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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Canadian couple gives away entire $11.2M lottery jackpot Canada 6/49: Canadian couple gives away entire $11.2M lottery jackpot54 Rating:LOWER TRURO, N.S. — A Nova Scotia couple won $11.2 million from a lottery ticket in July and now every penny is gone. But Allen and Violet Large of Lower Truro didn't spend any of it on themselves. They say they decided to take care of family, organizations and institutions instead. "What you've never had, you never miss," said Violet, 78. Married since 1974, the couple does not live large. They don't travel, they don't gamble (beyond playing the lottery) and they don't buy what they don't need. "We have an old house, but we're comfortable and we're happy in it," Violet said. They spent 30 years in Ontario where Allen was a steel welder and Violet worked for cosmetics and chocolate companies. They retired in 1983 and returned to Nova Scotia. "We were pretty well set, not millionaires, but comfortable," said Allen, 75. So when they hit it big in Lotto 6-49's July 14 draw, they decided to give it all away. All that money "was a big headache," Allen said. Violet said she was concerned about "crooked people" who might try to take advantage of them. But the big win came at a difficult time in their lives: Violet was undergoing treatment for cancer that doctors discovered in the spring. "That money that we won was nothing," said Allen, choking back tears. "We have each other." Violet has been through surgery and finished her last chemotherapy treatment a week ago. After the win, the couple took about a week to work out the details before embarking on their $11,255,272 spending spree. They took care of family first and then began delivering donations to the two pages' worth of groups they had decided on, including the local fire department, churches, cemeteries, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, hospitals in Truro and Halifax, where Violet underwent her cancer treatment, and organizations that fight cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes. The list goes on and on. The couple won't say how much they gave each group, but they've received plenty of phone calls, letters and plaques of gratitude. While they're thankful for each one, they didn't do it for the recognition. "It made us feel good," said Violet. "And there's so much good being done with that money." She and her husband said they feel privileged to be able to give back to the community, to help the firefighters, the doctors and nurses and the volunteers who have helped them. "We're the lucky ones," Violet said. "I have no complaints."  (Click to display full-size in gallery)
Toronto Star, Lottery Post Staff We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 49 comments. Last comment 3 years ago by . da bronx,city island,n.y. United States Member #30895 January 17, 2006 310 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 8:39 am - IP Logged | |
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PA United States Member #66644 October 16, 2008 1280 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 9:38 am - IP Logged | |
Allen and Violet ...................... Livin' their dream ....................... How sweet it is !  | | |
Honduras Member #21312 August 29, 2005 4715 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 10:46 am - IP Logged | |
If people in the, USA or other countries you see them all the time giving away money to charity and stuff, what you think would be the same with Canada... The Forex trades: 1.6 Trillion dollars EVERY day, that´s more than the GDP of the Carribbean Central America, COMBINED. Enough to feed every crook out there for centuries...To all Geniuses & Powers Countries of the World the Planet needs breakthroughs in all Medicine, Veterinary, Biology related fields, Psychology, Population Psychology/Sociology..They need to genetically ingeneer new plants species/types to give more variety of plants and thus have more resources for combating diseases¨
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Honduras Member #21312 August 29, 2005 4715 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 10:54 am - IP Logged | |
