$1 million check given to Mon Valley lottery winner

A ceremony was held Thursday at Foster House II, where Brittnee Boot purchased the grand prize scratch-off ticket.

A single mom from the Mon Valley hit the jackpot by winning a million dollars in a scratch-off lottery ticket at Foster House II.

Pennsylvania Lottery officials joined with Foster House II owners Theresa and David Bashada on Thursday to present Brittnee Boot with a check to commemorate her $1 million win. Boot lives in Fayette County and has three children who attend Belle Vernon Area schools.

Boot said she couldn’t believe that she had a grand prize ticket, and it still hasn’t sunk in that she’s a winner.

“I thought I saw the wrong number because the threes and the fives look really close together,” Boot said. “I had to get the waitress to check out the ticket because I wasn’t sure. I thought I was seeing things.”

On March 19, she was having dinner with her children at Foster House II after their baseball practice, and they were asking her to get some scratch-off tickets. Eventually, she listened and it was a surprise when she won.

Boot got her prize by purchasing the “1,000,000 Winnings” scratch-off that costs $20.

Boot said she and her kids are most excited about the chance to buy a new home with the money. She also has a special surprise for her sister, Laura Holmes.

“This is going to help us in the long run; we’re going to buy a house,” Boot said. “My sister Laura, it’s her birthday today, and I can finally buy her the mini-donkey that she wants.”

Boot works as a title clerk for C. Harper, and she expects to continue her job and save what she has won. Her children are excited, and they’ve already shared the thrilling news with all their friends at school.

Theresa Bashada said they’ve never had the opportunity to sell such a big winning ticket, and they’re LOTTERY WINNER •A8

“I thought I saw the wrong number because the threes and the fives look really close together. I had to get the waitress to check out the ticket because I wasn’t sure. I thought I was seeing things.”

BRITTNEE BOOT happy that the winner was Boot’s family. Foster House II will be receiving $5,000 as a selling bonus.

“She’s a local girl, but she’s a single mother with three kids, and it’s gonna help her with buying a new house for her family,” David Bashada said. “That’s the most important thing, take care of your kids. We’re glad to have a part in that.”

Eric Grubbs, Pennsylvania Lottery deputy executive director of sales and retail operations, presented Boot with her winning check. Grubbs explained that besides helping families like Boot’s, the lottery also provides funds for programs in Pennsylvania.

“The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians,” Grubbs said. “Since ticket sales began in 1972, we have contributed more than $36 billion to important programs for seniors.

“Thanks to our players like Brittnee and our retailer partners like Foster House here, the lottery is able to continue to fulfill its mission of responsibly generating funds for programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians every day.”