Charlotte resident Barry Shipp has a passion for helping the homeless and a $200,000 scratch-off win will help him further that cause.

“I started a nonprofit called Pivot Point where I help build shelters for the homeless,” he said. “I can really put this win to good use.”

Shipp bought his lucky $5 Pot of Gold ticket from the Kangaroo Express on East WT Harris Boulevard in Charlotte.

“I really only buy tickets once in a blue moon,” he said. “I just do it for enjoyment.”

Shipp said when he first scratched his ticket, he thought he read it wrong.

“I saw a zero and another zero and another and I said, ‘Wait a minute, this can’t be right,’” Shipp recalled.

He arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday to claim his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $143,001.

“This is just a day in paradise,” Shipp said.

In addition to helping the homeless, he plans to pay some bills with his winnings.

The Pot of Gold game debuted in December with four $200,000 top prizes. Two $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

For details on how $59.2 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Mecklenburg County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.