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News Release
Florida Lottery sets new March record for contributions to Florida
Second highest month in history
TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Lottery today announces a new March record of $156 million in contributions to the state's Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF); bringing the Lottery's total contributions to education for fiscal year 2016-17 to $1.2 billion with three months remaining in the current fiscal year. This marks the 15th consecutive year that the Lottery has generated more than $1 billion for Florida's students and schools.
"The Lottery's sole mission is to generate funds for students and schools in Florida, but we could not reach these remarkable contributions without the support of our dedicated players and loyal retailers," said Florida Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie. "Every time someone purchases a Florida Lottery product, from the panhandle to the keys, they're contributing to education in Florida and that truly is a win for everyone."
This transfer marks the largest contribution to the EETF this fiscal year, and the second largest single-month contribution to the EETF in Lottery history behind January 2016 when transfers reached $238 million during the world-record $1.58 billion POWERBALL jackpot.
Over the past 29 years, the Florida Lottery has established itself as a dependable funding source for public education, while remaining one of the most efficient lotteries in the nation. Additionally, the Lottery has contributed more than $5 billion to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to send over 750,000 students to college.
Florida Lottery contributions represent approximately six percent of the state's total education budget. Lottery funds are appropriated by the Florida Legislature and are administered by the Florida Department of Education.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY
The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $31 billion to education and sending more than 750,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 98 percent of its revenue back into Florida's economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Florida retailers and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $52.4 billion in prizes and made more than 1,900 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.flalottery.com.
