Media-ready jpg of Crystal Wittiker
Microsoft Word document of news release

DATE: May 6, 2008
CONTACT: Sally Lunsford (785) 296-5708, sally.lunsford@kslottery.net

Kansas City, Kan. Woman Gives $10,000 Ticket to Dad for Safekeeping

TOPEKA, KAN. – When Crystal Wittiker, 22, of Kansas City, Kan., scratched off a big winner last weekend, she knew just what to do with it.

“I gave it to my dad and let him hold onto it. After all, I know where he lives,” she said with a smile.

Wittiker, who enjoys playing Crossword and Bingo instant tickets because “they take awhile to scratch off,” got very lucky with one of three $2 Double Doubler Bingo tickets she purchased on Sunday.

“I kept telling everybody that I needed a $10,000 winner, but I never thought I’d really get one,” said Wittiker. She said she checked the ticket again and again, and had others check it, just to make sure it was real. Finally convinced that the ticket was the real deal, she gave it to her dad for safekeeping.

“He kept it in his billfold until right before we came into the Lottery building,” explained Wittiker. “I wanted to make sure nothing happened to it.”

Wittiker, who has a two-year-old daughter, plans to use the prize money to pay bills and possibly take a short vacation. She purchased her lucky ticket at S & A Food Mart, located at 7347 Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kan.