Bonus Match 5 Winner Planning Youth Outreach with $50,000 Prize

Bought lucky ticket in Sept. 24 drawing at local 7-Eleven

A Hagerstown man who has a vision for helping local kids and teens got some welcome seed money for his venture when he won $50,000 playing the Maryland Lottery’s Bonus Match 5 game.

“If you put people before yourself, everyone will be happy,” said the 38-year-old. He anticipates combining his energy and desire to volunteer with some of his newly won wealth to help youth in the Hagerstown and Frederick communities. A lifelong resident of the area, the winner said it’s time for him to start giving back to the community and be a “good soul.”

As for how Lottery luck found him, the Washington County resident said he has enjoyed playing Maryland Lottery games for many years. “I got my tickets right here for today,” he told Lottery officials after claiming his prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. The loyal player is no stranger to winning, having picked up small prizes over the years in Pick 3 and Pick 4. He  generally places low-return, 50-cent wagers in those games.

The winner is also a fan of picking his own numbers rather than using the Quick-Pick option. For his winning Bonus Match 5 ticket, the lucky player picked the number five because his mom has five children, nine because his grandmother has nine children, 19 because most of his family members’ birth years are in the 1900s and 23 because that was basketball legend Michael Jordan’s jersey number for most of his career. As for 14, that is the birth date of the mother of one of his four children.

Another number to ponder: This is the 34th winning Bonus Match 5 ticket sold in 2019.

Hagerstown’s 7-Eleven #11715 at 19340 Leitersburg Pike also has reason to celebrate! The Lottery will give the Washington County store a bonus of $500 for selling a top-prize winning ticket in the game for the Sept. 24 drawing.