More $50K COVID-19 Vaccine Lottery Winners Announced

By Ken Coleman, Michigan Advance, August 4, 2021

A new set of winners of the “MI Shot to Win” contest were announced Wednesday at a virtual press conference.

The lottery-style raffle for Michiganders vaccinated against COVID-19 is a chance to win more than $5 million in cash and a total of nearly $500,000 in college scholarships.

The effort aims to increase Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccination rate by roughly 9% — or about 667,000 Michiganders — to achieve the statewide goal of 70% of residents age 16 and older who are immunized.

As of Tuesday, 63.8% of Michigan residents age 16 and older – a total of 5.1 million of the state’s residents – have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Protect Michigan Commission director Kerry Ebersole Singh was joined by Brian Calley, former Michigan lieutenant governor and current Small Business Association of Michigan president.

Cameron took the vaccine on July 14.

“I work in a hospital, and I have seen what happens to COVID patients and I don’t want that to happen to any of my loved ones,” she said.

Loussia had COVID-19 and said that he was “on the fence” when it came to taking the vaccine but he ultimately decided to do so on July 19.

“I just wanted to be protected,” he said.

The MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes giveaway includes $5 million in total prizes, including 30 daily prizes of $50,000, a $1 million prize and a $2 million prize. On July 20, LaTonda Anderson of Grand Blanc won $1 million in Michigan’s sweepstakes to encourage more people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Those receiving vaccines ages 12 to 17, are eligible for nine four-year college scholarships, which will be announced next Wednesday.

The effort is sponsored by Meijer in partnership with the Michigan Association of United Ways and the State of Michigan and supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Association of State Universities, Small Business Association of Michigan, Business Leaders of Michigan, the Protect Michigan Commission and other organizations.

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