An Illinois mother known as “Work Mom” won a $350,000 Christmas Day jackpot with numbers representing her and her children’s birthdays.
An Illinois mother is starting the new year with a $350,000 windfall after numbers chosen for their personal meaning matched all five numbers in the Christmas Day Lucky Day Lotto drawing.
The winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous under the name “Work Mom”, purchased her winning ticket online and personally selected each number.
The nickname comes from her workplace, where colleagues call her “Work Mom” because she is the oldest member of the team.
“Everyone at my job calls me ‘Work Mom’ since I’m the oldest,” she said.
Work Mom was relaxing and watching television when she received an email alert informing her that she had won. Her first reaction was disbelief.
“At first, I thought it was a glitch,” she said. “I almost had a panic attack—I immediately checked the Illinois Lottery app to make sure it was real.”
The ticket matched all five numbers drawn on December 25: 4, 10, 12, 30 and 31, securing the $350,000 jackpot.
The numbers were not chosen at random. They represented birthdays for Work Mom and her children, giving the Christmas Day win an additional personal connection.
“I felt optimistic when I played those numbers,” she said. “It turned out to be a Christmas Day blessing.”
Work Mom already has several plans for the money. She intends to invest towards retirement, contribute to her daughters’ education and take a long-awaited family vacation.
That holiday will be to Alaska, a destination that also happens to be on her husband’s wish list.
“We’re checking off a big item on my husband’s wish list,” she said. “We’re going to Alaska.”
For Work Mom, the $350,000 prize is therefore about more than an unexpected start to the new year. It is also creating opportunities to support her family, prepare for retirement and finally take a trip the family has been looking forward to.
