Community Corner

Lucky South Side Grandma Wins $200K Playing Lucky Day Lotto

Grandmother says she played her grandchildren's birthdays for good luck.

South Side resident Vivian Wilson holds up her winning lottery ticket.

It’s going to be Christmas in July for some lucky grandchildren whose grandma won $200,000 playing Lucky Day Lotto.

South Sider Vivian Wilson matched all five numbers - 02-05-07-13-24 -- to win the jackpot prize in the Friday, June 19 Lucky Day Lotto midday drawing. Wilson said she used her grandchildren’s birthdays when selecting the winning numbers.

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“I played their five birthdays for good luck and I won. I plan to share this prize with them,” Wilson said.

Wilson, 67, was at home when she checked the winning numbers and discovered that she had won.

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“When I saw that I had a winning ticket I said to myself, ‘This can’t be happening,’” the grandmother said

She plans to use her winnings to help her grandchildren with their college expenses. She also plans to treat herself to a Las Vegas vacation to celebrate the win with her best friend, Illinois Lottery said in a news release.

The winning ticket was purchased at Prestige Hoyne Liquor, 2043 W. 79th St. in Chicago. The store received a bonus of $2,000, 1 percent of the prize amount, for selling a winning ticket. Lucky Day Lotto drawings are twice a day, seven days a week.

For more information visit Illinois Lottery.

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