The Georgia Lottery Corp. today announced record profits for education for the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. Profits transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account will amount to $290.45 million, surpassing last year’s record first quarter transfer by $16.85 million.

“Educational programs funded by the lottery continue to lay the groundwork for Georgia’s evolving and growing workforce,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “The $19 billion generated by Georgia Lottery has provided the HOPE scholarship to more than 1.8 million college students and offered access to lottery-funded Pre-K programs for more than 1.4 million 4-year-olds. The ongoing success of the Georgia Lottery is major component of ensuring each child in Georgia attains a quality education from start to finish.”

The Georgia Lottery’s first quarter profits bring the total raised for educational programs in the state of Georgia to more than $19 billion since the lottery’s inception in 1993.

“We are celebrating a special milestone with $19 billion raised for education in Georgia,” said Georgia Lottery President and CEO Debbie D. Alford. “The greatest reward is knowing that Georgia’s students benefit from our success through lottery-funded HOPE Scholarships and Grants, as well as Pre-K. Our record first quarter is a great foundation to build upon for the remainder of the fiscal year.”

The Georgia Lottery’s record first quarter follows a record fiscal year. In fiscal year 2017, the Georgia Lottery reached the benchmark of $1.1 billion raised for education for the first time in a single fiscal year.

The first quarter of the Georgia Lottery’s fiscal year spanned from July 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2017.

For more information on the Georgia Lottery Corp., please visit: www.galottery.com.