they could had with: $11 Million buy 22 rental apartments of 8-12 stories with 4 apartments on each floor around the world or in Canada...Each costing: $600,000 to $700,000 construction cost... and make the Earnings be donated to Canadians Institutions...They would had donated: between: $6 Million to $7.6 Million dollars per year... And help out in this rising cost of Real Estate....They could had helped out in Sweeden i think it is which is the most expensive city in the world.... $600 a month people will had pay in their apartments... Their families would had taken: $1 Million each year from the apartments and the rest is/would have been donated... The Forex trades: 1.6 Trillion dollars EVERY day, that´s more than the GDP of the Carribbean Central America, COMBINED. Enough to feed every crook out there for centuries...To all Geniuses & Powers Countries of the World the Planet needs breakthroughs in all Medicine, Veterinary, Biology related fields, Psychology, Population Psychology/Sociology..They need to genetically ingeneer new plants species/types to give more variety of plants and thus have more resources for combating diseases¨
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Monkey Butt, USA United States Member #55038 August 23, 2007 1120 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 11:50 am - IP Logged | |
A Nova Scotia couple won $11.2 million from a lottery ticket in July and now every penny is gone. But Allen and Violet Large of Lower Truro didn't spend any of it on themselves. They say they decided to take care of family, organizations and institutions instead. "What you've never had, you never miss," said Violet, 78. Married since 1974, the couple does not live large. They don't travel, they don't gamble (beyond playing the lottery) and they don't buy what they don't need. "We have an old house, but we're comfortable and we're happy in it," Violet said. They spent 30 years in Ontario where Allen was a steel welder and Violet worked for cosmetics and chocolate companies. They retired in 1983 and returned to Nova Scotia. "We were pretty well set, not millionaires, but comfortable," said Allen, 75. So when they hit it big in Lotto 6-49's July 14 draw, they decided to give it all away. All that money "was a big headache," Allen said. Violet said she was concerned about "crooked people" who might try to take advantage of them. But the big win came at a difficult time in their lives: Violet was undergoing treatment for cancer that doctors discovered in the spring. "That money that we won was nothing," said Allen, choking back tears. "We have each other." Violet has been through surgery and finished her last chemotherapy treatment a week ago. After the win, the couple took about a week to work out the details before embarking on their $11,255,272 spending spree. They took care of family first and then began delivering donations to the two pages' worth of groups they had decided on, including the local fire department, churches, cemeteries, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, hospitals in Truro and Halifax, where Violet underwent her cancer treatment, and organizations that fight cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes. The list goes on and on. The couple won't say how much they gave each group, but they've received plenty of phone calls, letters and plaques of gratitude. While they're thankful for each one, they didn't do it for the recognition. "It made us feel good," said Violet. "And there's so much good being done with that money." She and her husband said they feel privileged to be able to give back to the community, to help the firefighters, the doctors and nurses and the volunteers who have helped them. "We're the lucky ones," Violet said. "I have no complaints." (Click to display full-size in gallery) I am so happy for them. I hope they set aside enough to cover the medical bill that might roll in after the cancer treatment. Not sure about the Canadian medical system. I wish Ms Violet nothing but a 10,000% recovery from the cancer she had to deal with. | | |
United States Member #72957 March 18, 2009 776 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 12:00 pm - IP Logged | |
Kudos, LotteryPost, it is interesting to read how each double-digit, net multi-millionaire lottery jackpot winner "spends" their win monies. I enjoyed reading that they included family members in the distributions. Since this couple could be alive for another 20 years, I hope that they at least kept $2.5 million for themselves though, regardless of telling the media they gave it all away within 3 months. Perhaps now the Larges could enjoy a long, fun Alaskan and Hawaiian cruise together each year ... could enjoy living LARGE! Having millions of dollars in my financial accounts means more, consistent fun for me.
