SACRAMENTO--(Business Wire)--
This week on the California Lottery's Big Spin(R) show an
enthusiastic audience encouraged winning contestants, including two
who plan to give back to family and friends. The show aired statewide
Saturday, May 31, 2008. The grand total won this week was $112,500!
Ken Graves, a commercial and residential painter from Oroville,
outplayed nine other contestants in Aces High and then went on to spin
the popular game show's wheel. After the ball stopped on $40,000 he
said he "might paint the town." A moment later he gathered his
thoughts and added, "I would just like to do something special for my
family." Graves' good fortune stemmed from the purchase of his
first-ever Big Spin Scratchers(R) ticket.
The top winner of the day was Bob Toney of Vallejo, a construction
estimator for underground pipeline systems. Toney had purchased a
Scratchers ticket that sent him straight to the wheel. He won $50,000.
Tucked inside his coat pocket he carried photos of his wife and
granddaughter Carissa for luck. Shedding a tear of joy when asked
about his granddaughter who is just four-years-old, Toney said she's
"precious." He plans to use his winnings to help her attend college.
"We want to be prepared when she is ready to make her life choices,"
said the proud grandfather.
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Winners Summary
NAME CITY AMOUNT
-------------------------- ------------------------------ -----------
Bob Toney Vallejo $50,000
Ken Graves Oroville $40,000
Leonardo Esquives Merced $5,000
Rodolfo Jimenez Los Angeles $4,000
Leticia Corona Chula Vista $2,500
Rafael Castelli Chula Vista $2,000
Peterson Thammavongsa San Diego $2,000
Elvis Kantarevic Hayward $1,750
Johnny Knox Los Angeles $1,750
Juan Mejia Sacramento $1,750
John Oswalt San Diego $1,750
TOTAL $112,500
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For high resolution photos of Ken Graves or Bob Toney please
contact (916) 324-9639 or e-mail newsroom@calottery.com.
More than 95 cents of every Lottery dollar is returned to the
community in the form of contributions to education, prizes and retail
commissions. The California Lottery contributes at least 34 cents of
every dollar that players spend on Lottery products to public
education and returns more than 50 percent of sales to players in the
form of prizes. Since its inception in 1985, the Lottery has
contributed more than $20 billion to California schools out of total
sales of nearly $55 billion. Retailers benefit too, earning $3.5
billion in compensation since 1985.
www.calottery.com
(End of advance for release 4:30 p.m. PT May 31)
California State Lottery
Olga Gallardo or Cathy Doyle Johnston, 916-324-9639
Copyright Business Wire 2008
