Philip and Nicholas Litfin received a Christmas present that they’ll never forget — a Minnesota Millionaire Raffle ticket worth $100,000.

The $10 ticket was given to them by their grandma last December; however, conflicting schedules didn’t allow the two to reap the full rewards of their present until recently.

The Litfin boys, who are originally from Waconia, are currently serving in the U.S. Navy, so finding a time when they were both in Minnesota was difficult. Philip is currently based in Jacksonville, Fla. and Nicholas is enrolled in the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. The two managed to be home long enough to claim their $100,000 prize on June 22 at the Lottery’s headquarters in Roseville.

Nicholas says he plans to buy a new car within the next year and he hopes to attend the U.S. Open Tennis Championships in N.Y. this fall. While Philip, who will soon be deployed to Qatar, says he plans to use his winnings for a down payment on a house in the future.

Lottery tickets have been a gift giving tradition in the Litfin family for years — initiated by their grandfather and now kept alive by their grandmother. Both of the boys agree that this is one tradition that they hope their grandma continues. “I wouldn’t mind coming back here next year,” Philip said with a smile.

Coborn’s, located at 1400 Babcock Blvd. E. in Delano, sold the winning ticket.

Currently, there are nine $500 Raffle prizes from the drawing on Jan. 1, 2009 that have not yet been claimed. The $500 prizes can be claimed at any Lottery retailer, by mail or at any Lottery office. Players have until Jan. 4, 2010 to claim prizes from the Jan. 1, 2009 drawing.

The Minnesota Millionaire Raffle Game launched on Oct. 19, 2008. Only 500,000 tickets were available. The game sold out on Dec. 28, 2008. Each $10 ticket features a unique six-digit number that players have to match against the numbers that were drawn on New Year’s Day.