Do Good Programs

Idaho Lottery players do good for their community every time they play. Since beginning in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has returned $1.034 billion to benefit Idaho public schools and buildings and Idaho-owned businesses have earned nearly $270.9 million from selling lottery tickets to players.

The Idaho Lottery was created specifically to benefit Idaho public schools and buildings. Since inception through June 30, 2020, the Lottery has returned $449,912,500 to the Department of Education for Idaho’s 114 school districts and 72 charter schools to maintain and improve student occupied facilities. Funds are distributed based on average daily attendance. More than $147,000,000 has benefitted the Department of Education’s Bond Levy Equalization Fund to help districts meet their bond obligations. Finally, $449,912,500 has gone to Idaho’s Permanent Building Fund to support State-owned facilities, such as our public university and college campuses, state park facilities, and other public buildings.

After 32 amazing years, we are proud to say, “Thanks a Billion, Idaho!”

7 SCRATCH FOR

The 20th edition of the Idaho Lottery’s Scratch for Schools program in 2020 was unlike anything offered previously. A total of 424 schools registered, many whom were in the throes of distance learning or complete school shutdowns. This year, the Idaho Lottery offered the traditional program virtually. A hallmark of the program is its ability to bring people together from various communities. And for the first time, there was opportunity through a series of Zoom calls for teachers, administrators, and staff members to interact with others from different parts of the state – many of whom had heard stories of each other but had never met before. It was a unique experience to see schools from Castleford, Idaho Falls, Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene together on the same call. In the end, Fiscal Year 2021 delivered $89,658 in much needed classroom funds to our participants.

The Idaho Lottery rigorously manages its budget. The chart below breaks out how Lottery funds are distributed.

67%

20%

1%

2%

Classroom Wishlist allows schools to propose small projects and VIP Club members help fund it through their play. Classroom Wishlist has funded projects like microscopes, coding robots, and sensory equipment for special education classrooms. Classroom Wishlist was a pilot program in Fiscal Year 2019. In Fiscal Year 2021, the program increased by 50% and was extended throughout the entire school year, offering multiple projects each month.

This program funded 26 wishes in Fiscal Year 2021 and awarded nearly $18,000. Some of the projects were:

• Ten Chromebooks for Dworshak Elementary, Burley • STEM Coding Robots for Acequia Elementary, Rupert • CNA Equipment for Skyview High School, Nampa • Travel microscopes for Jerome High School, Jerome • Biology & Anatomy Models and Posters for Ririe Jr/Sr High • Sensory and STEM equipment for North Elementary, Mt. Home • Classroom Supplies for Westside Elementary, Payette • Preschool play equipment for Kamiah Elementary, Kamiah • 75” TV for Virtual Field trips for Genessee School, Genessee • Art supplies for Southside Elementary, Cocolalla • Library bags for Central Canyon Elementary, Caldwell • Arrow Fletching Jigs for South Fremont Jr High, St. Anthony The Idaho Lottery raised funds with VIP Club members and partnered with Barnes & Noble Booksellers to support a collaborative initiative with the Idaho Commission for Libraries. In the Fall of 2021, this program provided $40,000 in financial awards, delivering thousands of books to nineteen schools in need. Bucks for Books FY2021 Awards Granted:

• Bickel Elementary, Twin Falls School District - $3,000 • Central Elementary, Sugar-Salem School District - $1,000 • Clearwater Valley Elementary, Mt. View School District - $2,000 • Culdesac Elementary, Culdesac School District - $1,000 • Fairview Elementary, Bonneville Joint District - $3,000 • Fernan STEM Academy, Coeur d’Alene School District - $3,000 • Grace Elementary, Grace School District - $3,000 • Hamer Elementary, West Jefferson School District - $1,000 • Harrison Elementary, Kootenai School District – $1,000 • Hope Elementary, Lake Pend Oreille School District - $2,000 • Lincoln Elementary, Caldwell School District - $3,000 • McGhee Elementary, Lewiston Ind. School District - $3,000 • Midway Elementary, Jefferson School District - $1,000 • Orchards Elementary, Lewiston Ind. School District - $2,000 • Paul Elementary, Minidoka School District - $1,000 • Popplewell Elementary, Buhl School District - $2,000 • Ross Elementary, Kuna Joint School District - $3,000 • Thirkill Elementary, Soda Springs School District - $2,000 • Valley View Elementary, Boundary County School District - $3,000