An Illinois woman became a millionaire from a scratch-off ticket and is now using her good fortune to give back. Antoinette “Toni” Green, a resident of Aurora, which is about 41 miles west of Chicago, recently won the $1 million top prize from a $10 Monopoly 50X scratch-off ticket she purchased at Ruby’s Liquor on Butterfield Road. This information comes from a press release by the Illinois Lottery.
According to Anup Singh, the owner of Ruby’s Liquor, “Toni has won a few smaller prizes here and has called our store her ‘lucky store’ ever since.” When she won the million-dollar prize, it was Singh’s son, Jas, who was working. “She scratched the ticket and started screaming ‘Oh my gosh!’ She then had him scan the ticket multiple times, and sure enough − the $1 million prize was real.”
Ruby’s Liquor received a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Both Jas and Green were shocked by the win. “The clerk couldn’t believe it and I couldn’t believe it,” Green told lottery officials. “He said, ‘Toni, sign your ticket and go straight home − you won a million dollars!’ I sat in my car in front of Ruby’s in total shock, and then I had an epiphany – I can help others, I can make a difference in somebody’s life with this money.”
Green’s reaction to her win was not surprising to those who know her. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked as a school bus driver. Now, she is a Certified Medical Assistant. Green has always had a nurturing side, often helping strangers in need. “I get joy out of seeing other people’s happiness – and wondering how I can help be a part of that,” she said. “The other day I overheard a young woman who could only afford a gallon of gas, and I paid the clerk to fill up her tank. It’s not about what you can do for yourself, but what you can do for others.”
After winning $1 million, Green decided to pay it forward. “I’ve given away over $100,000 already,” she said. “When I was blessed with this prize, I knew I was finally in a position to give back, to help my friends and family, and to pay it forward.”
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Green’s story is a heartwarming example of how a sudden windfall can be used to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Her generosity and commitment to helping those in need have not only brought joy to many but also set a powerful example of selflessness and compassion.
