Joseph Sparks of Glenwood found himself $2.5 million richer when he recently realized his six-digit number matched the number drawn in Wednesday’s $2,500,000 Holiday Raffle drawing.
The winning number was 503216.
He has since made his way to Hoosier Lottery headquarters in Indianapolis to claim his prize.
Sparks, a contractor who installs cable television, Internet and phone systems, explained that he went to eat breakfast where his girlfriend works when he found out the good news. A friend read him the winning numbers as he was eating. As he started looking through raffle tickets he stored in his wallet he realized he had the winner.
His reaction?
“Woo hoo!” Sparks laughed.
The restaurant’s owner came out to ask what was the problem. When the owner found out about his good fortune, Sparks said he told him he could continue his celebration.
“I think he thought I was going to go through the floor,” the Glenwood man said.
Sparks, who has three children, said the first thing he was going to do would be to take his children to Disney World. After that, the money is going to make his life a little easier. However, he will continue to work; he said he loves his job.
Sparks’ girlfriend, Angie Maze, drove him to Indianapolis. She was worried about him driving because he was so excited.
“Heck, I was having trouble walking!” he explained.
Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Kathryn A. Densborn congratulated Sparks and presented him with the first installment of his winnings.
“It’s fun to change lives,” she said.
Sparks will receive the $2.5 million over 20 years, which will net him $125,000 per year (before taxes) for 20 years. After taxes, that amounts to $89,540 per year.
The $2,5 million Holiday Raffle was the first game offered by the Hoosier Lottery that featured a scratch-off as well as a draw-game component. The $25 ticket was the first offered by the Hoosier Lottery at that price point.
The Hoosier Lottery wants to remind all players to play responsibly and encourages anyone who thinks they may have a gambling problem or believes a friend or family member may have a gambling problem to call the Gambling Addictions Hotline toll free at 1-800-994-8448.
