2010 1st Quarter Press Releases: Article

SACRAMENTO - "Make Me a Millionaire," the California Lottery’s TV game show, awarded 12 lucky contestants a total of $177,000 in cash and prizes on this week’s show.

Lucky Penny contestants dominated this week’s episode. Danielle Maldonado of Auberry, Hratch Tchakirian of Los Angeles and Eric Jensen of Westminster all played a perfect game and drove home in brand new cars. Maldonado, a 22-year-old gas station attendant, had a great time on the show. “The whole experience was awesome!” she said.

In addition, Pedro Barbes of Bellflower walked away with $35,000 after playing the Millionaire game. The 76-year old retiree plans to take a vacation to his native Puerto Rico.

With the progressive jackpot increasing $200,000 each week, next week’s Millionaire game contestant will have a chance to win $1.2 million.

The California Lottery believes in creating a better, more sustainable environment for future generations, which is why all cars given away on “Make Me a Millionaire” are fuel efficient and use clean innovative technologies. All new car winners on this week’s episode won a Chevy Malibu or the cash equivalent of the vehicle.

For more information about “Make Me a Millionaire,” visit www.calottery.com. For high resolution photos, please contact (916) 324-9639 or e-mail newsroom@calottery.com.

The California Lottery is celebrating 25 years of enhancing education and supporting local communities. More than 95 cents of every Lottery dollar is returned to the community in the form of contributions to education, prizes and retail commissions. The Lottery contributes at least 34 cents of every dollar that players spend on Lottery products to public education and returns more than 50 percent of sales to players in the form of prizes. Since the Lottery’s inception in 1985, Lottery players have contributed nearly $22 billion to California schools out of total sales of more than $59 billion. Retailers benefit too, earning $3.8 billion in compensation since 1985.