A woman in Kentucky decided to pay it forward after winning an instant play jackpot.
Crystal Dunn, from Louisville, Kentucky, won $146,351.74 while playing the Kentucky Lottery’s Bank Buster Jackpot instant play game online.
Dunn didn’t believe it at first. She then received an email from lottery officials confirming the win.
“It’s a pretty exciting feeling. I never thought I would win something like this, but this goes to show it can happen,” she said.
After claiming her prize of $103,909.73, after taxes, she went to a grocery store in the area and bought $2,000 in gift cards to give to random strangers in the store.
“I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve had. This is a pretty amazing gift,” she said.
According to lottery officials, Dunn bet $20 on the game on July 7 and saw the big reward on her computer screen just seconds later.
However, she did not believe that she had actually won the prize till it was validated by the lottery officials a day later on 8th July.
“Giving back is in my nature”
Dunn opted to pay forward after receiving her prize, which after taxes came to $103,909.73. She visited a grocery shop and spent $2,000 on gift cards there.
Some customers who received those gift cards from her believed Dunn expected something in return.
However, she told the lottery officials that giving back is in her nature. According to the Kentucky Lottery, Dunn plans to use the rest of her winnings on things she was already working toward, like buying a car and paying off bills.