Virginia Lottery spotlights 'Thank a Teacher' campaign and teacher lounge makeover

The Virginia Lottery used its April 22 board meeting to highlight outreach programs aimed at public education and responsible gaming.

Communications lead Miss Mullen said the agency's Thank a Teacher campaign—now in its 11th year—runs through National Teacher Appreciation Week and will surpass one million thank-you note cards distributed across the Commonwealth by the end of the campaign. The program includes an art contest for public school students; the meeting featured a video of surprise presentations to three student-art contest winners at schools in Loudoun County, Atlee High School and Norfolk.

Mullen also described the inaugural teacher lounge makeover, valued at $7,500 and delivered in partnership with a local supply partner, as a new component of the campaign designed to improve educators' break spaces.

On responsible gaming, communications and compliance staff outlined the Play Responsibly efforts and the Voluntary Exclusion Program (VEP). The board heard that the Lottery maintains a toll-free problem-gambling helpline in partnership with the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling, that the VEP has nearly 2,600 enrollments, and that lifetime exclusions require an in-person sign-up. Staff emphasized coordination with operators to block account-based play for people on the VEP list and explained limits for non-account games (retailer-based prizes under $6,600 may be cashed without central review).

Board members asked what percentage of revenue returns to education; communications staff said last fiscal year the Lottery turned over about $901,000,000 and that profit transfers amount to roughly 25' 30 cents on the dollar of sales, with the Department of Education handling distribution formulas.

The presentations underscored the Lottery's dual role in revenue generation for public schools and responsible-gaming outreach.