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Almost all of us have dreamt of winning the lottery. But the biggest question, and probably the only hypothetical question that all of us entertained, is what will you do when you win that kind of money? Sports cars and mansions are the usual answers together with luxury goods like bags and shoes.

But for this UK woman, it’s all about giving back. Frances Connolly, 55, won the EuroMillions in 2019. The former social worker and teacher from Nothern Ireland scored a whopping £115 million fortune or about $145 million.

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The first thing they did was share their blessings with friends and family.

In fact, she has a list prepared in advance just in case she won – and it was something she believed in since. But their biggest beneficiary wasn’t family. With the money, Connolly set up two charitable foundations. One was named after her late mother Kathleen Graham. The foundation is currently based in Northern Ireland. The other one is the PFC Trust which supports local carers, the elderly, and refugees in her hometown.

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At that point, she estimates that she has given away more than half of her total winnings. She even had to keep it a secret from her husband. Giving back to the community isn’t new to Connolly. Just as people say, money doesn’t change you, it only amplifies who you really are. Connolly has volunteered with St. John Ambulance as a child. She was also part of an AIDS hotline while she was studying in Belfast. “If I had any advice for a winner… I’d say money liberates you to be the person that you want to be.” She said as quoted by BBC.

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Currently, she’s still involved in their community, especially with the unemployed, refugees, caregivers, and elderly. She also provided tablets for the seniors so they can regularly keep in touch with their families. Connolly shares that helping others is addictive. When asked by local news outlets whether she was happy to give so much money away, she just said: “Why wouldn’t you? I’ve done that all my life.”

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She also added that she would’ve been a millionaire anyway if she took back all the money she gave away over the years. She also spent £5,000 to buy clothes and toiletries for Ukrainian refugees. They didn’t forget themselves, however. To date, the couple’s biggest purchase was a six-bedroom house in County Durham with seven acres of land. Mr. Connolly is also driving a second-hand Aston Martin.

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Living luxuriously is something she frowned upon. She shared that she saw on a TV show that someone spent £25,000 on a bottle of champagne. She thought that kind of money could’ve been used better by helping people. The couple still lives normally. Mr. Connolly still runs their plastics businesses while she works with the foundations she established. And even if she’s spent so much helping people, she doesn’t regret any of it. “If you can do good things for deserving people, why wouldn’t you just do it?” she said, as quoted by Mirror UK, “It makes no sense to me to have that kind of money and not use it to do good in the world.”

Source: shareably.net

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Recent Comments

Deveron Watson

Aug 24, 2022

So glad there's beautiful people out their that would share their wealth..and who wouldn't.. I think it would be amazing to give your whanau, friends and special needs charities as much as you want..Not to forget animal shelters..hospitals etc..This lady has a heart of gold and if that's what she wants to do then she was so meant to win..such a giver.. Thankyou for being you.. Hope you enjoy a lovely holiday of your dreams. Kia Kaha.

Audrey Orta

Aug 24, 2022

I’m poor and addicted to helping others. You don’t have to have a ton of money, just a good heart. Folks love to stomp on that heart and try to make you feel bad for being kind. Thing is, it never will stop me. Their selfish ways just fuel my kindness

soarindash123

Aug 24, 2022

Congratulations!!! I wish them all the best. I wanted to get a lotto ticket for New Years but I couldn't afford it, but they seem like an honest couple who genuinely want to help people and charities. I love their outlook on winning the lotto, I find it rare to find people like this.

Shirley Cooper

Aug 24, 2022

I would too. I would never need that kind of money. I would also give my family the bulk of my share. The joy I would see in giving now while I am alive would be well worth it. One can't take it with you.

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