Virginia Woman Wins $150K Lottery Using ChatGPT—and Donates It All to Charity
In a story that sounds straight out of a feel-good movie, Carrie Edwards of Midlothian, Virginia, has turned an unexpected lottery win into a major act of generosity. On September 8, Edwards hit the Virginia Lottery jackpot—not the multi-million-dollar kind, but a $150,000 prize that she has pledged to donate entirely to charity. What makes her story even more remarkable? She picked her winning numbers with the help of artificial intelligence.
Edwards, who doesn’t typically play the lottery, decided to try something new: she asked the ChatGPT app on her phone to generate numbers. Shortly after, she purchased her ticket online, spending an extra dollar on the Power Play feature, which tripled her base winnings from $50,000 to $150,000. “It felt like a fun experiment,” she recalled, “but I never imagined it would actually pay off.”
The surprise didn’t hit her immediately. Two days after buying the ticket, while sitting in a work meeting, Edwards got a notification on her phone: “Please collect your lottery winnings.” At first, she dismissed it as a scam. “I thought, no way—this can’t be real,” she said. But after double-checking her numbers, the reality sank in: she had indeed won.
From that moment, Edwards knew exactly what she wanted to do with the money. She said she felt it wasn’t meant for her, describing the win as a “blessing she never expected.” Without hesitation, she pledged to give the full $150,000 to three nonprofits, each with a personal connection to her life.
One-third of the winnings will go to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, which funds research and support for a rare form of early-onset dementia. Edwards’ husband passed away from the disease in 2024, and she sees this donation as a tribute to his memory. “It feels like a way to honor him and help families facing the same challenges,” she said.
Another portion will support Shalom Farms, a Richmond-based nonprofit that tackles food insecurity through sustainable agriculture programs. Edwards has long admired the organization’s mission to promote food equity and strengthen community ties. “Helping others access healthy food is something I deeply believe in,” she explained.
The final third will benefit the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, an organization her late father—a former fighter pilot—supported during his lifetime. Edwards views the donation as a way to carry forward her father’s legacy of service. “It’s a way to keep his spirit alive and make a positive impact,” she said.
Looking back on the experience, Edwards called the entire journey—from asking ChatGPT for lottery numbers to receiving the notification on her phone—“unexpected and surreal.” The sudden windfall became more than just money; it became an opportunity to spread good fortune to those who need it most.
Edwards’ story is a heartwarming reminder that sometimes luck isn’t just about what you win—it’s about how you use it. By channeling her winnings into causes close to her heart, she’s turning a personal surprise into a lasting impact on others’ lives.
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