Manchester, N.H. – Charlestown, NH resident Thomas French won a $650,000 top prize in a live drawing last night hosted by the New Hampshire Lottery during a New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. With thousands of fans watching from the stands, 11 finalists were invited onto the infield during the sixth inning to take part in the live $500 a Week For Life drawing.
“The New Hampshire Lottery is so happy for our $650,000 top prize winner,” said Maura McCann, director of marketing for the New Hampshire Lottery Commission. “It is such a thrilling moment for finalists to walk out onto the infield in the middle of the game and look up at the fans. You could feel the tension and the excitement right before finalists opened their envelopes. Congratulations to our big winner and to all our finalists!”
As the top prize winner, the retired construction worker and life-long Charlestown resident has the option of taking home $500 per week for 25 years, which is the equivalent of $650,000, or accepting a one-time cash payout of $250,000. (Prize amounts are calculated before taxes.)
Finalists were selected from a preliminary drawing held earlier this summer from non-winning $500 a Week For Life scratch tickets. During the sixth inning, the New Hampshire Lottery invited finalists onto the field to choose one of 11 prize envelopes. McCann then instructed finalists to open envelopes at once to reveal their prizes.
“I’ve never won anything this big in my life!” exclaimed French, moments after unsealing the envelop. “I felt like I had a little luck on my side because I was part of the final drawing, but I never expected this to happen!”
When asked how he would spend his winnings, French indicated that he may take a trip to Alaska or invest in a bigger truck and trailer.
In addition to the grand prize of $650,000, finalists won additional prizes ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. June Beattie of Franklin won the second largest prize of $10,000. All finalists watched the game from the first base deck with food and beverages, and each had the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial “first pitch.”
In addition to French and Beattie, finalists and their prizes included:
- Roland Adam of Berlin won $1,000.
- Scott Wentworth of Barrington won $1,000.
- Eugene Martin of Manchester won $1,000.
- Frances Stevens of Bellows Falls, VT won $2,500.
- Charles Nelson of Bath won $1,000.
- Elicia Dowd of Hooksett won $1,000.
- Gloria Ley of Rutland, VT won $1,000.
- Sally Scott of Manchester won $1,000.
- Roosevelt Rivers Jr. of Manchester won $1,000.
Earlier this summer, Loudon resident Teresa Tetrault won $1.3 million during the live, $1,000 a Week For Life drawing held similarly at a New Hampshire Fisher Cats game. Teresa opted for the one-time lump sum payout of $500,000 before taxes.
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Photo Caption 1: Charlestown, NH resident Thomas French won a $650,000 top prize in a live drawing last night hosted by the New Hampshire Lottery during a New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. French, along with 10 other finalists, were invited onto the infield for the live $500 a Week For Life Drawing. Pictured here, French reveals his top prize to the crowd.
Photo Caption 2: With thousands of fans watching from the stands, 11 finalists were invited onto the infield during the sixth inning to take part in a live $500 a Week For Life drawing hosted by the New Hampshire Lottery during a New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball game last night. Charles French of Charlestown won the $650,000 top prize.
About New Hampshire Lottery
Since 1964, the New Hampshire Lottery has had a significant financial impact on the state. For the past 51 years, the New Hampshire Lottery has recorded almost $6.0 billion in lottery sales and other earnings, with over $3.8 billion being paid in prizes and other cost of sales. Net proceeds to education total more than $1.7 billion to date.
The New Hampshire Lottery Commission, located at 14 Integra Drive in Concord, currently manages all lottery operations in the state, including instant games, New Hampshire Powerball®, New Hampshire Mega Millions®, New Hampshire Hot Lotto® Sizzler, Tri-State Megabucks℠ Plus, Tri-State Pick3®/Pick4® Daily Numbers games, Gimme 5, Fast Play games and Lucky For Life®.