Donato Floriza loves the Maryland Lottery’s Mega Millions and Powerball games. “I’ve played since the games began here in Maryland,” said the former Navy and Army Corps of Engineers employee with a grin. Although Donato lives near D.C., he says that he is a Marylander at heart.
Tuesday morning, after dropping his wife and son off at work, Donato bought a $5 Mega Millions Quick Pick ticket and some Powerball tickets. The next day, the 63-year-old went to Kentland Shell, where he had made his Lottery purchases, to check his Mega Millions ticket.
“I tried to play it cool because there were people in the place,” said the lucky winner after finding out that he was $250,000 richer. Donato didn’t reveal his good fortune to his wife and son until arriving home. “The whole drive home she talked about paying bills, only to get in the house after the ride and see yet another bill on the table,” said Donato.
This was the perfect time to tell his wife of 23 years the good news. While at first she was rendered speechless, she than asked him how much they had won and began making lots of plans. “We should do this and we should do that,” Donato said with a smile when recounting his wife’s response.
Predictably, the father-of-two intends to pay bills with his windfall and will also use some for a Father’s Day celebration. The winning ticket was purchased at Kentland Shell, located at 7777 Landover Rd in Prince George’s County.