Not long after moving to North Carolina, Violet Harrison of McLeansville won a $120,000 Cash 5 jackpot and said she could barely contain her excitement.
“I tried to stay calm but, on the inside, I was doing cartwheels,” Harrison recalled.
Harrison said she moved to the Greensboro area about eight months ago.
“I guess I will stay in North Carolina now,” she laughed.
Harrison bought her lucky $1 Quick Pick ticket from the 7-Eleven on Burlington Road in Greensboro. She matched all five white balls in Tuesday’s drawing to win the jackpot. She became the third Cash 5 jackpot winner in the last week.
“I’ve always imagined what it might be like to win,” she said. “I’ve got a big smile right now that’s for sure.”
Harrison arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday to collect her prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $85,500.
“This is definitely a blessing in more ways than one,” Harrison said.
She said she will use the winnings to pay some bills, make some donations, and put the rest in savings.
Cash 5 is one of six lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying their tickets through a retail location or Online Play, either through the lottery’s website or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. The odds of winning a Cash 5 jackpot are 1 in 962,598. Friday’s jackpot is $120,000.
The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program educates and empowers North Carolinians to make smart decisions when they play the lottery. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and the lottery highlights Play Smart to help ensure when North Carolinians play the lottery it doesn’t become more than a game. Visit nclottery.com/PlaySmart to learn how the Play Smart program helps someone create a game plan to keep lottery play fun. If you or someone you know needs support, visit morethanagame.nc.gov/ for free, confidential help.