'I Feel Like A Winner Already': Yorkville Woman Could Be '1st Millionaire Of The Year'

YORKVILLE, IL — A Yorkville woman has a one in 29 chance of winning a million dollars on live TV on New Year's Eve.

How? Cynthia Hines-Butler is a for the "Powerball First Millionaire of the Year" drawing that will be broadcast on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023."

Held for the fourth consecutive year, the special drawing will go live on air just after midnight — within the first hours of 2023. In a preliminary drawing, Hines-Butler and the other contenders were selected at random from a national pool of lottery players who entered a sweepstakes promotion held by 29 U.S. lotteries.

By being a finalist, Hines-Butler won a VIP trip for two to New York City. The package, worth $20,000, includes air travel, meals, transportation, tickets to exclusive entertainment, gift bags and spending money. But when she first learned of the trip, she wasn't sold.

"I got an email stating that I won a trip to New York to participate in the $1 million Powerball prize drawing but I thought it was a scam so I ignored it," Hines-Butler told Powerball representatives. "Once I received confirmation that this was for real — my skepticism turned into pure elation."

A former elementary school teacher, Hines-Butler is planning to bring her husband of 32 years to experience the city together for the first time — not too shabby for a first trip to New York City.

"I don't want to be overly excited but I feel like a winner already," Hines-Butler said. "Not only do I have a chance to ring in the New Year a millionaire, but the VIP trip to New York during the holiday season was on my bucket list — this is all too much, I am so blessed and thankful."

If she wins, the Yorkville woman said she plans to upgrade her and her husband's cars and "then share and celebrate with family — my three kids and 11 grandchildren."

Last year, the Fox Valley region was once again represented when an Aurora woman was one of five finalists in the same New Year's Eve drawing. Although Linda Perkins didn't win the top prize, she walked away with a $10,000 cash prize and an at-home New Year's Eve package that included a 70-inch TV, a karaoke system, a laptop, a deluxe dinner for eight and $500 to spend at Party City.

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