CLIVE, Iowa — In an act of generosity that reflects the true spirit of giving, an Iowa father used his $50,000 Powerball winnings to gift his son an unforgettable surprise. Robert Economaki, after claiming his prize, immediately knew how he would use the money.
“My wife asked me, ‘What are you going to do with that money?'” Robert Economaki recalled in an interview with the Iowa Lottery. “I said, ‘I’m going to give it to Shawn.'”
Shawn Economaki, his son, was taken aback upon seeing the winning ticket. “I was shocked,” Shawn said. “And then he surprised me even more when he said, ‘Yes, and we want to give it to you.’ I was extremely appreciative.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Price Chopper, located at 3425 Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines. Robert matched four out of five white balls and the Powerball in the April 16 drawing. He was just one number short of the $113.9 million jackpot.
For Robert, the decision to share his winnings with Shawn was simple. “I wanted to do something while I’m alive for him. I think that’s important,” he explained.
The winning numbers for the April 16 Powerball drawing were 20-24-42-43-49, with the Powerball being 19.
As of now, the Powerball jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing has climbed to an estimated $151 million.
