Cranberry Township Couple Takes Home Top Prize

MIDDLETOWN - Secretary of Revenue Gregory C. Fajt today presented a ceremonial check for $10,166,550.04, less 25 percent federal withholding, to Bob and Patty MacZura of Cranberry Township, Butler County, holders of the lone winning jackpot ticket for the March 16, 2005 , Powerball® drawing.

The March 16 jackpot had an $18.7 million annuity value. The couple's jackpot-winning ticket matched all five white balls, 11-19-25-38-50, and the red Powerball®, 35.

“The MacZuras weren't the only winners in the March 16 Powerball® drawing,” Secretary Fajt said. “Pennsylvania 's older residents benefit every day from programs funded by Lottery proceeds - programs such as the PACE and PACENET prescription programs, property tax and rent rebates and free and reduced-fare transit.

“More than $3.8 million worth of Powerball® and PowerPlay® tickets were sold in Pennsylvania for the three-draw run leading to the March 16 jackpot, contributing more than $1.3 million to programs that aid older Pennsylvanians.”

Bob, 44, discovered that he and his wife had won when he checked their Powerball® ticket against the winning numbers report he receives via e-mail from the Pennsylvania Lottery.

“He was carrying the winning number printout when he delivered the good news to me and the paper was shaking,” said Patty, 45. “When I tried to purchase Lottery tickets the next day at the Sunoco APlus, where we bought our winning jackpot ticket, they said their terminal was unable to sell; it was being checked. And that's when I thought to myself, ‘Yep. This is where it (the winning Powerball® jackpot ticket) was sold'”. Patty said the couple checked and rechecked their ticket on numerous occasions, all the while keeping it in a secure location.

The MacZuras' winning quick-pick ticket was purchased at the Sunoco APlus convenience store located at 19090 Perry Highway in Mars, Butler County . Sunoco will receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning jackpot ticket.

The couple presented the winning ticket today at Lottery Headquarters in Middletown , Dauphin County , after consulting with legal counsel. After examining the ticket and executing other propriety security measures, Lottery officials confirmed that it was the winning jackpot ticket from the March 16 Powerball® drawing.

Joining Fajt and the winners at the check presentation were Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd-Eisenhower and Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Edward Mahlman.

The MacZuras are the ninth Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball® winners since Pennsylvania joined the multi-jurisdictional game in June 2002. The ticket was the second jackpot-winning Powerball® ticket sold in Pennsylvania this year and the sixth jackpot-winning Powerball® ticket sold in Pennsylvania in a 10-month period – from May 8, 2004 , through March 16, 2005 .