A Virginia grandmother who bought her first Powerball ticket has donated the entire $150,000 jackpot to charity. Carrie Edwards bought the winning ticket through the Virginia Lottery's mobile app and matched four of five white numbers and the red Powerball to win the six-figure prize. She added the Power Play option for an extra $1, which tripled the prize—and, she said, the generosity that comes with it.
Edwards announced she would donate the full $150,000 to three charities: $50,000 each to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Shalom Farms, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. After taxes, each organization will receive roughly $36,000. 'These three organizations represent healing, service, and community,' she said, adding that the gift was made in honor of her late husband, Steve Edwards, who died from frontotemporal degeneration.
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration funds research, education, and family resources for those affected by early-onset dementia. Edwards said the donation is deeply personal: 'This cause is deeply personal. During World FTD Awareness Month, I wanted this gift to shine a light on the families who are fighting this disease and on the researchers working toward a cure.'
Shalom Farms, a nonprofit farm and food-justice group in Richmond, Virginia, grows and distributes more than 400,000 servings of produce each year. 'When there's only less than 20 people working at your org, this kind of gift is huge,' said Anna Ibrahim, a Shalom Farms representative, noting the impact on local shoppers’ bags.
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provides financial, educational, and emergency assistance to active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. Edwards grew up in a Navy family and said she understands how valuable the organization can be. 'This support strengthens our mission of standing beside sailors, Marines, and their loved ones during times of financial stress,' said Lieutenant General Robert R Ruark, president and chief executive officer of the NMCRS.
'Very rarely do we have winners do what Carrie is doing here today,' a lottery official said. Edwards’s win comes as a reminder that windfalls can fund acts of generosity, and she hopes her gift will inspire others to give back when unexpected blessings occur.
After accepting her prize from Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones on Tuesday, Edwards said, 'Shalom Farms heals through food and soil, AFTD brings hope through research, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society carries forward the tradition of supporting military families in times of need. I feel blessed that this unexpected lottery win could serve a greater purpose.'