2002 3rd Quarter Press Releases: Article

SACRAMENTO — California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs Saturday, September 21, 2002, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show win a total of $117,500.

Actress Gabrielle Carteris presented Kim Bennett with the California Lottery's Hero in Education Award. Bennett is a parent volunteer at Tovashal Elementary School in Murrieta.

For the past six years, Bennett has gone out of her way to turn everyday activities into colorful and exciting events that capture the imaginations of Murrieta school kids. Her enthusiasm can be seen both in and out of the classroom, as she teaches phonics to kindergarten students, and as she performs inspirational skits during weekly school assemblies.

Bennett has also been known to lend a hand to the school nurse by stocking first aid kits and giving dental screenings. Furthermore, she has been responsible for organizing countless fundraisers that have helped make Tovashal Elementary really stand out.

Gabrielle Carteris is an actress who has done voiceovers in such animated shows as Pinky and the Brain, Johnny Bravo and King of the Hill. She hosted her own daytime talk show called Gabrielle. She is best known from her starring role as Andrea Zuckerman-Vasquez on the hit television show Beverly Hills, 90210.

The Fantasy 5 contestant appearing on this week's show is Luis Iglesias, a retiree from San Francisco. Iglesias wins $75,000 and he explained his plans for this money, "I plan to use it for a vacation to Hawaii and bank the rest." Iglesias bought his winning ticket at New Hampshire Market in San Francisco.

Dream Machine players have up to five chances to launch one ball at a time into one of the five bins in the pinball-type game, each bin representing a cash amount. Prizes are cumulative, but only one ball may land in each bin to claim the prize amount. Players appearing on this segment qualify by mailing an entry form to the Lottery when $5 of Fantasy 5 games are purchased on one playslip.

"Weekly Payday Raceway" contestant, Brenda Matthews, a clerk from Tujunga, will progress to the final round of play for a chance to win $2,000 a week for 20 years; winning a total grand prize of over $2 million. Matthews purchased her lucky ticket at City Market in Tujunga. On this week's show, six contestants competed in the first preliminary round of the game moving simulated racecars along a racetrack. Of the six, one contestant, Matthews, moved on to the final round of play. Other "Weekly Payday Raceway" contestants won a combined total of $17,500 with prizes ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.

Daniel Gersbach

The Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week's show is Daniel Gersbach, a mechanic from San Jose who wins $25,000. Gersbach explained, "I plan to use the money for my son's college education." Gersbach purchased his ticket at The Winerack Cahalan in San Jose. Gersbach bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket, that ticket entitled Gersbach to a direct trip to the prize wheel.

The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 18,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34.7 percent to public schools and 13.3 percent for administrative expenses, which includes 6.8 percent for retailer commissions. Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $13 billion for public schools. The Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget. "The Big Spin®" is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.