Carrie Edwards, a widow and grandmother from Virginia, has donated her entire $150,000 (£120,000) Powerball prize to three charities supporting dementia research, food access, and military families. Edwards, who bought an online ticket for the 8 September drawing, matched four of the first five numbers plus the sixth, winning $50,000, which she tripled to $150,000 by paying $3 instead of $2 for her ticket.
At a news conference at Virginia lottery headquarters, Edwards said she knew immediately she had to give the money away. 'God is blessing me, so I can bless others,' she explained. She donated $50,000 each to the Association Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), Shalom Farms, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
Edwards's husband, a firefighter, died from frontotemporal degeneration, so the AFTD donation commemorates him. Shalom Farms provides fresh produce to communities in Richmond, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society offers financial aid to service members and veterans. Edwards grew up in a Navy family.
Charity leaders praised Edwards's generosity. A Virginia lottery official noted that such donations are rare. Edwards hopes her act inspires others to give back, citing previous examples like a South Carolina woman who donated millions after a Mega Millions win.
