RALEIGH - N.C. Education Lottery repoted strong Powerball sales as players tried their chances at winning what would become the largest jackpot in the game’s history. The seven-week run boosted the lottery’s return this year for the education programs it serves.

Between the April 3 drawing when the jackpot was $40 million and Saturday’s $590.5 million jackpot, Powerball sales exceeded $38 million in the state. Initial estimates are that the sales will generate $14.6 million for education.

During that time, more than 556,000 tickets won prizes totaling more than $8 million, including four $40,000 prizes and 17 $10,000 prizes. Retailers across the state earned more than $2.6 million in commissions from Powerball sales.

Since the lottery began through June 30, 2012, Mecklenburg County education programs received more than $210.9 million in lottery funds. By law, those funds pay for teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction, prekindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, and college scholarships and financial aid based on need.

To date, the N.C. Education Lottery has raised more than $2.8 billion for these initiatives statewide, according to a press release from the lottery commission.