LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER: Jon Bon Jovi Donating NJ Lottery Fee to Open Community Restaurant

American rock legend Jon Bon Jovi is lending his likeness to a new New Jersey Lottery scratch-off ticket, donating his participation fee to help fund his foundation’s next pay-what-you-can community restaurant.

The New Jersey Lottery recently began selling its new “Jersey Legend: Jon Bon Jovi” scratchers. The $5 tickets offer players the chance to win top cash prizes of up to $200,000.

Bon Jovi, a New Jersey native and frontman of his namesake rock band, plans to use his likeness fees from the state lottery to help fund a third location for the JBJ Soul Kitchen. JBJ Soul Kitchens currently operate in Red Bank and Toms River, where patrons are offered three-course community meals.

The “Jersey Legend: Jon Bon Jovi” game is officially licensed through a copyright partnership with Bon Jovi Merchandise Inc.

What’s a JBJ Soul Kitchen?

JBJ Soul Kitchens are described as “community restaurants” where “all are welcome” to enjoy a meal where “locally-sourced ingredients, dignity, and respect are always on the menu.” The first JBJ Soul Kitchen opened in 2011 in Red Bank. The Toms River location opened in 2016.

Guests who can afford to pay are provided a suggested donation and encouraged to “pay it forward” to cover the cost for those who cannot. Diners who eat for free are invited to volunteer with the restaurant’s daily operations.

Since 2011, JBJ Soul Foundation says the community restaurants have served over 250,000 meals and volunteers have worked more than 180,000 hours. Every $20 donation pays it forward for the cost of a meal for someone dining at a JBJ Soul Kitchen who cannot cover the tab.

This week’s menu includes an appetizer choice of chicken noodle soup or apple salad. Main course entrees include pistachio-crusted cod, autumn pork loin, turkey chili, vegetarian stuffed peppers, and ham and cheese panini. The dessert features are a fruit plate or a chef’s choice.

Bon Jovi Lottery Odds

One of the $200,000 Jersey Legend: Jon Bon Jovi jackpots was claimed just days after the game launched, with the winning ticket sold at Bravo Supermarket in Trenton. Two more $200,000 jackpots remain unclaimed, along with 15 prizes of $5,000 and 32 prizes of $2,000.

The New Jersey Lottery website details that it printed more than 4.3 million Jersey Legend: Jon Bon Jovi scratch-off tickets.

Of the print, 694,078 win a cash prize, though 394,951 simply net $5. There are also 287,155 tickets that win a $5 free ticket. The scratcher comes with $12.9 million in prizes across all prize levels.