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A Christmas Miracle? Kentucky Boss Gifted Her Staff Lottery Tickets—And They Won $50,000. 'This Is Going to Help a Lot of People.' Twenty-one lucky Kentucky healthcare workers will split their winnings. One employee plans to use the money to pay for her mom's cancer treatment.

By Jonathan Small

Key Takeaways

  • Med Center Health Environmental Services won $50,000 from holiday scratch-offs gifted by their supervisor.
  • Each of the 21 team members will receive an equal share
  • One employee is using her portion for her mother's cancer treatment.

Santa Claus came to town a few weeks ahead of schedule for a group of merry healthcare workers in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

In an unlikely twist of holiday fortune, Sheila Colter, a Med Center Health Environmental Services supervisor, gave her employees a bunch of lottery tickets as a last-minute gift after her original presents were snagged in a shipping delay.

"Our work Christmas party was earlier than usual, and my planned gifts were stuck in transit," Colter told WBKO News.

Not wanting to show up empty-handed, she purchased a mix of Kentucky Lottery Scratch-off tickets for her team, including lower-value tickets and some $30 tickets she intended for everyone. The employees got to scratching and miraculously won themselves $50,000, the second prize from a Millionaire Club Scratch-off ticket.

Related: Virginia Woman Hits $1 Million Lottery Jackpot — Her Second Win That Week: 'I'm in Shock'

Money split between them

The win brought Yuletide cheer and a timely financial windfall for the employees. After taxes, the total of $35,750 was divided among the team. With 21 people on the team, each staff member is expected to take home approximately $1,750 after taxes. The local IGA Express, where the winning ticket was sold, gets a $500 bonus.

"We were all so excited. I was on the floor," Colter said.

The money will be put to good use. Employee Winnie Beckman plans to use her share to pay for her mother's Stage-4 cancer treatment.

"I'm going to use it for my mom's medicine," Beckman said. "This will help a lot, and I will never forget this."

The miracle in Bowling Green was a testament to teamwork, perseverance, and some holiday magic.

"It means a lot. This is going to help a lot of people," Colter said.

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Staff

Founder, Strike Fire Productions

Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

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