Charles Munday, a commercial construction salesman from Salisbury, plans to invest the $264,015 prize he won playing Carolina Cash 5.
Munday beat odds of 1 in 575,757 when his Quick Pick ticket matched all five numbers in the Jan. 24 drawing, claiming a third of that night’s $792,045 jackpot. He learned of his good fortune when he checked his numbers online on Saturday morning.
“I really couldn’t believe it,” Munday said. “You never expect it to happen to you, but this is what you play for. This feels great. It’s amazing, really.”
After state and federal taxes were withheld, Munday received a check for $182,698. He said he also plans to use a portion of the winnings to help his children and play a little more golf. He purchased the lucky ticket at the Sheetz on South Jake Alexander Boulevard in Salisbury.
“I really enjoy playing Cash 5,” Munday said as he collected his winnings on Tuesday morning. “It has fewer numbers and it’s only North Carolinians playing it. You really do have better odds and the jackpots grow really fast.”
Two other tickets matched all five numbers in the Jan. 24 drawing. The tickets were sold at the Quik Chek on Old U.S. 52 North in Welcome and at the Food Lion on North Main Street in Mooresville.
As of December 2013, the lottery has raised more than $3.19 billion to benefit education programs. Lottery dollars support teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction and repair projects, prekindergarten programs for at-risk 4-year-olds, need-based college scholarships and financial aid and digital learning initiatives.