ATLANTA - Two northeast Georgians have struck it rich in recent weeks - each winning $1 million from the Georgia Lottery.
They are Kristen Diloreto of Cumming and Valerie Crawford of Braselton.
Diloreto, a Delta flight attendant and mother of three, purchased her winning ticket at Publix Super Market #0049, 3480 Keith Bridge Road, Cumming, while grocery shopping. She scratched it in the car.
"I was thrilled," she said. "I took the ticket back to the store manager, and we both looked at each other in disbelief."
Diloreto and her husband, Steve, will consider whether to take a family vacation; otherwise, they have no immediate plans for their winnings.
"I can't believe it's real," she exclaimed. "I feel like I'm an actress in a Georgia Lottery commercial."
Crawford, a party supply store owner, learned she was a new millionaire --- while attending a party.
Crawford, 25, checked the Georgia Lottery's Web site at a New Year's Eve party and saw that she won $1 million playing Holiday Millionaire Raffle.
"Basically I was just screaming," she said. "I was at a house party, and everyone was just going crazy for me."
Circle K #2953, located at 183 W. Athens St. in Winder, sold the top prize ticket.
According to Crawford, she plans to save, invest and pay off her small business.
"It's very exciting to bring in the new year as a new millionaire," she said.
Holiday Millionaire Raffle was a limited-time game that gave Georgia Lottery players their best odds ever to win $1 million. The game offered four $1 million prizes, four $100,000 prizes, 20 $10,000 prizes and 1,000 $500 prizes.
The $1 million tickets were purchased in Duluth, Hogansville, Peachtree City and Winder. The $100,000 tickets were purchased in Buford, Douglasville, Macon and Marietta.
Tuesday
June 24th, 2025
11:32PM
