Patrick Ward had always taken pride in his role as the director of streets and sewers for the city of South Bend. Patrick is a fan of Notre Dame sports and has an unwavering loyalty to the Chicago Bears.

On Thanksgiving morning, Patrick found himself awake before the sun, as he prepared for a day of family and feasting. His sister had flown in from California to celebrate the holiday, bringing with her a warm, sunny disposition that contrasted with the brisk Indiana air. As Patrick wiped the sleep from his eyes, a thought struck him: it was time to check his Hoosier Lottery Powerball® tickets.

Patrick has certain numbers he has played religiously. He squinted at the numbers on his ticket, needing to put on his glasses to read the print. As he scanned the digits, one by one, the numbers leaped off the page. It wasn’t just a few familiar numbers; it was four out of five that he had matched! Excitement turned into exhilaration when the realization finally sunk in. Patrick had won $50,000!

He couldn’t help but share his monumental news. “Wow, I’ve never met anyone who has won the lottery before!” his sister exclaimed, her eyes wide with astonishment.

“Dad, can we at least detail my car with the prize money?” his daughter asked with hopeful eyes. Patrick laughed, shaking his head fondly at her request. “We’ll see about that,” he replied. In truth, the practicality of having that money in the bank was more appealing to him than any impulse buy.

Powerball® Overall Odds: 1 in 25