"Big Spin® 2000" Contestants Win More Than $300,000

05.27.2000
"Big Spin® 2000" Contestants Win More Than $300,000

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show airs Saturday, May 27, 2000 in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a total of $312,500.

Fantasy 5™ contestants won big on the Big Spin® 2000 Dream Machine. Heidi Kassamanian, a paralegal from Glendale was the show's top winner with a $70,000 prize. Other contestants included Denzil Kreisher, a bus operator for the Golden Gate Bridge from Navato who won $65,000, Robert McCray, a golf shop clerk from Newport Beach who also won $65,000, and Doug Carl, a City College employee from Fresno who won $40,000.

Beverly Fongemie-Harness, a Downey resident, was this week's top California Gold winner. Fongemie-Harness, who works as a teachers aid, won $25,000 but had no immediate plans for her prize. Other California Gold contestants won $22,500.

Henry Johnson Jr., an engaged carpenter from Gardena, was the lone Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on the show. Johnson was the proud winner of $25,000.

The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 18,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52.5 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34 percent to public schools and 6.6 percent for operating and game expenses, which includes 6.9 percent for retailer commissions. Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $11 billion for public schools. The California Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget. "Big Spin® 2000" is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.

NAME	CITY	AMOUNT
Heidi Kassamanian	Glendale	$70,000
Denzil Kreisher	Novato	$65,000
Robert McCray	Newport Beach	$65,000
Doug Carl	Fresno	$40,000
Henry Johnson	Gardena	$25,000
Beverly Fongemie-Harness	Downey	$25,000
Other California Gold Winners		$22,500
		TOTAL $312,500

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2000 2nd Quarter Press Releases: Article