Media Release                                                                                                                       05 November 2009

Timaru Local’s Lotto Win a Windfall For Charities

A Timaru local has claimed her half a million dollar share of last weekend’s Lotto First Division prize – but will be generously giving most of it away, says NZ Lotteries’ Chief Executive Todd McLeay.

The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared the win with a close relative, but admits that her share will mostly go to others.

“We’ll help out some family members, and we donate to a lot of charities, so they’ll be getting a really generous amount soon,” says the kind winner.

Some of the charities that will benefit from this philanthropy include Starship Hospital, The Cancer Society, Arthritis New Zealand and The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

“The Starship Foundation would be extremely privileged to receive this support and we would work very hard to show this generous Lotto winner how every dollar she donated would be put to great use to help children from around New Zealand,” says Starship Foundation’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Andrea Parker.

The winning ticket was bought at Countdown Timaru. The weekend’s other $500,000 Lotto First Division ticket, sold at Countdown Blenheim, is yet to be claimed.

As for Timaru’s lucky winner, she says she doesn’t want much – but is planning an overseas holiday in the near future. Bon voyage.

Ends

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