$487 Million NH Powerball Winners Stay Anonymous

CONCORD, NH — Legal representatives of the family that purchased the $487 million Powerball ticket drawn on July 30, 2016, say that the winning ticket holders have decided to stay anonymous and will use the money to perform good deeds around the state. Bill Shaheen of Shaheen & Gordon claimed the prize for the family. The July 30, 2016, ticket, which was purchased at the Hannaford in Raymond, was the 10th winning Powerball ticket sold in New Hampshire and the first since 2007.

Shaheen stated that the winners chose to take the lump sum payment of $256.3 million and created a trust – the Robin Egg 2016 Nominee Trust – with the funds. An initial $100,000 check was donated to a number of nonprofit organizations in the Granite State last week.

“We are proud to come forward and accept the Powerball prize on behalf of the Robin Egg 2016 Nominee Trust,” Shaheen noted at a press conference on Sept. 12, 2016. “As is evident from our involvement, the winners would like to preserve their anonymity. At this point in time, they are committed to using these funds for philanthropic causes and to make a positive impact on the lives of their family. They feel truly blessed to win this prize — but also realize a serious obligation and responsibility to give back with winning this amount of money. In order to accomplish this goal, we kindly ask you to respect their privacy, as the task in front of them is monumental.”

Charlie McIntyre, the executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, noted that the winners of the ticket had received an extraordinary amount of interest, including an open invitation to go on “The Today Show,” with Matt Lauer.

“While we certainly wish we could have met our Powerball winners in person, we appreciate and respect that they have chosen to try to live as normal a life as possible,” McIntyre said in a press statement. “This is a life-altering amount of money and we are extremely happy to learn about the winners’ intention to make a major philanthropic impact with their winnings. This has been an incredibly exciting time for the New Hampshire Lottery and all of our players here in New Hampshire.”

On Aug. 30, the Hannaford Supermarket chain donated its $75,000 winnings – as well as an additional $25,000 – to a number of food banks, pantries, and youth organizations in Raymond. Shaheen noted that Hannaford’s decision to donate money “set the right tone” and “provided a wonderful example of sharing good fortune.”

Caption: Charlie McIntyre, executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, presents William Shaheen and Stacey Shaheen Bellabona of Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. with the $487 million ceremonial check.