Pearlie, who purchased the winning normal play ticket at a 7-Eleven in Trenton, and her adult offspring were presented to the public at a press conference at New Jersey Lottery headquarters this past Friday. The eldest of the seven children, Valerie Arthur, acted as the family’s spokesperson and she was quick to confirm how surprised her whole family were when they checked their numbers: "It was a big shock. It was a bigger shock when we learned we were the only ticket holder."
The group, who waited a number of days after the draw before coming forward to claim their mammoth prize, stated that they had been consulting with their family lawyer and a number of other advisors about how best to handle such a large windfall: "Our first and foremost thought was to educate ourselves," said Valerie. The closely-knit syndicate have opted to receive the money in a cash lump sum worth $284 million.
Valarie now claims that the family will seek to use the money for good: "If it does change me I think it will change me for the better," she claimed. "I know you receive and you give. That is the rule." Katherine Nunnally, one of the successful siblings, hopes to use her share of the jackpot to help aid young women in the area through a scheme she works with: “It has been a struggle to get funding. Now she has her own funding. She can go and change lives on her own accord," Valerie explained.
If you’d like to be in with a chance of emulating the Smiths’ success and perhaps help those around you who are less fortunate, this Wednesday evening's Powerball jackpot presents an unmissable opportunity and is estimated to be worth an incredible $60 million. Tickets can be purchased online or from any authorised retailer in participating states. Best of luck!
