James July-August 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 69
n any given day,
in every corner of
the state, I am approached by Georgians whose lives
have been positively impacted by
Georgia Lottery-funded educational programs.
Proud parents often smile
brightly and exclaim, “I hit the
jackpot!”
They don’t quite mean a jackpot like the millions or even billions
of dollars offered by exciting games
like Mega Millions and Powerball.
Instead, they are referring to something they say is deeper and even
more rewarding: a family member’s
education.
Their stories are among the 4.4
million stories that illustrate what
the Georgia Lottery has meant to
Georgians.
Since inception in 1993, your
Georgia Lottery has transferred an
astounding $27.5 billion to the State
Treasury’s Lottery for Education
Account. More than 2.2 million
students have pursued higher
education through Georgia’s HOPE
Scholarship Program, which consists of six aid programs including
the HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant,
Zell Miller Scholarship, Zell Miller
Grant, HOPE Career Grant, and
High School Equivalency Examination Grant Program (HSE).
Georgia’s HOPE students and
parents are so thankful to Gov. Brian Kemp and the current General
Assembly for providing 100 percent
tuition to the HOPE and Zell Miller
scholarships in our public colleges
and universities.
Additionally, more than 2.2
million four-year-olds have built a
strong foundation for a lifetime of
learning as a result of Georgia Lottery-funded, high-quality Pre-K.
This summer, the Georgia
Lottery welcomed a new class
of interns, all bright, ambitious,
and full of potential and promise.
These gifted collegians include
six HOPE Scholars and three Zell
Miller Scholars. Among them are
students like Jordyn Bowdry, a
HOPE beneficiary at Fort Valley
State University who is gaining
valuable, real-world experience in
our prize validation department.
Over the years, we’ve hired
many talented individuals who
benefited from HOPE— exceptional
professionals who now contribute
to advancing our mission every day.
We know that many of you and your
organizations have done the same.
The Georgia Lottery’s reach
extends far beyond the classroom.
It’s helping to shape a stronger,
more educated and skilled workforce in Georgia. This direct pipeline of talent is one of many reasons why Georgia has remained
the “Top State for Business” for
more than a decade.
As these beneficiaries, now
employees, work hard and make
a difference in our organization
and yours, they are the Georgia
Lottery’s mission personified. They
are the vision realized of keeping
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