Member of 'The Shipping 20' Gives To His Community

What great news out of Cedar Rapids!

Kelly Mulford, a member of The Shipping 20 group that split a Powerball jackpot back in June, has announced that he’s giving $75,000 to the United Way of East Central Iowa Endowment Fund at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

The Shipping 20, in case you didn’t hear about them, won the largest lottery prize ever in our state. The 20 co-workers from the shipping department at the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids split the $241 million Powerball® jackpot from the drawing on June 13. They chose to receive the prize as the lump-sum option of about $160 million. Each member ended up with a little more than $5.6 million after taxes.

When The Shipping 20 claimed its prize, several group members talked about retiring from their jobs and perhaps making some big purchases, but they also immediately talked about wanting to make a positive difference in Cedar Rapids. They had first-hand accounts of how the floods there four years ago had impacted their lives, and they wanted to help their community.

During yesterday’s United Way announcement, Kelly said he decided to come forward and share his story because he hopes to inspire others to give to the community through United Way.

You know, we hear winners talk time after time about the help they’ll give to their communities, favorite charities and family and friends. Kelly’s announcement is a great example of that being put into action. And we’re sure his help is especially meaningful, coming during the holidays!

Iowa’s other Powerball jackpot winners from this year also are helping out in their community. Brian and Mary Lohse of Bondurant won the $202.1 million Powerball jackpot in the drawing on Sept. 26. They’ve paid off their church’s mortgage and are making a sizeable donation to the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District where their children are students.

You’ve heard us talk about the ways that the lottery helps the state, from the proceeds we raise for vital causes to the income that the lottery generates for the local businesses that sell our tickets. Well, those positives are just amplified by the good works of lottery winners like we’re seeing now!