball plays for $20. When I got back to my car I tossed the tickets in my console and went to work."

During her lunch break about 1 a.m., Leach was waiting for her food in a drive through lane when she remembered she had purchased tickets for the Powerball drawing.

"It seemed like it was taking forever to get my food, so I pulled out my cellphone and checked my Powerball tickets," said Leach. "First, I checked to see if I had matched the Powerball number. When I saw I had matched it, I started checking the numbers on that line one-by-one. When I saw I had matched three, I remember thinking: 'Well that's pretty cool, I won like $200.'

"When I saw that I had matched all five numbers and the Powerball, I just couldn't believe it. I must have checked and re-checked my ticket 10 times."

When Leach returned to work, she quietly asked a couple of co-workers to double check her ticket.

"Both of my co-workers thought I was playing a joke on them," said Leach. "One of my co-workers was sure it was a hoax, but after a few minutes he said 'Get the hell out of here, you're a winner!' That is exactly what I did, I clocked out for the final time of my 20-year career and went home."

Once home, she woke up her boyfriend of 36 years, Vaughn Avery, to tell him the life changing news.

"I was in a deep sleep and had actually been dreaming that we had won the Lottery with the tickets I told her to buy," said Avery. "As soon as I heard her voice I knew something was going on, but I didn't think she was going to tell me she had won Powerball."

"Vaughn couldn't believe what I was telling him," said Leach. "We sat in the living room of our house for hours laughing and crying, trying to process what was happening and how our lives had changed. We would have been pleased with $500,000 or $1 million, to win $310.5 million is unbelievable.

"About 4:30 a.m., Vaughn said he needed to get ready to go to work, and I told him he was never working again."

Next the couple shared the good news with their two children and their families.

Leach chose to receive her $310.5 million jackpot as a one-time lump sum payment of $197.4 million, rather than an annuity. After tax withholdings, she will receive about $140 million.

With her winnings, Leach plans to pay off her bills, purchase a new home for herself and Avery, as well as a new home for each of their children, and travel with her family.

"To know that we will be debt free is an incredible feeling," Leach said. "Vaughn and I have worked so hard all of our lives to provide for our family and now we can all relax and enjoy spending time together."

"It's wonderful to know that my kids will be taken care of and won't have to work like I did. They'll be able to enjoy life, and that makes me incredibly happy," she said wiping away a tear.

LINK http://www.powerball.com/powerball/winners/2015/MI_Leach_093015.shtml

How To Play Powerball

A History of Legislation

Many Washington State residents believe Washington's Lottery was approved by the Legislature with the intent that Lottery revenues be dedicated to schools or education programs solely. While this perception is understandable given the history of "Lottery Legislation" introduced in the 1970s and early 1980s, the reality is different.

Legislation creating Washington's Lottery was signed on July 16, 1982, by Governor John Spellman. When this bill (House Bill No. 1251, supporting the establishment of a lottery for Washington State) first came before the Legislature, it was a time of recession both in Washington State and, in fact, throughout much of the country. Because there was a great need for funding in many areas, the Legislature was reluctant to pass any bill that would dedicate Lottery funds solely to education. Therefore, Washington's Lottery was created to provide revenues for the State General Fund, which supports schools, human services programs, natural resources, and government programs.

The full bill can be found in Chapter 7 of Washington Laws, 1982 2nd Ex. Sess., listing [House Bill No. 1251] STATE LOTTERY, with the following timeline:

• Passed the House June 30, 1982


• Passed the Senate July 1, 1982


• Approved by the Governor July 16, 1982


• Filed in Office of Secretary of State July 16, 1982

In November 2000 voters approved Initiative Measure 728 redirecting Lottery revenue contributions from the State General Fund to the Student Achievement Fund and the Education Construction Fund. I-728 stipulates that after July 1, 2004, all Lottery revenue for education will be directed to the Education Construction Fund. The Education Construction dollars are used for the maintenance and repair of higher education institutions and to build, remodel, and renovate K-12 schools.

So why the confusion? Legislation introduced between 1973 and 1982 in either the state Senate or state House of Representatives proposed dedicating Lottery revenue to state institutions, transportation, the common schools, special levy relief, and city and county government.

