Lottery Winner Revealed; Acme Shares the Bonus Commission

COURT HOUSE – Robert Mallen had just won $2 on a Pick-6 ticket and decided to buy three new tickets rather than the two he had intended to purchase. One of those three tickets hit the $9.1 million jackpot for the New Jersey Lottery Pick-6.
Mallen bought his ticket at the Court House Acme Dec. 29. He and his wife Karen showed up at the Acme Jan. 30 for a ceremony and to receive a facsimile of their check.
Mallen is a 67-year-old retiree from Court House who purchased his ticket as a cash prize, which has a value of $6.8 million before taxes. On hand to present the award was Carole Hedinger, executive director of the New Jersey State Lottery.
Mallen played a quick-pick option with odds of winning of one in 14 million. When asked what he and his wife planned to do with their winnings, Mallen said they had no plans yet but “maybe we will do a bit of traveling.”
As February cold settles in around Cape May County, it would not be a stretch to imagine the two of them finding somewhere warm to visit.
Acme will receive a $10,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket from the New Jersey State Lottery. At the ceremony, Acme gave back to three local groups that serve the community and have ties to the store.
Store Director Laura Raines presented $1,000 checks to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey – Southern Branch, Cape May County Special Services School, and the Court House Volunteer Fire Department.
Evelyn Benton, executive director of the Community Food Bank, said that the southern branch of the food bank has a strong relationship with Acme and does a pick up of food from the store each week. The food bank gathers food donations, largely from corporate donors like Acme, and distributes them to local charities to help feed those in need.
Wearing his Acme shirt, Joe Cappetto stepped over from his job in the produce department to accept the check for the volunteer fire department. Cappetto is vice-president of the fire department and said the extra funds would go for equipment for firefighters.
Barbara Makoski, superintendent of the Cape May County Special Services District, accepted the award for the school. She noted that students work at Acme as part of a community-based instruction program, helping those with special needs prepare for life-long employment.
From July 1, the beginning of the lottery’s fiscal year, to Dec. 29, the day Mallen bought his winning ticket, Pick-6 sales were slightly over $20 million and approximately $8.5 million has been contributed back to the state.
Hedinger spoke of the many “people who are assisted through the organizations and institutions that receive lottery generated revenue.”
Acme handed out cake and used a wheel of fortune to award prizes to onlookers and staff.
Robert and Karen Mallen stayed through the end. As Karen headed to the car with the facsimile of the big check, Robert stopped off to stand in a short line to buy another ticket.
“Why not?” he asked.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
For previous coverage, go to:
– $9.1 Million Winning Lottery Ticket Sold in Court House: http://goo.gl/tDm8bJ