Tag Archives: American Classics

Maryland Lottery Receives Award of Excellence in Silver Inkwell Competition

The Maryland Lottery’s efforts to promote its American Classics scratch-off ticket were recognized with an Award of Excellence at the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/DC Metro) awards banquet on October 26th at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda. The Lottery received the distinction of being named first runner up for Best of the Best, the competition’s top honor.

IABC/DC Metro’s Silver Inkwell Awards included 50 categories and had more than 130 high-quality entries received. Only five Awards of Excellence were presented, with The Maryland Lottery’s American Classics winning in the Communication Plans & Campaigns/External Communication or Community Relations Plan category.

IABC/DC Metro’s Silver Inkwell Awards is the premier awards program for business communicators in metropolitan Washington and Baltimore. With nearly 600 members, IABC/DC Metro is the largest IABC chapter in the United States and the second largest worldwide. The organization has a diverse membership, with professionals from such fields as corporate communications, marketing, advertising, public affairs, employee communications, media relations and shareholder relations. A Silver Inkwell award is an acknowledgement of the recipient’s mastery of the principles and practices of business communication.

To promote the American Classics ticket, the Maryland Lottery’s Communications Division with help from supporting vendors, TBC, Inc. and Barb Clapp Advertising and Marketing, brought the decade of the sock hop into the era of hip hop. By evoking the fun of the 1950’s — complete with “Elvis” serenades, poodle skirts, hula hooping and more – Maryland Lottery Communications staff garnered substantial attention and ultimately, sales of the tickets.

“It is quite an honor to receive an Award of Excellence from among such impressive competitors,” said Carole Everett, Maryland Lottery Communications Director. “The success of the American Classics promotion illustrates the power of grassroots PR efforts. I’m so proud of my team and the tremendous job that they did.”

This is the second award that the Maryland Lottery has won for its efforts on behalf of the American Classics scratch-off. In July, the agency received the top honor, Best in Show, at the 2010 Chesapeake Conference and Best in Maryland Awards sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America’s Maryland Chapter.

Maryland Lottery Wins Prestigious Public Relations Award

The Public Relations Society of America’s Maryland Chapter Bestows Top Honor

A stroll down Memory Lane produced a walk to the podium for the Maryland Lottery as they received the top honor at the 2010 Chesapeake Conference and Best in Maryland Awards. The Maryland Lottery was the recipient of the competition’s Best in Show Award for its efforts to promote the American Classics scratch-off ticket.

Sponsored by the Maryland Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the Best in Maryland Awards are presented each year to public relations practitioners who, in the judgment of their peers, have successfully addressed a communications challenge with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. To ensure the integrity and impartiality of the process, entries are sent to a PRSA chapter in another state for judging.     “The PRSA Pittsburgh Chapter chose the Maryland Lottery’s American Classics entry as their unanimous choice for Best in Show,” said Lisa Miles, Maryland’s PRSA President Elect.

To promote the American Classics ticket, the Maryland Lottery’s Communications Division, with help from supporting vendors, TBC, Inc. and Barb Clapp Advertising and Marketing, brought the decade of the sock hop into the era of hip hop. By evoking the fun of the 1950’s — complete with “Elvis” serenades,  poodle skirts, hula hooping and more – Maryland Lottery Communications staff garnered substantial attention and ultimately, sales.

“What an honor to have received Best in Show,” said Carole Everett, Maryland Lottery Communications Director. “The success of the American Classics promotion really illustrates the power of grassroots PR efforts. I’m so proud of my team and the tremendous job that they did.”

The Best in Maryland Awards included 38 categories with more than 300 entries received. The Maryland Lottery’s American Classics was entered in the Marketing Communications category, for which it won the Best in Maryland Award. In addition to winning in that competition, the Maryland Lottery also won the Best in Show Award, beating out more than 300 entries to take the top prize.

