James Gibbs Jr. of Greensboro made a stop for coffee and, after a twist of fate, landed a $2 million prize.

While buying his coffee, Gibbs ran into a friend who suggested they try their luck on a few lottery tickets. Their luck paid off, but the store didn’t have enough money to pay their winnings.

“So, my friend was like, ‘We can go across the street,’” he recalled.

Gibbs and his friend walked to the Pantry Shop on South Holden Road in Greensboro to cash in their winning tickets and Gibbs decided to try his luck once more on a few 100X The Cash tickets.

“The first one had $20 on it,” he recalled. “And the second one had the big prize on it.”

Gibbs had the option to take the $2 million prize as an annuity of 20 payments of $100,000 a year or a lump sum of $1.2 million. He chose the lump sum and took home $849,006 after required state and federal tax withholdings.

“I’m still just me,” said Gibbs. “Enjoy life and do what you can as far as helping other people.”

With his prize money, he says, “A big portion of this will go to the church I attend. I can do some more remodeling work to my house and just keep on working.”

The 100X The Cash game launched in January with five top prizes of $2 million and five $100,000 prizes. Three top prizes and four $100,000 prizes remain to be won.

Ticket sales from scratch-offs like 100X The Cash make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $725 million a year for education. For details on how $32 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Guilford County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.