London, Ont. - "Oh my God," was Mary Anic's initial response on January 15 when she got the phone call telling her that her number had just been drawn as the Dream Lottery's Ultimate Grand Prize winner.
"How are you feeling?" asked St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation board member Theresa Mikula, who had drawn the winning number.
"I don't know…" Anic replied, trying to absorb the news that she had just become one million dollars richer.
Anic purchased the winning ticket along with business partner Marcy DiMaria. After driving to London to look at the two prize home options, the Sarnia residents took a couple of days to mull over their choice and decided to take the million dollar cash alternative instead.
Minutes before the Ultimate Grand Prize was drawn, LHSF Board member Ron Mikula drew the 50/50 PlusTM winning number held by Nikolaos Fragiskatos of Hensall. Fragiskatos, who had been purchasing tickets for as long as he could remember, could only say "Are you kidding?" when Mikula called to tell him that he had won half of the $772,385 prize pool.
All other final draw prize-winning numbers were drawn on January 14, including 12 Grand Prize winning numbers held by Londoners. All draws were held under the supervision of accountants of record from the firm Deloitte LLP. A complete list of winners is posted online along with the lottery rules, details on prizes and cash alternatives at www.dreamitwinit.ca.
"Children's Health Foundation would like to congratulate Mary, Nikolaos and all the other prize winners," says CHF President and CEO Susan Crowley. "And on behalf of Children's, I would like to thank everyone who dreamed big and helped support Children's by purchasing Dream Lottery tickets."
Dream Lottery supports St. Joseph's Health Care London, London Health Sciences Centre, Children's Hospital at LHSC and has raised more than $25.6 million (net) since 1996.
"With Dream Lottery we all win," explains LHSF President John MacFarlane. "Lottery proceeds help enhance and advance care at hospitals that provide primary care for Londoners and serve as referral centres, providing specialized services for patients from across our entire region."