Iowa single mother, 51, steps forward as one of two Powerball winners from $700m draw - and walks away with $198m cash
A single mother from the small Iowa community of Redfield has claimed her share of a nearly $700 million Powerball prize.
Iowa Lottery officials confirmed Monday that Lerynne West was one of two winners of a $688 million jackpot drawn Oct. 27.
She'll share the prize with someone who bought the other winning ticket in New York City, the Daily Mail reports.
West opted for the cash option, which will pay her an immediate $198.1 million, minus taxes.
West said she dreamed of winning a jackpot, but 'once you have won, you realize the responsibility and the impact you can make, and all the frivolity goes out the window.'
The 51-year-old worked for a health insurance organization, but says she retired last week.
West overcame odds of 292.2 million to one to win.
'I'm excited to share my winnings with family and friends, plan to purchase a new car, and look forward to a long vacation — or several. I also plan to give to the causes and organizations important to my family through our newly established Callum Foundation,' West told the Iowa Lottery for a news release.
The Callum Foundation is named for her grandson Callum, who died after just one day when he was born prematurely.
The charitable foundation will be focused on making grants in the areas of alleviating poverty and hunger; education; animal welfare; and veteran's affairs.
It will start fielding requests in 2019.
She bought the ticket when out with her sister when they stopped for food, but then accidentally left it on her pickup truck floor.
When she couldn't find her ticket after the drawing, and discovered a winner was bought in Iowa, she called her sister, who found it and sent a photo.
West then checked her numbers and realized she'd won the jackpot.
'I told my sister to get in her truck and get that ticket and get up here right now! And, drive slow,' West said in the release.
She has three adult daughters and put herself through college while raising them.
She now has six grandchildren.
Under Iowa law, winners' information is public and unlike some states, it is not possible for winners to be anonymous.
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