MARYVILLE — Roy Cockrum kept his word, an East Tennessee charity official said Tuesday morning.
Elaine Streno, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank, said Cockrum, who recently won the lottery and pledged to help local charities with his millions, gave the food bank $50,000.
Cockrum was not at a news conference at the agency’s Maryville headquarters, but in a letter, he wrote,”I won the lottery. I want to share a piece of that prize with Second Harvest. I have long been inspired by Second Harvest’s help for people who need it most. I pray this gift will be a blessing to your work and to the people you serve.”
Streno said she and everyone at Second Harvest were deeply grateful that Cochrum would choose support.
“He is a man of his word,” Streno said. “This is huge for us. It was a real surprise.”
Cockrum, a former monk, won the $259 million Powerball, the largest jackpot ever in Tennessee.
He accepted a lump sum payment of $115 million.
Cockrum, 58, bought the ticket at a Kroger store in Knoxville on June 11. He previously worked as an actor and stage manager for theater and television productions.
More details as they develop online and in Wednesday’s News Sentinel.
