For the past three months a group of 17 co-workers who work for a north side metal company have joined forces to play the lottery. Every week their group leader, Ancelmo Echevarria, collects $6 per person for the Powerball drawings held on Wednesday and Saturday. “We won $1,000,000 playing Powerball with a group of numbers we always play. The most we won before this was a $2,500 prize so this time we are really excited.”

After Echevarria verified it was the winning ticket, he couldn’t wait to share the news at work. Each member of this lucky group of 17 has plans to buy new homes, share the winnings with family and take a vacation. Echevarria, a Puerto Rican native, wants to buy his 30-year old son a brand new car as well as visit his family in Puerto Rico.

Ever since their win, the group has grown to 45 members, with hopes to win in the current jackpot of $270 million. Since January 2012, the Illinois Lottery has had 27 Match-5 Powerball winners. Match-5 winners receive $1,000,000 each, which increases to $2,000,000 if they select the Power Play game option. The Illinois Lottery held a check presentation Saturday at Grisel and Junior Liquor Store, located at 2000 North Leavitt in Chicago, where he purchased the winning ticket. The store received a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. When asked if he had any advice for other lottery players Echevarria said, “Don’t give up. If it happened to us, it could happen to you!”