DENISON WOMAN WINS $10,000 LOTTERY PRIZE

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Sherri Vaughn Wins Top Prize in 'It's A Wonderful Life' Scratch Game

DES MOINES, Iowa – A woman from Donna Reed's hometown has won the first top prize of $10,000 in the "It's A Wonderful Life" lottery scratch game based upon the popular holiday movie that starred Reed!

Sherri Vaughn of Denison said she couldn't believe her eyes at first as she scratched her winning ticket.

"When I got to work, I scratched it off and I had to have a couple people look at it to see if it was really true!" she said with a laugh.

Vaughn, 51, who works at an Iowa Workforce Development office, claimed her $10,000 prize Tuesday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Council Bluffs. She bought her winning ticket at Kum & Go, 1109 Fourth Ave. S. in Denison.

Tickets in the $2 It's A Wonderful Life scratch game feature an image from the movie of the same name, which starred the actor Jimmy Stewart and Iowa's own Donna Reed. The lottery has partnered with the Donna Reed Foundation in Denison in issuing the nostalgic game.

"It's A Wonderful Life," released in 1946, has gone on to become an annual staple of the holidays. The movie's storyline recounts the life of George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, who is driven to considering suicide on Christmas Eve. Luckily, George's guardian angel arrives in his hour of need and shows him just how valuable his life has been to all of those around him. Donna Reed plays Mary Bailey, George's wife.

Donna Reed was born Donnabelle Mullenger in Denison on Jan. 27, 1921. At age 16, she left Denison by train for Los Angeles to complete her formal education and to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Her dream became a reality as she captivated the country with her sensitive portrayals in films. Reed is perhaps best remembered for her work on her own television series, "The Donna Reed Show," which aired from 1958 through 1966. She played the role of an honest, humorous, and nurturing mother much like her real self.

The Donna Reed Foundation was formed in Denison in 1987 by members of Donna Reed's hometown community, her family and friends. The foundation encourages and supports talent through scholarships, workshops, and promotion of stage plays, concerts, and other cultural activities. It also operates a performing arts center and museum in Denison.

Vaughn said she has three adult children who all live out of state and she hopes she can use some of her winnings to bring them home for a holiday visit.

"If nothing else, I can help with transportation to get them all home for Christmas," she said. "And there are a couple things I need, like a washer and dryer. The rest of it I'll put away for a rainy day and just think about it!"

Players in It's A Wonderful Life try to match any of "your numbers" to the "winning numbers" on the front of each ticket to win a prize. Prizes in the game range from $2 up to $10,000.

Fourteen top prizes of $10,000 are still up for grabs in the game as well as more than 460 prizes of $100 and thousands of smaller prizes. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game are 1 in 3.65.

Vaughn says she definitely considers herself a lucky person.

"I've never won really much money before, but I am lucky because I have good kids and lovely grandkids and a lot of friends," she said.

Since the Iowa Lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.2 billion in prizes while more than $1.1 billion has been raised for state programs.