The Florida Lottery announced today Florida Lotto winner Paul Combs, of New Port Richey, claimed the $35 million Florida Lotto jackpot from the August 24 drawing.

Accompanied by his wife, Charlotte, Combs, a retired grocery store manager, chose the one-time lump sum payment option for his winnings, in the amount of $20,762,138.51.

He purchased his winning Florida Lotto ticket at Kash N' Karry, 7431 State Road #54 in New Port Richey. The winning numbers were 06, 07, 13, 29, 44, and 53.

According to Charlotte, the couple will donate to the youth ministry run by their son-in-law and youngest daughter.

Combs said he plans to purchase an SUV for his wife, who he said has always wanted want one and can now afford the gas.

Total ticket sales for this jackpot generated approximately $25.5 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).

Since 1988, the Florida Lottery has contributed more than $15 billion to the EETF, benefiting our students and schools, as well as funding more than 220,000 Bright Futures scholarships.

By a two-to-one margin, Florida voters in 1986 approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to operate a Lottery for the purpose of generating significant additional moneys for education.

Combs is the 59th Florida Lotto winner to purchase a winning ticket in Pinellas County. The couple is the 826th Florida Lotto winner since 1988.

The next Florida Lotto drawing will be held Wednesday, August 31, at 11 p.m. EST, with an estimated $6 million jackpot.