A couple that became lottery millionaires last spring has donated $1 million to the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.
Jackie Wells Cisneros and husband Gilbert Cisneros won a $266 million Mega Millions jackpot in May 2010. The couple vowed to give away the money to churches and their alma maters.
Last week, the Cisneroses established a $1 million scholarship program for students at the University of Southern California. It was the second largest endowment USC Annenberg has received.
The couple has already shared their wealth with several charities, their church, and their alma maters.
“It’s not about, ‘Hey, here’s some money,’” said Wells Cisneros in a USC release. “We’ve been in the situations these students will be in and want to be here for them. We can share our experiences, knowledge, and hopefully help them make good life decisions.”
The money was donated as a way to help students grow and develop, says Cisneros who held two jobs while she was a full-time student at USC.
“I’m excited to watch him or her grow and develop,” said Cisneros. “Being able to fund scholarships like these really make us feel like we’re making a difference.”
The scholarship will be awarded to one student entering USC in the 2011–2012 school year. Another recipient will be added the following year.
Before winning the jackpot, Cisneros had been a newswoman at a Los Angeles NBC affiliate for over four years.
It was the eighth largest jackpot in the game’s history with the highest at $390 million in 2007 that was split between winners in multiple states.
According to lottery officials, the chance of matching all six numbers drawn in a multistate lottery is 1 in 175,711,536.
In addition to USC, the couple has donated to George Washington University, the California Chicano News Media Association, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.
Jackie Wells Cisneros and husband Gilbert Cisneros won a $266 million Mega Millions jackpot in May 2010. The couple vowed to give away the money to churches and their alma maters.
Last week, the Cisneroses established a $1 million scholarship program for students at the University of Southern California. It was the second largest endowment USC Annenberg has received.
The couple has already shared their wealth with several charities, their church, and their alma maters.
“It’s not about, ‘Hey, here’s some money,’” said Wells Cisneros in a USC release. “We’ve been in the situations these students will be in and want to be here for them. We can share our experiences, knowledge, and hopefully help them make good life decisions.”
The money was donated as a way to help students grow and develop, says Cisneros who held two jobs while she was a full-time student at USC.
“I’m excited to watch him or her grow and develop,” said Cisneros. “Being able to fund scholarships like these really make us feel like we’re making a difference.”
The scholarship will be awarded to one student entering USC in the 2011–2012 school year. Another recipient will be added the following year.
Before winning the jackpot, Cisneros had been a newswoman at a Los Angeles NBC affiliate for over four years.
It was the eighth largest jackpot in the game’s history with the highest at $390 million in 2007 that was split between winners in multiple states.
According to lottery officials, the chance of matching all six numbers drawn in a multistate lottery is 1 in 175,711,536.
In addition to USC, the couple has donated to George Washington University, the California Chicano News Media Association, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.