A 1973 Lottery proposal introduced in the Washington State Legislature would have used the money to improve state institutions for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled.

One 1974 measure allocated 40 percent of the revenue to the General Fund either for aid to education or state institutions. A 1974 bill approved by the Legislature, but vetoed by the Governor, required that Lottery revenue be used for special levy relief.

In 1975, the state Senate narrowly defeated one Lottery bill but approved another that proposed asking voters to decide on a Lottery. The measure died in the House of Representatives.

A 1978 Lottery bill, the proceeds from which would support city and county government, died in committee. An initiative filed in 1978 called for the creation of a state agency to operate a state lottery and casinos. The sponsor claimed half of the money would go to education. Signatures were never submitted to the Secretary of State's office.

A 1979 Lottery bill allocating 40 percent of the revenue to local governments died in the House. A 1981 bill, part of a "tax equity" package, would have given the state's share to the common schools.

In March 1982, a House committee approved a bill giving lottery money to the common schools. The bill expired in the Senate.

Legislation creating Washington's Lottery was approved by the House on June 30, 1982, during a special session called to deal with a projected $253 million budget deficit. The bill required that the State General Fund receive the state's share of the revenue.

Measures to dedicate the state's share of Lottery revenue to the common schools were introduced but not approved during several Legislative Sessions throughout the 1990s. On Tuesday, November 7, 2000, Washington voters approved I-728, also known and cited as the K-12 2000 Student Achievement Act, which redirected Lottery revenue contributions from the State General Fund to education funds beginning July 1, 2001.

On April 3, 2002, Governor Gary Locke signed legislation which allowed Washington's Lottery to join the multistate lottery Mega Millions effective June 2002. Profit from all Lottery games must benefit education up to the level of $102 million annually. Once the $102 million contribution level for education has been reached, any additional net revenues from Mega Millions will benefit the General Fund while other Lottery games continue to benefit education.   From July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2009, all Lottery net revenues allocated for education were sent to the Education Construction Fund to help build, renovate and remodel schools throughout Washington State.

In 2009, the state experienced one of the most challenging and difficult legislative sessions forcing the Governor and the Legislature to make tough decisions to fill a $9 billion state budget gap.  One of these decisions was to redirect Lottery dollars for education as well as economic development contributions to the General Fund to support a wide range of important state programs, including education.  On July 1, 2009, Lottery funds were redirected from the Education Construction Fund to the General Fund for the 2009-11 biennium. Also in 2009 the Legislature approved the sale of the multi-state game Powerball to the lineup of Washington's Lottery products.

While the Education Construction Fund has been Lottery’s largest beneficiary, Lottery has been directed by the Legislature to make small, but important contributions to stadium funding and problem gambling prevention and treatment.

The 2010 Legislative session marked an exciting change at Washington’s Lottery with the passage of Senate Bill 6409. The new law, prime sponsored by Sen. Jim Kastama, directs Lottery dollars into a new education pathways account to help fund higher education programs. Beginning July 2010, more than $100 million annually in Lottery proceeds will be dedicated to the Opportunity Pathways Account helping to fund access grants, state work study awards, and two merit scholarship programs. Additionally, funds from the account may be used to support early learning programs.

Along with the Opportunity Pathways Account, Lottery proceeds will continue to contribute to stadium debt reduction for Safeco Field and Qwest Field and Exhibition Center as well as support problem gambling prevention and treatment. The Education Construction Fund will continue to be funded by other sources.

LINK http://www.walottery.com/AboutUs/History/default.aspx

In 1986, Florida voters authorized a lottery through a constitutional amendment, enacted by a two-to-one margin that would use its proceeds to enhance public education in Florida. Governor Bob Martinez and the Florida Legislature established the Florida Lottery with the mission of maximizing revenues for education to allow the people of Florida to benefit from significant additional monies while providing the best lottery games available. Over the 28-year history of the Florida Lottery, both goals have been accomplished.

