A woman from Midlothian, Virginia, has turned a stroke of luck into a gift for others, donating her entire $150,000 Powerball prize to three charities. Carrie Edwards won the prize in the Sept 8 drawing after matching four numbers and the Powerball. Her ticket originally qualified for $50,000, but because she had opted for the $1 Power Play feature, her winnings were tripled.
Edwards received the prize on Tuesday and quickly announced she would give away every dollar. “God is blessing me, so I can bless others through Him,” she said in a statement released by Powerball. “After all, we are all just walking each other Home.”
Powerball Winner Honors Late Husband
Edwards divided the money equally among three organizations close to her heart. One donation went to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), a nonprofit that supports research and resources for families affected by early-onset dementia. She made the gift in memory of her late husband, Steve.
“This generous gift will directly support vital research and family services as we work toward a future free of FTD,” said Susan L-J Dickerson, CEO of the AFTD, in a release.
Another portion was directed to Shalom Farms, a nonprofit food justice initiative in Richmond that grows and distributes healthy produce to communities with limited access. The group partners with local agencies to supply fresh food and nutrition education to thousands of families each year.
The final donation went to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, an organization providing financial assistance, counseling, and education to active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. Founded in 1904, the society has a long tradition of helping military households through emergencies and long-term needs.
For Edwards, the decision to part with her winnings was not difficult. She said she felt grateful that an unexpected windfall could “serve a greater purpose” by helping causes that mattered personally and to her community.
Lottery winners often make headlines for extravagant purchases, but Edwards’ choice places her among a small group who give away substantial prizes. According to Powerball, it is unusual for winners to donate their entire payout.
Powerball remains one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with jackpots regularly reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. While Edwards’ win was modest compared to recent billion-dollar jackpots, her donation ensured the prize will have a lasting impact well beyond her own life.