Lottery Officials Present $26.9 Million Cash Powerball(R) Jackpot Prize To Brothers

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Secretary of Revenue Gregory C. Fajt and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Lottery Edward Mahlman today presented a check for $26,934,553.39 cash - less 25 percent federal withholding - to brothers Jim Hare, 54, of Philadelphia, and Tom Hare, 50, of Drexel Hill, Delaware County, holders of the single winning ticket for the May 29, 2004, Powerball® drawing. The jackpot had an annuity value of $52 million.

"I'm pleased to present Jim and Tom with this check, and I congratulate them," Fajt said. "The ticket from this Memorial Day weekend drawing is the second winning Powerball® jackpot ticket sold in Pennsylvania in three weeks."

The May 8 Powerball® drawing produced the largest jackpot in Pennsylvania Lottery history, with a $213.2 million annuity value. Winners Steve and Kristine White of Skillman, New Jersey, opted for the jackpot's cash value -- $110,230,721 -- less 25 percent federal withholding.

"I'm the Lottery player," Jim Hare said. "I always buy the tickets, but of course, I share them with my brother. We play all the Pennsylvania Lottery games, including the new MATCH 6 lotto. And when I buy Powerball® tickets, I always purchase the PowerPlay® option."

Although the tickets were purchased Friday, the day before the drawing, "I never checked the winning numbers on the Pennsylvania Lottery's Web site until the following Tuesday," Jim said. "I wasn't certain we had the winning ticket, so I called Tom and told him, `I think we won the Lottery.' I wasn't sure until Tom looked at the ticket that night. It's still pretty surreal."

Lottery Executive Director Mahlman said: "Tom and Jim Hare are Pennsylvania's fifth Powerball® jackpot winners since the state joined the multi-jurisdictional game in June 2002. Proceeds from all Lottery ticket sales fund programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians, and this particular six-draw Powerball® run generated about $4 million for senior programs."

The Hares presented the winning ticket at Lottery Headquarters in Middletown early this afternoon, after consulting with legal counsel. After examining the ticket and executing other propriety security measures, Lottery officials confirmed that it was the winning ticket.

Jim purchased their quick-pick PowerPlay ticket at the University Deli, corner of 42nd Street and Chester Avenue in Philadelphia. The Lottery retailer is located a few blocks from their business, Hare Brothers Printing. The retailer will receive a $260,000 bonus for selling the winning jackpot ticket.

The brothers had the sole winning ticket matching all five white balls, 01-16-30-32-39, and the red Powerball, 02, in the May 29, 2004, drawing. One match-five ticket also was sold in Pennsylvania for a $100,000 prize.

The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state Lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception more than 32 years ago, the Lottery has contributed more than $13.8 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free and reduced-fare transit; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including 650 full- and part-time senior centers throughout Pennsylvania.