Governor Quinn Launches Newest Veterans Cash Lottery Ticket

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today launched the newest Veterans Cash instant lottery ticket, a $5 ticket that has 100 percent of proceeds going directly to benefit Illinois veterans. Today's launch is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to support the men and women who have served our nation.

"We owe the men and women who have served our country a debt that cannot be repaid," Governor Quinn said. "We want Illinois to be the most veteran-friendly state in the nation, and that means taking care of those who have borne the battle. The Veterans Cash program helps ensure that our veterans and their families have the support they deserve when they come back home."

Since Governor Quinn first championed and launched the program in 2006, Veterans Cash has awarded more than $11.7 million in grants to more than 240 veterans' organizations statewide. The Illinois Lottery's Veterans Cash game is the first lottery game in the United States to earmark 100 percent of net proceeds to veterans. The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), which receives the ticket sale proceeds, provides grants that fund services and research relating to veterans' job training and employment, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, homelessness, medical expenses, long term care and other assistance.

The new Veterans Cash game is available at Illinois Lottery retail locations throughout the state.

Governor Quinn has made helping our veterans, servicemembers and their families one of his top priorities throughout his career in public service. He championed numerous veterans' causes during his service as Lieutenant Governor and Illinois Treasurer. In 2011, Governor Quinn launched the Welcome Home Heroes program to support Illinois servicemembers seeking homeownership.

As Lieutenant Governor, Governor Quinn championed the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund Act, which established a fund to provide grants to families of Illinois National Guard members and Illinois residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve components who were called to active duty as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. These grants help servicemembers and their families with the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical services and other expenses they struggle to afford because a wage-earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on active military duty. The fund has distributed more than $15.1 million to 29,625 Illinois military families to assist with the financial burden at home when a loved one is deployed overseas.

For more information on Veterans Cash, visit IllinoisLottery.com. To find out how you can help Illinois veterans, visit OperationHomeFront.org or call the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs at (217) 782-6641 or (312) 814-2460.