$30,000 Prize Winner So Excited, Mom Thought Something Was Wrong
Fort Dodge Woman Wins Top Prize in "Tree-Mendous Crossword" Game
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CLIVE, Iowa — Danielle Smith of Fort Dodge did what many people would do after winning a $30,000 lottery prize: she called her mother.
"She thought something was wrong with me, she thought I was hurt," said Smith. "She's like, 'You need to calm down so I can understand you.' And I'm like, 'Mom, I won $30,000!'"
Smith said her mother needed proof, so she had her "Tree-Mendous Crossword" scratch ticket scanned at Kwik Star, 201 N. 15th St. in Fort Dodge, where she bought the ticket.
"I handed them the ticket and the girl comes running around the corner to give me a hug. She's like, 'You deserve this so much!'" Smith recalled.
She claimed her top prize Wednesday at the lottery's regional office in Storm Lake. Smith said her winnings will help her get a fresh start.
"I've had a very rough time the last couple years, so this money is a really big help getting me and my dog back on my feet," she said.
Smith plans to save most of her money for now, spoil her dog Faith, and hopes to one day start a business.
Tree-Mendous Crossword is a $3 scratch game with a top prize of $30,0000. Overall odds of winning are 1 in 3.52. It is one of nine scratch and InstaPlay games that are part of the Iowa Lottery's "Cash Prizes are Coming to Town" Play It Again® holiday promotion. Members of the lottery's VIP Club can enter nonwinning holiday tickets for a chance at winning a share of more than $1 million in cash prizes. For more information about the promotion, visit www.ialottery.com.
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