Goshen man will give away lottery winnings

By Sheila Selman The Goshen News Tue Jan 26, 2010, 01:08 PM EST

MILLERSBURG, Ind — One million dollars gone in 48 hours?

That’s what Goshen resident Burton Showalter vowed after winning the Indiana Millionaire scratch-off prize.

On Monday morning, Showalter, a retiree, said the state has taken its share of the $1 million he won Jan. 16, and within the next day, he will choose which food relief organizations he will donate his prize to and then give it away.

“I haven’t decided specifically which ones yet,” Showalter said, “but I will in the next 24 hours.”

The decision to give away that much cash wasn’t hard.

Showalter said when he realized he was holding a $1 million ticket he decided immediately to give it away.

God gave him the money for a purpose, he said, and that was to give it back to those who needed it. He felt compelled to donate it to a “Feed the Hungry” type organization, he said.

“The vast majority of the money I won will be, or has already been, given to organizations that are evangelical based and are not afraid to proclaim the good news of a risen Savior,” Showalter said in a written statement. “I am in the process of attempting to differentiate between World Vision and other ‘Feed the Hungry’ organizations to see which has the least amount of overhead and the most percentage actually going to those in need. I anticipate the money will be gone within the next 48 hours.”

Winning ticket

Showalter said he stopped at the One Stop Food ’N’ Shop (Taco Bell/Phillips) gas station, 1819 Lincolnway East, in Goshen to fill up his gas tank and bought a lottery ticket.

“I usually buy one each time I fill up my tank,” he said.

In a press release issued by Hoosier Lottery officials, Showalter said he keeps track of odds and checks to see how many winners are left before making a purchase.

“I shook for a little bit after first scratching it off,” Showalter said. “Then I took it to my daughter’s house for her to verify it was a winner.”

He told his kids about his winnings, but no one else.

He and his son, Craig, claimed the prize Jan. 19.

Hoosier Lottery officials said the prize will be paid as an annuity over 20 years.

Showalter said Monday he hopes his donation will encourage other people to consider doing the same thing should a similar occasion arise.

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