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Virginia Lottery Winner Donates Entire Powerball Prize to Charity, Military Families

Earlier this month, a Virginia woman won a significant Powerball win, and she is giving it all away.

During the game's September 8 drawing, Carrie Edwards of Midlothian, Chester County, matched four of the five white balls in addition to the red Powerball, according to the Virginia Lottery. The capital of Richmond is immediately southwest of Midlothian.

The Powerball was 9, and the winning numbers from the draw were 26, 28, 41, 53, and 64. Edwards was awarded $50K, the third-highest prize tier in Powerball, for matching five of the six drawn numbers. However, her win was tripled to $150K because she had also bought the $1 add-on Power Play, which landed on 3x.

She informed Virginia Lottery authorities that she will donate the remaining amount, after state and federal taxes, to charity after claiming the reward.

Winnings from Powerball

According to Edwards, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, which promotes early-onset dementia research, education, and family services, will receive the initial donation. Frontotemporal dementia claimed the life of Edwards' firefighter and father.

"This cause is deeply personal. During World FTD Awareness Month, I wanted this gift to shine a light on the families who are fighting this disease and on the researchers working toward a cure. God is blessing me, so I can bless others through Him. After all, we are all just walking each other Home,” Edwards told the state lottery.

Shalom Farms, a nonprofit farm and food justice group in Richmond, will get her next donation. The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, which offers emergency, educational, and financial support to active-duty military members, veterans, and their families, will receive Edwards' third Powerball donation.

"These three organizations represent healing, service, and community,” Edwards continued. “Shalom Farms heals through food and soil, AFTD brings hope through research, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society carries forward the tradition of supporting military families in times of need. I feel blessed that this unexpected lottery win could serve a greater purpose.”

Edwards did not specify whether the three recipients would get presents that were equal.

According to Khalid Jones, executive director of the Virginia Lottery, Edwards and other lottery players contribute to the commonwealth by subsidizing public education.

“All of us at the Virginia Lottery are delighted to see this prize being shared with worthy causes. By playing the lottery, Ms. Edwards and all other Virginia Lottery players support K-12 public education in the commonwealth. That’s why the lottery exists,” said

$40 Million Lottery Prize 

Tom Crist, a Canadian, won a $40 million lottery prize in 2013. Crist, a retired former president and CEO of a wholesale company that sold for $1.14 billion a year ago, decided to give the full jackpot to cancer research. Two years before to his victory, his wife passed away from cancer.

"I’ve been fortunate enough. I did very well. I’ve done enough that I can look after myself and my kids. I don’t really need that money,” Crist said in giving the $40 million fortune away.

Crist said that although he requested to stay anonymous, the Western Canada Lottery Corporation's lottery law mandated that he reveal his identify.