Carrie Edwards of Virginia made headlines after winning $150,000 in the Powerball lottery—but not for the usual reasons. Instead of spending the windfall on herself, the widow and grandmother gave away every cent to causes that hold deep personal meaning.
Edwards matched four numbers plus the Powerball in the September 8 drawing, just days after two players split a historic $1.79 billion jackpot. Her own prize, boosted by a Power Play add-on, totaled $150,000. But rather than pocket the money, Edwards divided it evenly among three nonprofits: the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), Shalom Farms, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society—each receiving $50,000.
The donation to AFTD hits closest to home. Edwards’ late husband, a firefighter, died from frontotemporal degeneration, a rare form of early-onset dementia. “This cause is deeply personal,” she said. “Winning gave me a chance to shine a light on the families affected and the researchers working toward a cure.”
The other two organizations reflect Edwards’ values of community and service. Richmond-based Shalom Farms tackles food insecurity, while the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provides financial and educational support to military families.
“These three organizations represent healing, service, and community,” Edwards told The Guardian. “God is blessing me, so I can bless others.”
In an added twist, this was Edwards’ first time buying an online lottery ticket. She placed a $3 bet, including a $1 Power Play, which tripled her winnings. And how did she pick her numbers? With a little help from technology.
“I’m like, ‘ChatGPT, talk to me. Do you have numbers for me?'” she joked at a press conference.