RALEIGH, N.C. β Charlotte resident Barry Shipp has a passion for helping the homeless and a $200,000 scratch-off win will help him further that cause.
βI started a nonprofit called Pivot Point where I help build shelters for the homeless,β he said. βI can really put this win to good use.
ShippΒ bought his lucky $5 Pot of GoldΒ ticket from the Kangaroo Express on East WT Harris Boulevard in Charlotte.
βI really only buy tickets once in a blue moon,β he said. βI just do it for enjoyment.β
Shipp said when he first scratched his ticket, he thought he read it wrong.
βI saw a zero and another zero and another and I said, βWait a minute, this canβt be right,ββ Shipp recalled.
He arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday to claim his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $143,001.
βThis is just a day in paradise,β Shipp said.
In addition to helping the homeless, he plans to pay some bills with his winnings.
The Pot of Gold gameΒ debuted in December with four $200,000 top prizes. Two $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
