SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show airs Saturday, August 26, 2000, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a total of $242,500.
Muriel Ealy is the latest recipient of the Lottery's "Hero In Education" Awards. Ealy is a teacher, educator, and volunteer who has worked tirelessly to help both her students and community. She volunteers on the planning commission for the City of Richmond, as the treasurer of the YMCA of Contra Costa County and as Director of an after school program assisting students who are having difficulties in completing their classroom assignment.
Her volunteer efforts began over twenty years ago when she opened up her classroom before and after school providing additional tutoring and help to academically struggling students. If the students couldn't come to her, she would go to them in their homes. Ealy's former students return from college to thank her for believing in them and for her tenacity to "not give up." Actress Rusty Schwimmer who portrayed Big Red on the hit movie The Perfect Storm, presented Ealy with California Lottery's "Hero In Education" award.
Daniel Salcedo's aunt bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers ticket for Salcedo that revealed three SPIN symbols on it. That ticket entitled Victorville resident, Salcedo, to spin the largest prize wheel in the world. Salcedo, a graduate student in Biology, plans to pay for medical school with the $100,000 he won at the wheel.
Retired printer, Michael Valenzano of Daly City, was this week's Fantasy 5TM contestant. Valenzano won $60,000 playing the Dream Machine and plans to replace his 20-year-old car and take a couple of golfing trips.
Laura Vasquez of Compton was this week's top California Gold winner. Vasquez won $60,000. Vasquez plans to take a vacation with her prize money. Other California Gold winners won a combined total of $22,500.
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 14 percent for administrative expenses, which include 6.8 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 |
| Daniel Salcedo |
Victorville |
$ 100,000 |
| Michael Valenzano |
Daly City |
$ 60,000 |
| Laura Vasquez |
Compton |
$ 60,000 |
| Other California Gold winners |
|
$ 22,500 |
| |
TOTAL $242,500 |
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