Plans to Set Up Foundation for Cancer Research

Schenectady – Mary Ann Hrywnak, a Broome County businesswoman and part-owner of Heavenly Ham in Johnson City, took a trip to Brooklyn late last month to help her chef daughter pack for her move to a new position at the wonderful world of Disney in Orlando, Florida. As fate would have it, Mary Ann would return to Johnson City a multi-millionaire after buying the winning jackpot ticket for the $45 million Lotto drawing on Wednesday, June 28th.

An infrequent Lottery player, Hrywnak said she purchased her ticket trying to beat the heat in a Lottery retail location in Brooklyn while waiting for her daughter. Hrywnak was stunned when she checked her ticket at a local Binghamton restaurant the following week and learned that she was the New York Lottery’s newest millionaire. She said she usually forgets to check her tickets when she does buy them and only remembered to check her ticket this time because she happened to be at a Lottery retailer when it fell out of her pocket. Hrywnak plans to use some of her winnings to set up a foundation for cancer research.

“This is tremendous news for the entire Southern Tier. The $45 million Lotto jackpot is the largest ever won in Broome County history,” said New York Lottery Director Nancy Palumbo. “I am so pleased that Ms. Hrywnak plans to use some of her winnings for such a worthy cause as cancer research. It’s a pleasure to work for an agency that brings so much joy to people and contributes so much to worthy causes in addition to the Lottery’s direct contributions to education in New York State.” Palumbo was joined by Yolanda Vega, the famous Lottery draw personality who drew the winning numbers for the Lotto drawing, at the very elegant Traditions at the Glen where Hrywnak was announced as the New York Lottery’s newest multi-millionaire.

Hrywnak purchased her winning Quick Pick LOTTO ticket at David’s Check Cashing in Brooklyn. She chose to receive the $45 million prize in a lump sum amount totaling $22,156,834 before required tax withholdings. The lump sum amount equals what it would cost the Lottery to finance the advertised jackpot over 26 years, the standard annuity period. The winning numbers for New York’s June 28th LOTTO drawing were:

20 - 27 - 29 - 50 - 53 - 59  Bonus# 26

The New York Lottery, the largest lottery in the country and the sixth largest in the world, has generated more than $29 billion in revenue to help support education in New York State, including a record $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2005-2006 on revenues of $6.8 billion. For more information, contact the New York Lottery Press & Communications office at 518-388-3415 or email here.