Blagojevich administration unveils new Veterans Cash lottery ticket    

Encourages organizations to apply for available Veterans Cash grants

[May 26, 2007]  MACHESNEY PARK -- As the nation prepared to honor veterans on Memorial Day weekend, Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, joined Jodie Winnett, acting superintendent of the Illinois Lottery, to unveil the new Veterans Cash lottery ticket on Tuesday outside Rockford on behalf of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. Duckworth and the Illinois Lottery also encouraged organizations serving veterans to apply for Veterans Cash grants.

"Our veterans were willing to put their lives on the line for this country; we should do whatever we can to meet their needs when they return home," Blagojevich said. "With Memorial Day right around the corner, we think about those who have fought for our freedoms and those who are still fighting. A good way to honor their sacrifices and support them is to buy the Veterans Cash lottery ticket."

"Our veterans bravely served this country, and it is the least that we can do to serve them in return," Duckworth said. "So as Memorial Day nears and you think about those who have fought for our freedoms and those who still are, buy the Veterans Cash lottery ticket. It is an easy way to help improve the services provided to our brave heroes."

"It is more important than ever to care for our veterans, and the Illinois Lottery is happy to play a role with the Veterans Cash ticket," said Winnett.

Veterans Cash grants are made available through the funding generated by the Veterans Cash lottery ticket. Veterans Cash grants are currently available for organizations that help provide services in one of the following five categories to Illinois veterans: long-term care, post-traumatic stress disorder treatment or research, health insurance costs, disability benefits, and housing assistance.

Launched by Blagojevich in February 2006, Veterans Cash is the Illinois Lottery's first ticket with 100 percent of proceeds going to support Illinois veterans. Proceeds from the sale of this ticket are deposited into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund, an interest-bearing account in the state treasury. The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs awards the money in grants to fund additional services or conduct research relating to veterans' post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, health insurance costs and disability benefits.

The Veterans Cash ticket has raised more than $3 million for the Illinois Veterans' Assistance Trust Fund. Combined with the proceeds from this year's previous ticket, Two for the Dough, the new Veterans Cash ticket is expected to generate more than $3 million this year for services to veterans throughout the state.

Since the beginning of 2007, the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs has granted over $1.4 million to organizations from around the state that serve veterans. Grants have ranged from $2,500 for clothing, food and transportation to local VA hospitals for sick, homeless veterans, to $125,000 for the expansion of a homeless shelter. Duckworth is encouraging organizations that provide a wide range of services to veterans to submit a grant application.

"This ticket is such a fantastic way to support our veterans because 100 percent of the profits go directly to service organizations and veteran services that combat PTSD and homelessness, veteran health insurance costs, long-term care, or disability benefits," Duckworth said. "IDVA is still giving out Veterans Cash grants funded by the sale of these lottery tickets. I encourage all nonprofit organizations serving veterans to apply for a Veterans Cash grant. We need to continue to work together to expand services to our veterans, who deserve only the best."

Veterans Cash is currently available at all Illinois Lottery retail locations. Each ticket costs $2 and has a top prize of $20,000.

For more information on Veterans Cash, visit www.illinoislottery.com. For more information on Illinois programs and initiatives for veterans or to apply for a Veterans Cash grant, visit www.state.il.us/agency/dva.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]