News writer, Interviewer
What would you do with $150,000? Buy a new car? Pay off debt? Take that dream vacation?
Carrie Edwards chose a different path. The Midlothian woman won $150,000 in the Virginia Lottery and gave every penny away.
A lucky win becomes a powerful gift
Edwards matched four of the first five numbers plus the Powerball number in the September 8 drawing. That combination normally pays $50,000. But Edwards spent an extra dollar for Power Play when she bought her ticket online through the Virginia Lottery's mobile app. Her first online purchase tripled her prize to $150,000.
On September 16, Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones presented Edwards with her check. She immediately turned around and donated the entire amount to three organizations.
Three gifts with deep meaning
Edwards split her winnings among causes close to her heart.
The first donation went to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD). This organization funds research and supports families affected by early-onset dementia. Edwards made this gift in memory of her late husband, Steve Edwards, who died from FTD.
"This cause is deeply personal," Edwards said. "During World FTD Awareness Month, I wanted this gift to shine a light on the families who are fighting this disease and on the researchers working toward a cure."
The second gift supports Shalom Farms, a Richmond nonprofit that grows and distributes food. The organization operates two production farms and distributes over 400,000 servings of produce each year through innovative food access programs.
Edwards' third donation benefits the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. This organization provides financial and emergency assistance to active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.
Why give it all away?
Edwards sees her lottery win as more than luck. She views it as an opportunity to serve others.
"These three organizations represent healing, service, and community," she explained. "Shalom Farms heals through food and soil, AFTD brings hope through research, and Navy-Marine Corps relief Society carries forward the tradition of supporting military families in times of need."
Her faith guides her generosity. "God is blessing me, so I can bless others through Him," Edwards said. "After all, we are all just walking each other home."
A trend among big winners
Edwards joins a notable group of lottery winners who share their windfall with charity.
In 2019, an anonymous South Carolina woman who won a $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot donated to Alabama tornado victims and several local charities. She claimed her prize when tornadoes struck Alabama in March.
A year earlier, a New Hampshire woman who won $559.9 million pledged up to $50 million to charity. She immediately donated $249,000 to Girls Inc. and End 68 hours of Hunger.
Leaders respond with gratitude
The three organizations Edwards chose expressed their appreciation for her unexpected gift.
"This generous gift will directly support vital research and family services in the fight against FTD," said Susan Dickerson, CEO at AFTD.
Anna Ibrahim, Executive Director of Shalom Farms, praised Edwards' commitment: "Her gift will ensure that families throughout Richmond continue to have access to high-quality, affordable fresh produce."
Lt. Gen. Robert R Ruark from the Navy-Marine Corps relief Society noted how the donation "strengthens our mission of standing beside sailors, Marines, and their loved ones during times of financial stress."
What drives such generosity?
Edwards hopes her story inspires others to see windfalls as opportunities to give back. Her decision reflects a simple truth: unexpected blessings can become powerful tools for change.
Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones celebrated Edwards' choice: "All of us at the Lottery are delighted to see this prize being shared with worthy causes, due to the wonderful generosity of Carrie Edwards."
Why do some winners choose charity over personal gain? Perhaps they understand what Edwards expressed so clearly: we're all walking each other home.
The lottery exists to fund K-12 public education in Virginia. Edwards' decision extends that mission of service even further. Her $150,000 prize will now fund dementia research, feed families, and support military personnel.
Sometimes the biggest win isn't keeping the money. Sometimes it's giving it all away.
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