29 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • MARCH/APRIL 2024 the difference we’ve made,” says Ms. Paul. “Some TEL staff members volunteer to be mentors to students who are pursuing a Tennessee Promise scholarship, and we also created the TEL Career Closet to allow employees to donate gently used business attire to college students to help them prepare for a professional career. We are truly committed to our mission of supporting education in a variety of ways.” The Lottery frequently hears from beneficiaries and shares some of these stories (“TEL Your Story”) on its website to spread the message that dreams can become reality. “The HOPE Scholarship has given me the opportunity to pursue my dreams, plus I have the chance to inspire others to attend college,” shared a political science major at Fisk University in Nashville. There’s an eagerness to tell such stories: The TEL heard from a large group of award recipients during a recent outreach campaign. These beneficiaries represented both students and graduates, the latter having secured positions in areas such as healthcare, diesel mechanics, human resources, education, advertising, administration, insurance, sales and marketing. Others shared that they were continuing their education by pursuing an advanced degree. “We also run beneficiary advertisements to raise awareness about the opportunities the TEL allows for, offer gratitude for those who support the Lottery, and congratulate those who have earned an award,” says Ms. Paul. Such was the case with the 20th anniversary, which was a fitting springboard to mark the more than two million Lottery-funded scholarships and grants awarded to Tennessee students during that time. Another creative and unique educational initiative is the TEL’s own Wanda Young Wilson Internship Program, which provides professional training and entrylevel work experience to students attending the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The summer program has been operating since the first year of the TEL’s launch and was named after the Lottery’s former general counsel and chief of staff, who has since retired. Others Win, Too Educational beneficiaries and their families aren’t the only folks who win with the TEL. Players have won nearly $20 billion in prizes from a wide variety of instant and draw-style games, and retailers have earned nearly $2 billion in commissions. Stories from prize winners run the gamut. From a lucky morning stop for a biscuit or gasoline to elated co-workers who play together and can’t wait to share their prize, excitement fills the Lottery’s four claim centers daily. And that’s in addition to the fun atmosphere games and winners bring to the network of more than 5,000 retailer locations statewide. “Winners tell us they will pay off mortgages, donate to charitable organizations, make home improvements, save for the future, help family and make other purchases. Not only are they benefitting, but so too is Tennessee’s economy,” Ms. Paul notes. The Lottery also assists several State agencies by withholding any state-owed debts such as child support from Lottery winners of $600 or more and remitting those funds to these agencies. By the end of Fiscal Year 2023, more than $6.2 million had been returned to the State. Dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility There’s even more to know about the value the TEL brings, as the organization is committed to a variety of Corporate Social Responsibility programs (CSR). Impact areas include responsible gaming (RG), community engagement, diversity and Winners, winners and more winners! Continued on page 56
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