CHICAGO, IL –   State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) has worked with the Illinois Department of Public Health to honor Carolyn Adams, Illinois Lottery Superintendent from May 2003 until she died of breast cancer in March 2007 at the age of 44.

Senate Bill 3037 changes the name of the Ticket for the Cure Grant Fund to the Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Grant Fund.

“It’s an honor to be part of this effort. Carolyn Adams was one of the main reasons the Ticket for the Cure was such a successful initiative,” said Senator Hunter, the original sponsor of the legislation that established the Ticket for the Cure Lottery game. “She brought creative ideas to the process and was great from the marketing aspect. I cannot think of a better tribute to a woman so devoted to a cause.”

Proceeds from the Ticket for the Cure scratch-off lottery game are deposited into the Ticket for the Cure Grant Fund. Money in the fund is distributed to the Department of Public Health to provide grants to fund research on breast cancer and services for breast cancer victims.

This bill was originally signed into law in October of 2006.  This was a project initiated by then Senate President Jones and Senator Hunter to create the Ticket for the Cure. The ticket marks a first time in US Lottery history where 100 percent of proceeds supported programs and research initiatives that would help diagnose and treat this deadly disease. Net revenue from the sale of Ticket for the Cure is awarded to not-for-profit institutes and organizations to fund breast cancer research, education and supportive services, including childcare services, for breast cancer patients and their families in Illinois. 

This legislation has passed the Senate and now goes to the House of Representatives for their consideration.