Title: $36 Million Mega Millions Prize Goes Unclaimed, Funds to Support Education

In a disappointing turn of events, the Florida Lottery has confirmed that the deadline for claiming a $36 million Mega Millions winning ticket has expired. The winning Quick Pix ticket was purchased at the Publix located at 4495 Roosevelt Blvd. in Jacksonville, but despite extensive efforts by the Lottery to locate the lucky winner, the jackpot prize has remained unclaimed.

Officials have stated that a significant portion of the unclaimed funds, specifically 80% of the $36 million, will be allocated to an education fund. The remaining amount will be placed back into the prize pool for future lottery drawings. It is worth noting that the Florida Lottery has a track record of utilizing its proceeds to enhance education. To date, the lottery has contributed over $45 billion towards bolstering education initiatives and has helped send more than 983,000 Florida students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

Any Florida Lottery retailer can validate the winning ticket, but individuals who hold the winning Mega Millions jackpot ticket must claim their prize at a Lottery District Office. Mega Millions is a widely popular multijurisdictional lottery game offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This missed opportunity to claim the substantial $36 million prize serves as a reminder for lottery participants to stay vigilant and promptly check their tickets after each drawing. The Florida Lottery encourages all lottery players to double-check their tickets and take advantage of the various retailer locations if they suspect having the lucky ticket in hand.

The unclaimed prize also highlights the ongoing dedication of the Florida Lottery to support education funding. With the majority of the funds going towards education initiatives, the unclaimed prize will play a crucial role in providing educational opportunities for Florida students, ensuring a brighter future for the state's youth.

While the search for the rightful winner of the $36 million remains unresolved, the hopes of future lottery participants are now redirected towards upcoming drawings where they too may have a chance to claim their own life-changing prizes.