RELEASE DATE: 10/29/2015
YONKERS, N.Y. - Limousine driver Edgar Lopez of Yonkers is one of five friends who pooled their money together to buy a ticket for the September 11 Mega Millions drawing for a jackpot of $106,000,000. Lopez purchased the group’s jackpot-winning Quick Pick ticket at Yonkers Grocery and Convenience on Yonkers Ave.
“We take turns buying tickets and it was my turn,” said the 52-year-old Lopez. The weekend following the drawing, it also became Lopez’s responsibility to inform his long-time friends-turned-mega millionaires that they would be splitting a pool of money worth $106,000,000.
“I told them that something good has happened. We won the Lottery and I gave them all a copy of the ticket,” he said.
Lopez’s lucky friends include: Manuel Hernandez, 45, a limousine driver from Yonkers; Acela Hernandez, 51, Manuel’s wife who works as a housekeeper, also of Yonkers; Angela Pajes, 45, a daycare teacher from Basking Ridge, NJ; and HVAC business owner Miguel Acosta, 47, of Yonkers.
Lopez said he and his friends have been playing together for about 10 years. “We promised each other that we would split the prize if we ever won,” he said.
The winning numbers for the September 11 Mega Millions drawing were 05, 11, 31, 50, 67, Mega Ball 14.
Lopez summed up the group’s reaction saying, “Wow! We are all very, very happy. We have worked hard all of our lives, and to have this happen is just amazing.”
Members of the group opted to split the prize evenly with each receiving his or her share of the prize in a single, lump sum payment totaling $13,102,595. Each New York winner will receive a net check totaling $8,477,726. Pajes, from New Jersey, will receive a single, net payment of $8,671,297.
The group’s plans for the money include vacations to Miami and France and saving money.
The New York Lottery contributed $91,075,152.30 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Westchester County during fiscal year 2014-2015.
About the New York Lottery
The NY Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.17 billion in fiscal year 2013-2014 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.
NY Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.
Media contact: New York Lottery, (518) 388-3415