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Lerynne West's new job did not last long.
After starting a new position with a health insurance company in September, 51-year-old West resigned a month later after winning the Powerball.
Out of a total of $ 292.2 million against 1, West was one of two on the list of the two biggest prize winners for the $ 750 million Powerball prize on Saturday, October 27, according to a press release published Monday by Powerball. The grandmother of Redfield, Iowa, went to Powerball headquarters in Clive, Iowa Monday morning to accept half the price.
"Once you've won, you realize the responsibility and the impact you can have, and all the frivolity is in check," West told reporters at a news conference. Monday morning press conference. "It will forever change my life and I will use this opportunity to influence others."
Taking the $ 198.1 million cash option, less taxes, West said she planned to use the money to support her family – including her mother, seven siblings, her family, and her family. three girls and six grandchildren – and help others. She created the Callum Foundation – named after the death of her late grandson after her untimely birth in April, reported CBS News – to share her earnings.
Daughter of a veteran from Vietnam and a stay-at-home mom, West described her modest roots at the press conference.
"At the age of fourteen, I started doing hijackings and walking beans so I could earn some money so I could buy my school clothes and help the family." Said West. "As a single mom, I worked full time, I went to school full time evenings and weekends. … my daughters had to sacrifice a lot for that.
West continued during the press conference: "My daughters and I dreamed of winning the lottery. I never thought we would be here today. I played the lottery twice a week when I had the money to do it. The maximum I have ever won until now was $ 150. "
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Lucky West's purchase took place after she had already made a significant change in her life.
"Friday, October 26 … was a bit special to me because I had bought my first house," said West, adding, "I was moving that day. Around noon … I said to [my sister]"I'm really hungry and I need coffee, can you drive me to Casey's [General Store] to be able to take a piece of pizza and a coffee? "So, she and I went to Casey's in Redfield … and I said," Oh yeah, can I have my lottery tickets? " Morning."
West said that once she remembered looking, she had not found her tickets, finding that she had left them on the floor in her sister's van.
She recalled at the press conference: "I put these numbers in IAlottery.com. When the numbers are correct, they appear in red. … Well, nothing appeared in red because I had the wrong date. "
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"When I entered the exact date, it was said" Jackpot, "continued West, adding," I thought, I've done something wrong again. "
West said that it had taken her a minute to fully realize that she had won. She then asked her sister to "take this ticket, get on your truck, get on now and drive slowly.
Now, West has big plans.
"I'm going to buy a car," she says. "Currently, I drive a Ford Fiesta with 142,000 km. I'm going to have a car so that I can take care of all my grandchildren. "
The Callum Foundation will help individuals by providing grants in several areas: poverty and hunger, education, animal welfare and veterans affairs, according to the website.
The other winning Powerball ticket of October 27 was sold in New York.
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