Georgia Lottery transfers record-breaking $1.097B to education

ATLANTA — The Georgia Lottery has transferred a record-breaking $1,097,567,000 to education for the 2016 fiscal year.

Lottery officials said this is the first time the Georgia Lottery has transferred more than $1 billion in a single fiscal year, and it is the largest educational transfer in the lottery’s 23-year history.

“We appreciate the commitment from our dedicated lottery and COAM retailers, players, vendor partners and employees. We are grateful to our board of directors for their leadership and guidance,” said Debbie D. Alford, president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery. “We’re proud to have reached the extraordinary milestone of raising over $1 billion for HOPE and Pre-K.”

Profits surpassed last year’s record by more than $117 million.

The Georgia Lottery said the total raised for educational programs in the state is more than $17.6 billion since the lottery’s inception in 1993.

“Educational programs funded by the lottery continue to lay the groundwork for Georgia’s evolving and growing workforce,” Gov. Nathan Deal said. “FY 2016’s record-breaking profits will continue to help each child in Georgia attain a quality education from start to finish.”

Lottery officials said that all Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE scholarship program and Georgia’s Pre-K program.

Cox Media Group