The Alaska Chamber last week announced the week seven lottery winners of the “Give AK a Shot” COVID-19 vaccine incentive program, the second-to-last in the eight-week sweepstakes series.
Amber Groff of Anchorage won the adult $49,000 pool, and Lillian Croskrey of North Pole was awarded a $49,000 scholarship administered as an Alaska 529 savings plan.
“Give AK a Shot” allows for one newly vaccinated adult resident — 18 and up — to receive $49,000 cash, and one newly vaccinated child resident — 12 to 17 years old — to receive a $49,000 scholarship in an Alaska 529 education savings plan. If the child’s guardian is also vaccinated, they’ll be eligible to win another $10,000 in cash.
The campaign is funded through the federal CARES Act.
Kati Cappozi, the president and chief executive officer of the Alaska Chamber, said 20,614 Alaskans have received at least their first vaccine dose since the program launched on Sept. 2. She said of those newly vaccinated, 8,584 have entered the sweepstakes program.
Groff said she got vaccinated to do her part in protecting herself and others in public spaces.
“You’re doing it not just for yourself but for people around you, especially people who can’t even get the vaccine,” she said. “Just like any other vaccine, of course do your research, but honestly again it’s just like any other vaccine.”
Groff said she’s going to use her winnings to pay off her car.
Croskrey won a $49,000 scholarship last week, and said it’s started making her think more seriously about the possibility of college.
“I will say that before all this happened, I wasn’t thinking about going to college or getting a scholarship,” she said.
Croskrey said she wanted to get vaccinated so she wouldn’t spread the virus to other loved ones.
“I had COVID recently, and then I gave my aunt COVID and she … went to the hospital for 17 days,” she said. “We decided to get vaccinated because I didn’t want that to happen again.”
The final winners — which will be chosen from a pool of both newly vaccinated and those vaccinated prior to the start of the campaign — will be announced on Thursday. Lottery entries are now closed.
Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.
Amber Groff of Anchorage won the adult $49,000 cash prize for week seven of the COVID-19 vaccine incentive program “Give AK Shot.” (Photo provided)
