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A couple from Lower Truro, Nova Scotia won a $11.2 million jackpot in the lottery, and gave all of their winnings away to friends, charities and hospitals. Allen and Violet Large (75 and 78 respectively), decided that they would keep $200,000 for a rainy day, and gave away the remainder of their winnings.
Friends of the couple say they weren’t surprised – the couple had always said all they needed was each other. The couple is retired, and have stated that they were already living ‘comfortably.’ As Violet has been undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, the couple was glad to be able to give some of their winnings to the hospitals that …
… were treating her, among many others.
It was reported that the couple will continue to play the lottery on a weekly basis, as they always had, because “Somebody else could probably use it.”
And I say, wow. Perhaps it’s because I’m young, still struggling to climb the corporate ladder and still fighting to pay the bills, but I cannot imagine being able to give away that much money and leaving myself with so little. I would LOVE to say that I could, but I’m not really sure I’d be able to happily scrimp and save to buy a house, pay the bills, and refrain from ever going on vacation in favour of benefitting others. Working in the not-for-profit industry, I am a huge advocate of charitable giving, and I am a sucker for every and any charity that approaches me (also, I love that the government gives a tax cut based on charitable receipts – I feel like I’m forcing the government to give to the charities I support). But me giving away $20 a couple times a month isn’t really a sacrifice – I’d argue most people can afford $20 a month (it’s just one less bottle of wine, one less dinner out, or one less book from the bookstore). The Larges are giving away a massive sum of money, and don’t appear to even be batting an eyelash at the sum.
One might argue that the couple is old enough that there wouldn’t be much they could buy to make them happier – Violet likely can’t travel because of her illness, they may not want a bigger house because it would be harder to get around in, and in Canada we have free healthcare so they won’t be spending money on her illness. But I’d argue that they could then directly benefit from the money by giving it all to their family members, and enjoy watching them spend it. But they didn’t – they gave most of it away to charities, to benefit people they will never even meet.
It’s a testament to what wonderful people the Larges are. Or perhaps to the wisdom that comes with age, and knowing that they won’t be any happier for receiving this money, but can be happier for letting it benefit others. But in a way, this money is a gift that is allowing them to confirm their inner sense of charity and genuine love for other people. That must feel fantastic. I know it makes me feel fantastic that there are people out there willing to make such a gesture.