Driven by the legislative mandate for tickets to go on sale by January 18, 1988, the Lottery's start-up was a year of dynamic activity. Rebecca Paul was hired as the Lottery's first permanent Secretary and on January 12, 1988, the Florida Lottery began sales of its very first game – six days ahead of schedule.

A $1 Scratch-Off, the Lottery's first game, MILLIONAIRE, exceeded $95 million in sales – setting a lottery industry record. MILLIONAIRE was so successful that in just 17 days the Lottery was able to repay the original startup money borrowed from the state's General Revenue Fund of $15.5 million plus interest.

Lottery fever swept across the state, and the players enthusiastically embraced the new games, resulting in many ongoing favorites. The first Terminal games, FLORIDA LOTTO^® and CASH 3™, were introduced with a dual launch on April 29, 1988. By August 31, 1988, the Florida Lottery had emerged as an industry leader when FLORIDA LOTTO produced an estimated $52 million jackpot, a new national and world record for its time. As the Florida Lottery continued to respond to its growing player base, FANTASY 5^™ was launched as a bi-weekly game in April 1989 and PLAY 4^™ was added to the daily games in July 1991. Finally, MEGA MONEY^™ was introduced in 1998. In July 2008, the Lottery announced that it would join the Multi-state Lottery Association (MUSL) and launch POWERBALL^® in early January 2009. The instant-win game LUCKY LINES^™ launched in October 2010 and ended prior to the launch of MEGA MILLIONS^® in May 2013. In July 2014, the Lottery replaced MEGA MONEY with the Terminal game LUCKY MONEY^™.

The Lottery's portfolio of Scratch-Off games has also grown through the years to offer players a myriad of themes with a variety of instant prizes. Millions of Scratch-Off players have collected prizes ranging from free tickets and merchandise, to instant cash prizes up to $10 million. Players now have numerous entertainment options offering something to intrigue every player. The Lottery's Scratch-Off games include choices of tickets that now range from $1 to $25. At more than 13,000 retailer locations across Florida, players can continually
choose from a wide assortment of approximately 60 different Scratch-Off games at any one time. Florida Lottery games have delivered what had been promised to players... "better games and more winning moments."

As the Florida Lottery has grown into an industry leader, it remains a dependable contributor to education in Florida. More than a $1 billion in each of the past 13 fiscal years has benefited Florida students and schools statewide, representing approximately six percent of the state's total education budget. While the Lottery was never intended to fully fund Florida's education system, Lottery contributions are far-reaching and crucial to ensuring the future success of students in Florida. Pre-kindergarten projects have directly affected the youngest Florida citizens, while thousands of K-12 students reap the benefits of Lottery dollars every school day. Thousands of bright minds have followed the beacon offered by Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship Program and other student financial aid to pursue opportunities in higher education at state universities and community colleges. These institutions of higher learning themselves have benefited from more than $6.3 billion that help keep them running and affordable to Florida students.

Additionally, Lottery dollars have funded School Recognition and Merit Programs for improved schools, and have even helped build and renovate nearly 800 schools through the Classrooms First and Classrooms for Kids programs. In total, Florida's schools and students have received more than $29 billion in Lottery profits, including more than $4.85 billion to send more than 725,000 students to college on Bright Futures Scholarships funded by the Florida Lottery.

Through the years, the Lottery has become part of the very fabric of Florida, truly affecting the lives of all Floridians and providing residents with a reason to believe their dreams can come true as millions regularly enjoy "water-cooler dreaming" with family and friends about what they would do if they won the big jackpot. Today, millions continue to show their support by purchasing billions of dollars in Lottery products per year.

Whether they are winners who have collected million-dollar Lottery prizes, or one of the many who are able to follow their dreams by getting a better education with the help of Lottery dollars, all Florida residents enjoy and benefit from the Florida Lottery. With the patronage of its players, the dedication of its retailers and employees, and a state-of-the-art gaming system, the Florida Lottery will continue to ensure that players are provided with the best games in the industry and that profits continue to generate even greater contributions to education in the state. The best years are yet to come!

LINK http://www.flalottery.com/history

The Powerball jackpot will be a minimum of $400 million for the next drawing on January 6, ...
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