A Virginia grandmother turned an unexpected lottery win into a powerful testimony of generosity, showing how blessings can multiply when shared.

Carrie Edwards of Midlothian won $150,000 in the September 8 Powerball drawing after matching four of the first five numbers plus the Powerball. She had also chosen the Power Play option, tripling her $50,000 prize. The surprising twist? Edwards said she let artificial intelligence help her pick her numbers.

“I’m like, ‘Hey, ChatGPT, talk to me. Do you have numbers for me?'” she recalled with a smile during a news conference. “Two days go by, and I’m sitting in a meeting. And I look at my phone, and it says, ‘Please collect your lottery winnings.'”

At first, she thought it was a scam. But when she logged into her Virginia Lottery account, she realized it was real. Edwards doesn’t normally play the lottery and had bought her ticket online for the first time.

Yet instead of keeping the money, Edwards knew instantly what she wanted to do.

“I knew I needed to give it all away because I’ve been so blessed, and I want this to be an example of how other people, when they’re blessed, can bless other people,” she said.

Her first donation went to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD). The cause is deeply personal—her late husband, Steve, a firefighter and father, died from the disease. Edwards said she wanted the gift to shine a light on families battling this early-onset dementia and the researchers searching for a cure. The donation also coincided with World FTD Awareness Week, September 21–27.

Edwards also gave to Shalom Farms, a nonprofit in Richmond that distributes over 400,000 servings of fresh produce annually. “Her gift will ensure that families throughout Richmond continue to have access to high-quality, affordable fresh produce,” said Anna Ibrahim, executive director of Shalom Farms.

Finally, she donated to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), honoring her father, Capt. Peter Swanson, a Navy fighter pilot, is remembered for his “life of service and generosity.” NMCRS leaders celebrated the gift, saying it would help ensure Sailors, Marines, and their families continue receiving vital support.

“Shalom Farms heals through food and soil, AFTD brings hope through research, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society carries forward the tradition of supporting military families in times of need,” Edwards explained.

For Edwards, the gift was never about money—it was about mission. A retired PR executive, she emphasized that healing, service, and community are at the heart of the organizations she supports.

Lottery director Khalid Jones praised her generosity: “All of us at the Lottery are delighted to see this prize being shared with worthy causes, due to the wonderful generosity of Carrie Edwards.”

Reflecting on the experience, Edwards said she feels grateful that something as unlikely as a lottery ticket could point others toward hope. “I feel blessed that this unexpected lottery win could serve a greater purpose,” she said.

Her story is a reminder of 2 Corinthians 9:11: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

By giving it all away, Edwards demonstrated that sometimes the greatest jackpot isn’t what you gain—but what you give.