A Christmas Miracle? Kentucky Boss Gifted Her Staff Lottery Tickets—And They Won $50,000. 'This Is Going to Help a Lot of People.' Twenty-one lucky Kentucky healthcare workers will split their winnings. One employee plans to use the money to pay for her mom's cancer treatment.

By Jonathan Small

Key Takeaways

  • Med Center Health Environmental Services won $50,000 from holiday scratch-offs gifted by their supervisor.
  • Each of the 21 team members will receive an equal share
  • One employee is using her portion for her mother's cancer treatment.

Santa Claus came to town a few weeks ahead of schedule for a group of merry healthcare workers in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

In an unlikely twist of holiday fortune, Sheila Colter, a Med Center Health Environmental Services supervisor, gave her employees a bunch of lottery tickets as a last-minute gift after her original presents were snagged in a shipping delay.

"Our work Christmas party was earlier than usual, and my planned gifts were stuck in transit," Colter told WBKO News.

Not wanting to show up empty-handed, she purchased a mix of Kentucky Lottery Scratch-off tickets for her team, including lower-value tickets and some $30 tickets she intended for everyone. The employees got to scratching and miraculously won themselves $50,000, the second prize from a Millionaire Club Scratch-off ticket.

Related: Virginia Woman Hits $1 Million Lottery Jackpot — Her Second Win That Week: 'I'm in Shock'

Money split between them

The win brought Yuletide cheer and a timely financial windfall for the employees. After taxes, the total of $35,750 was divided among the team. With 21 people on the team, each staff member is expected to take home approximately $1,750 after taxes. The local IGA Express, where the winning ticket was sold, gets a $500 bonus.

"We were all so excited. I was on the floor," Colter said.

The money will be put to good use. Employee Winnie Beckman plans to use her share to pay for her mother's Stage-4 cancer treatment.

"I'm going to use it for my mom's medicine," Beckman said. "This will help a lot, and I will never forget this."

The miracle in Bowling Green was a testament to teamwork, perseverance, and some holiday magic.

"It means a lot. This is going to help a lot of people," Colter said.

Jonathan Small

BIZ Experiences Staff

Founder, Strike Fire Productions

Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, BIZ Experiences, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and BIZ Experiences and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Starting a Business

These Brothers Started a Business to Improve an Everyday Task. They Made Their First Products in the Garage — Now They've Raised Over $100 Million.

Coulter and Trent Lewis had an early research breakthrough that helped them solve for the right problem.

Franchise

How to Prepare Your Business — And Yourself — For a Smooth Exit

After decades of building your business, turning it over to someone else can be emotional. But with the right mindset and a strong plan, it can also be your proudest moment.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Franchise

10 No-Office-Required Businesses You Can Start for as Little as $5,000

With strong Franchise 500 rankings and investment levels starting under $5,000, these brands are ready for new owners to hit the ground running.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Jobs AI Is Most Likely to Automate, According to a Microsoft Study

These careers are most likely to be affected by generative AI, based on data from 200,000 conversations with Microsoft's Copilot chatbot.