Overview

• Carrie Edwards of Midlothian has donated the full $150,000 Virginia Lottery prize, splitting it evenly among the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Shalom Farms, and the Navy‑Marine Corps Relief Society.
• Her gift to AFTD honors her husband, Steve, who died of frontotemporal dementia last year; the NMCRS share continues a tradition inspired by her father, Naval Academy graduate Peter Swanson.
• NMCRS executive Gillian Gonzalez said the funds will be put straight to work and that the story has driven new interest, noting the nonprofit provided nearly $50 million in assistance last year.
• Edwards selected numbers online using Power Play to triple a $50,000 win to $150,000, learned of the prize via a notification, and said at a lottery event she even asked a ChatGPT phone app for number ideas.
• Representatives from the recipient nonprofits expressed surprise and gratitude, saying the donation will expand services such as putting more fresh produce into shoppers’ bags across Richmond.