“Classic” Moment for Baltimore Woman

Wins $30,000 Top Prize on American Classics Scratch-Off

The 58-year-old winner appeared nonchalant about her $30,000 American Classics win. An occasional Lottery player, she calmly described her scratch-off purchase saying with a wave of her hand, “I just told the woman to give me that $3 scratch-off.” But that calm demeanor cracked a bit when she described the moment she revealed the big win. “Did I scream! Did I scream,” she told Lottery officials.

The married mother-of-four said that she kept checking the ticket. In fact, she checked that ticket for three weeks before coming to Lottery headquarters to claim her prize. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “That’s why it took me so long to come in.”

The happy winner hasn’t told anyone, not even her husband, about her windfall. “I’m going to tell him when I get home,” she said. “I’ll tell my children and give them a couple bucks,” she added laughing.  She intends to put the bulk of her winnings in the bank.

The winning ticket was purchased at Y & S Liquors, located at 2300 Harford Rd. in Baltimore.

American Classics Second-Chance Grand Prize Results Announced

Agnes Brawner - American Classics

Agnes Brawner

Five Marylanders who took part in the American Classics Grand Prize event in Ocean City, Maryland are celebrating their wins. Agnes Brawner of Waldorf cruised away with the event’s top-prize of $30,000. Other winners won prizes ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 during a 50’s-themed stage selection on October 10th at the Inlet’s Endless Summer Cruisin’ classic car show. The five finalists were selected from a pool of 13,000 entries in the American Classics second-chance drawing.

Two Grand Prize finalists, Armond Whitlock from Severn and Rob Hahn from Rosedale won $10,000, two other finalists, Linda Ryan from Finksburg and Caren Evans from Forest Hill won the contest’s $5,000 prize.  Finalists also received a two-night stay in Ocean City the weekend of the event, and $500 each.

To enter, players mailed in four non-winning American Classics scratch-off tickets.  The winning entries were selected from more than 13,000 entries.  With 80 percent of the ticket sold, the scratch-off still has one instant $30,000 prize remaining on the ticket.

American Classics Second-Chance Grand Prize Finalists Announced

Ten runners-up receive $1,000 each

Five Marylanders are getting ready to pack their bags for Ocean City and one of them will leave the resort town $30,000 richer.  Fifteen winners were randomly selected during yesterday’s American Classics second-chance drawing.  Five of those winners will attend the Grand Prize Event in Ocean City on October 10th and ten additional winners won $1,000.

Two Grand Prize finalists will win $5,000, two will win $10,000 and one lucky winner will receive $30,000.  A game will be played to determine who wins which prize at the Endless Cruisin’ event.  Finalists will also receive a two-night stay in Ocean City the weekend of the event, and $500 each.

The finalists are Armond Whitlock from Severn, Linda Ryan from Finksburg, Caren Evans from Forest Hill, Agnes Brawner from Waldorf, and Rob Hahn from Rosedale.

To enter, players mailed in four non-winning American Classics scratch-off tickets.  The winning entries were selected from more than 13,000 entries.  With 80 percent of the ticket sold, the scratch-off still has one instant $30,000 prize remaining on the ticket.

Maryland Lottery and Orioles Hit Homerun with Affordable Game Plan

Free Admission with American Classics tickets, plus $1 Hot Dogs and $1 Sodas for All Fans

American ClassicsIn these tough economic times, The Maryland Lottery and the Baltimore Orioles have teamed up to make it easier on the wallet to enjoy a day at the ballpark.  The first 400 fans (18 years or older) to present any four non-winning American Classics scratch-offs will get one free admission to Camden Yards on Sunday, August 30th, when the Orioles take on the Cleveland Indians. Additionally, the entire ballpark will be able to take advantage of $1 hot dogs and $1 sodas.

Fans presenting the non-winning American Classics tickets will be seated in a special Maryland Lottery section and have the chance to win a classic baseball trip to Cooperstown along with $2,500 spending money. Baseball fans may redeem their four American Classics tickets for free admission at Oriole Park’s ticket office anytime between today and Sunday, August 30th.

