Elderly woman Carol Whitehead, aged 93, secures grand prize in Point/Arc lottery draw, allowing for lavish birthday celebrations
Covington Resident Wins $20,000 in The Point/Arc's Annual Lottery Bonanza
Carol Whitehead, a long-standing supporter of The Point/Arc, a non-profit organisation based in Covington, has won a significant lottery jackpot of $20,000 in the organisation's annual lottery bonanza. This marks a memorable moment for Whitehead, who has been purchasing lottery tickets from The Point/Arc for an impressive 53 consecutive years.
The event took place at the Zembrodt Education Center, located at 104 W. Pike Street, Covington. Whitehead, who turns 93 in a few weeks, may have been a first-time winner at The Point/Arc, but her relationship with the organisation is anything but new. She is friends with Judi Gerding, the Founder and President of The Point/Arc, and her support for the cause has been unwavering over the years.
The Point/Arc, founded in 1972, is a testament to the enduring spirit of advocacy for the educational rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). It is part of a broader network, The Arc, which was established earlier in 1950, with a mission to improve the lives of those with I/DD. Today, The Arc is the largest grassroots organisation in the U.S., advocating for the rights and inclusion of over 7 million people with I/DD nationwide.
The annual lottery bonanza, a significant fundraising event for The Point/Arc, costs $100 per ticket. This year's event saw the final 50 winning tickets being drawn, with the remaining ticket being that of Carol Whitehead. The specific details about her previous wins, such as a two-week trip to California in 1984 and a $1,000 cash prize from a raisin baking contest, add to her remarkable luck.
Jill Disken, the events coordinator for The Point/Arc, expressed her delight at the outcome, saying, "Carol's win is a testament to her long-standing support for our cause. We are grateful for her continued commitment and wish her all the best with her winnings."
The Point/Arc continues to be a beacon of hope and support for individuals with I/DD, filling service gaps and providing care and support where government funding is unavailable. Its community engagement initiatives, such as The Point Perk coffee shop in Covington, opened in 2015, serve as a local hub to showcase the organisation's mission in action. As it turns 54 next month, The Point/Arc remains committed to its mission of helping people with disabilities achieve their highest potential across educational, social, residential, and vocational areas.
- Carol Whitehead, the 93-year-old Covington resident who has been purchasing lottery tickets from The Point/Arc for 53 years, has shown her support not only in finances but also in women's health, given her friendship with Judi Gerding, the Founder and President of The Point/Arc.
- In addition to their advocacy for the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), The Point/Arc, a Covington-based non-profit organization, also engages in health-and-wellness programs, including events that cater to the aging population, such as the annual lottery bonus that Carol Whitehead recently won.
- As part of its broader mission, The Point/Arc, which operates under the umbrella of The Arc, also focuses on women's health, working to improve the lives of women with disabilities, ensuring they receive the appropriate care and education needed for their health throughout their lives.
