Powerball Winner Donates $500k in Support of Wounded Veterans

Lerynne West recently made headlines after winning the $343.9 million Powerball jackpot. On Wednesday, she appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show to announce her half million-dollar donation to the Travis Mills Foundation.

West, 51, of Redfield, Iowa, sat down with Ellen to recount the way in which she came to be a millionaire. Having just moved into a new home, and needing a break from unpacking, she headed out to a local convenience store for some coffee and a slice of pizza. It was during this outing that West purchased the winning lottery ticket.

The single mother of three has big plans for her newfound fortune, pledging to do right by others. West started The Callum Foundation, which “concentrates its grantmaking on core areas, including poverty and hunger, education, animal welfare, and veteran affairs.” The Foundation is named after her grandson who lived for only one day after he was born.

West continued to announce a $500,000 donation to the Travis Mills Foundation, which supports veterans and their families. This generous donation will go towards long-term programs to help veterans overcome physical obstacles, improve family connections, and provide relaxation opportunities.

This cause is meaningful to West because she comes from a long line of people who served in the U.S. Military. She stated, “It’s very important to me that we never forget the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families make for our country.”

Veterans interested in applying for Social Security Disability or VA Disability Compensation with the help of Victory Disability should call 1-866-350-7229. To determine if you are eligible for SSDI benefits, complete our Social Security Disability Evaluation.