American Classics fun will be featured at the Lottery booth with staff dressed in 50’s attire. There will be hula hoop contests, live entertainment and a special drawing for a tabletop jukebox.

The $3 ticket, with an Americana theme, has an instant top-prize of $30,000, as well as a second-chance contest with another $30,000 grand prize. To enter the second-chance contest, players must mail in any four non-winning American Classics scratch-offs by September 21, 2009.   Five finalists will be chosen to compete in the Lottery’s onstage event in Ocean City on October 10th during Cruisin’ Ocean City. All finalists will also receive a two night stay at the Dunes Manor Hotel and $500 in spending money. Go to classics.mdlottery.com for all the details.

Rockville Man Wins $30,000 Top Prize on American Classics Scratch-off

Gertrudis Cortex - American ClassicsGertrudis Cortez arrived at Lottery Headquarters with a big smile on his face and his brother in tow. Last week, as he routinely does, Gertrudis stopped to buy some scratch-offs from an Instant Ticket Vending Machine. He then proceeded to scratch his tickets there in the store and revealed his $30,000 American Classics win.

“I was so excited,” said the father-of-four. Gertrudis, who works as a laborer, said that he was anxious to come claim his prize but work prevented him from getting to Lottery Headquarters before yesterday. In addition to his daily purchase of scratch-offs, the 51-year-old also likes to play Mega Millions and Keno.

A native of El Salvador, Gertrudis plans to use some of his winnings to take a trip back home. “It will be nice to see my family and share my winnings with them too,” he said happily.

The winning ticket was purchased at Jessup BP, located at 8810 Washington Blvd. in Baltimore.

Frederick Man Wins $30,000 Top Prize on American Classics Scratch-Off

American ClassicsSidwisbert Bango came to Maryland Lottery Headquarters on Friday with a big smile on his face.  The 29-year-old from Frederick hit the $30,000 top prize on the $3 American Classics scratch-off.

Sidwisbert, who works evenings at 7-Eleven, plays scratch-offs every Friday after he gets his pay check.  Sidwisbert usually plays $5 and $10 tickets, since they have larger jackpots, but this week, he used some spare change to buy the $3 American Classic. “I was so surprised that I won,” he said.  Sidwisbert plans to use his winnings to pay his student loans.  A civil engineering student at Howard University, Sidwisbert left his home in Central African Republic in 2004 to earn his degree.  He hopes to one day open his own engineering company.

The winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven located on 8900 Fingerboard Road in Frederick.  There are two $30,000 top prizes remaining on the Maryland Lottery’s $3 American Classics scratch-off.

April Fool’s Day is “Classic” Experience for Pocomoke City Man

First $30,000 Top-Prize Claimed on American Classics Scratch-Off

Michael Hillman - American ClassicsMichael Hillman wasn’t fooling around when he called his wife on April 1st to tell her he’d won $30,000 on the new American Classics scratch-off. But, it would take a lot of convincing for her to believe him. The 56-year-old, who works in construction, bought a few scratch-offs from the Lottery’s instant ticket machine on his lunch break on Wednesday. He then proceeded to scratch them in the store.

“I scratched and saw a three and a zero and thought that I’d won $30,” said Michael. When he realized that he’d actually won $30,000, he just sat there for a few minutes. “I cleaned my glasses and looked at the ticket again.”

Michael then called his wife to tell her the news. “I hung up from talking to him,” she said “Then I realized it was April Fool’s Day and called him back to tell him it was a joke.” Michael finally sent a picture of the winning American Classics ticket to his wife’s cell phone to convince her he was telling the truth.

The couple, who have been married for close to 30 years, even made a mini-vacation out of the experience. They traveled to Dover Downs, spent the night and then drove to Lottery Headquarters on Monday morning to claim their win. The Hillmans intend to use their prize money to paint their home and buy a new furnace.

The winning ticket was purchased at Dash-In #109, located at 7201 Main St. in Willards.