Quinn Administration Launches New Veterans' Cash Stars & Stripes Lottery Ticket

October 28, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today kicked off the statewide launch of the newest Veterans’ Cash scratch-off lottery ticket, the Stars & Stripes ticket. The ticket’s net proceeds benefit rehabilitative programs and services for Illinois Veterans. Since Governor Quinn first championed and launched the program in 2006, Veterans’ Cash has awarded more than $7 million to Veterans organizations statewide.

“As the nation prepares to honor its military heroes this coming Veterans Day, we encourage the public to honor their sacrifices by buying a Veterans’ Cash-Stars & Stripes ticket,” said Governor Quinn. “I’m proud that this program has awarded more than $7 million to programs supporting Illinois’ Veterans, and we look forward to doing even more.”

Governor Quinn began the tour in Chicago on Wednesday, October 28, followed by stops in Peoria and Springfield. Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director (IDVA) Dan Grant and Illinois Lottery Acting Superintendent Jodie Winnett joined Governor Quinn on the tour. IDVA and Lottery officials will also make stops in Central and Southern Illinois on Thursday, October 29.

The schedule includes:

Wednesday, October 28 (with Governor Quinn)

• Chicago: 9 a.m. -- Union League Club, 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Rm. 700 (7th floor)
• Peoria: 11 a.m. -- Gateway Building, 200 Northeast Water Street
• Springfield: 1 p.m. -- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 North 6th Street

Thursday, October 29

• Champaign-Urbana: 9 a.m. -- Illini Union Pine Lounge, 1401 West Green Street, Urbana
• Carbondale: 3 p.m. -- Southern Illinois University Student Health Center, 374 East Grand

Veterans Cash is the Illinois Lottery’s first ticket where 100 percent of the net proceeds support Illinois’ Veterans. Since its inception, Veterans Cash has awarded more than $7 million to more than 75 organizations supporting Veterans throughout the state.

“I encourage everyone who is interested in supporting Veterans to buy a $2 Stars & Stripes ticket,” said IDVA Director Dan Grant. “It’s a fun and beneficial way to give back to the men and women who risked their lives in defense of our freedoms. Under Governor Quinn’s leadership, Veterans Cash has a proven track record of providing essential funding for organizations that are helping Veterans in need.”

Proceeds from the sale of Stars & Stripes tickets are deposited in an interest-bearing account in the State Treasury called the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund. The General Assembly appropriates this money solely to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), which awards the money in grants that fund additional services and conducts research relating to veterans' Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, homelessness, health insurance costs, long term care and disability benefits.

Acting Lottery Superintendent Jodie Winnett announced an additional bonus: for every ten non-winning Stars & Stripes tickets returned to the Lottery, $20 will be donated for care packages to be sent to service members abroad. Visit www.proudtogive.com for more information.

“To date, we’ve released seven tickets into the market and raised millions to support Illinois’ Veterans,” Acting Superintendent Winnett said. “We’re excited to launch this new ticket and continue to provide important funding for Veterans across the state.”

Stars & Stripes is currently available at Illinois Lottery retail locations throughout the state. Each ticket costs $2 and has a top prize of $20,000.

To send a care package to a soldier, visit www.proudtogive.com for all the details. For more information on Stars & Stripes please visit www.illinoislottery.com or to apply for a Veterans’ Cash grant, visit the IDVA website at www.veterans.illinois.gov

About the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs

The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs assists Veterans and their dependents and survivors in obtaining the benefits they are entitled to under the laws of the United States, and the State of Illinois or any other governmental agency, through its Veterans' Services Offices located statewide. IDVA also evaluates and approves Veterans' education and training programs available at colleges, universities and vocational training centers in Illinois, provides skilled nursing and domiciliary care for eligible veterans; and administers State grants and benefits to eligible Illinois veterans. For more information, please visit www.veterans.illinois.gov

About the Illinois Lottery

Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery is a state agency with annual sales over $2 billion. Since its inception, the Lottery has contributed more than $14 billion to the state Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools. Players must be at least 18 years old. For more information on the Illinois Lottery please visit www.illinoislottery.com.