Lotto millionaire gives away more than half of the winnings: "I'm addicted to it now"
Created: 04/29/2022, 10:27 am
By: Anna Lorenz
In 2019, the Connolly's from Great Britain hit the £115 million jackpot.
© Liam Mcburney picture alliance/dpa
In 2019, a couple hit the Euro Millions jackpot in Great Britain.
In the meantime, the winner has relieved herself of 60 million British pounds - because of "the freedom to be the person you want to be".
Durham – Frances (55) and Patrick (57) Connolly celebrated their win in the European Euro Millions lottery in January 2019 with a shower of champagne;
The couple from Northern Ireland were richer by almost 115 million pounds (about 137 million euros) in one fell swoop.
Frances Connolly, who had worked as a social worker and teacher, arranged an annual "charity budget" with husband Patrick at the time.
It is unclear how much this will amount to, but one thing is certain: it has already been exhausted for the next ten years.
Lottery winner from Northern Ireland gives away record sums: "I would be a millionaire anyway"
Hardly informed of the mega win, the couple gave friends and family generous gifts of money.
While Patrick continues to work as a plastics producer, Frances has since devoted herself primarily to her passion: helping.
As reported by the
Daily Mail
, she founded two charities;
as recently as Saturday 23 April 2022, she hosted a 250-guest benefit gala which saw her raise more than £100,000 for people in the couple's adopted home of Hartlepool in north-east England.
The only luxury the Connollys indulged in can also be found in the British port city: a six-bedroom property on seven acres of land.
High-priced purchases are otherwise a thorn in Frances' side;
the Northern Irishwoman prefers to invest her money in her commitment to local groups, older people and refugees.
"Young carers", i.e. minors who care for a relative, are particularly close to her heart.
Large investments do not cause Frances any problems or worries.
"I've been doing it my whole life," positions the Hartlepool resident with a wink.
"I'm not kidding, I'd be a millionaire either way if I could bring back all the money I've given away over the years."
60 million Lotto pounds given away - Lottery winner with a touching definition of profit
"People often ask me, 'How do you deal with so much money?'" says Frances, "Then I say, 'Not at all.
It wasn't even in the account for two days.'” The mother of three now no longer has a precise overview of what sums from the lottery prize went where – intentionally so that her husband doesn't see any lists, says Frances joking.
Although a million jackpot, like the one cracked by the Connollys, may allow for some luxury, the 55-year-old does not see the same in the purchase of high-priced accessories.
"Money gives you the chance to be who you want to be," the winner is convinced: "Think about what kind of person you are and what kind of person you want to be." She cannot heal poverty on her own, but with her The native of Northern Ireland will do her best with her current financial possibilities and her commitment;
she is now "addicted" to helping people.
Frances, who volunteered at the first-aid organization St. John Ambulance at the age of nine and founded an AIDS hotline on her own initiative when she was a student, is aware that not every Lotto millionaire shares this definition.
In the end, the charitable 55-year-old is certain that an unexpected rain of money will not change everything: "If you were a fool before, you are also afterwards." (askl)