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California United States Member #81456 October 7, 2009 91 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 12:13 pm - IP Logged | |
pumpi76 said: "they could had with: $11 Million buy 22 rental apartments of 8-12 stories with 4 apartments on each floor around the world or in Canada...Each costing: $600,000 to $700,000 construction cost..." It's a common misconception that Lotto winners collect the entire amount of the stated jackpot. Actually, the amount Lotto winners collect, after receiving the cash payout and deducting taxes, is about a third. The amount they actually collected was about $11.2/3 or $3.73 million. I do see your point about purchasing apartment buildings and then renting them out. However, you're forgetting that apartment buildings have taxes, upkeep costs, repair costs, and labor costs involved. If a landlord is lucky, he can use one apartment to give for free to a maintenance man. However, the landlord would still need to pay at least a partial salary. In addition, the landlord would need to pay for any materials costs for any repairs. Finally, and most importantly, you have the biggest problem especially in this economy. Occasionally you will have a renter who cannot or will not pay his rent. Then you have to legally evict the offending renter. Some will go willingly, some you will need to hire an attorney to institute removal procedures. Attorney fees can run as high as $350/hour! In some legal districts, especially in urban areas, tenant eviction can be a lengthy and expensive process, taking many months! Meanwhile, while the landlord is waiting to evict the offending tenant, the tenant is still in your apartment sitting there angry at you. He can do whatever he pleases to your apartment, punching holes in the drywall, smashing the fixtures, ripping out electric wiring, etc... Then, one day, the tenant can simply disappear and you're left with a smashed up apartment you will need to repair and the security deposit only covers a fifth of the repairs. | | |
Nassau Bahamas Member #84337 December 26, 2009 1197 Posts Online | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 12:29 pm - IP Logged | |
pumpi76 said: "they could had with: $11 Million buy 22 rental apartments of 8-12 stories with 4 apartments on each floor around the world or in Canada...Each costing: $600,000 to $700,000 construction cost..." It's a common misconception that Lotto winners collect the entire amount of the stated jackpot. Actually, the amount Lotto winners collect, after receiving the cash payout and deducting taxes, is about a third. The amount they actually collected was about $11.2/3 or $3.73 million. I do see your point about purchasing apartment buildings and then renting them out. However, you're forgetting that apartment buildings have taxes, upkeep costs, repair costs, and labor costs involved. If a landlord is lucky, he can use one apartment to give for free to a maintenance man. However, the landlord would still need to pay at least a partial salary. In addition, the landlord would need to pay for any materials costs for any repairs. Finally, and most importantly, you have the biggest problem especially in this economy. Occasionally you will have a renter who cannot or will not pay his rent. Then you have to legally evict the offending renter. Some will go willingly, some you will need to hire an attorney to institute removal procedures. Attorney fees can run as high as $350/hour! In some legal districts, especially in urban areas, tenant eviction can be a lengthy and expensive process, taking many months! Meanwhile, while the landlord is waiting to evict the offending tenant, the tenant is still in your apartment sitting there angry at you. He can do whatever he pleases to your apartment, punching holes in the drywall, smashing the fixtures, ripping out electric wiring, etc... Then, one day, the tenant can simply disappear and you're left with a smashed up apartment you will need to repair and the security deposit only covers a fifth of the repairs. In My opinion these people are content with their lives and giving away the money gave them the ultimate pleasure....It was a fantastic thing they did. I strongly believe their age and life experiences had allot to do with their decision. We all walk different roads, Let's just pray that at that age we all will be in a position to do for others and help others the same as they did. God bless their kind Souls. | | |
adelaide sa Australia Member #37542 April 11, 2006 2437 Posts Online | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 1:05 pm - IP Logged | |
what can i say, sure they could have done a myriad of things but they did what they wanted, and as far as altruism , ive never seena more generous act in my life. now if a 30 yo couple did it i might think even more of them. big round of applause.
May " The lotto goddess may be blind and heartless, but she also has a wicked sense of humor. " mon/ lotto [8.8] tue/oz lotto [] wed/ lotto [8.8] thur/ power ball [] sat/ lotto [] sat /pools [] keno [21]20 scratch [] jan loss=[260.25] wins= 189; feb loss= [190.05] wins =182.6; mar loss= [311.9] wins = 107.35; apr loss= [320.30] wins= 107.50 2013 YTD loss[1032] wins = 585 2012 total spend =[2486.10], wins = 2176.70 ; year total = -$309.40 | | |
long island Bahamas Member #74251 April 23, 2009 722 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 1:10 pm - IP Logged | |
they will always be blessed. they did a good thing. | | |
Ridge Runner - Oracle of the Appalachians Way back up in them dadgum hills, son! United States Member #74415 April 28, 2009 12433 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 2:00 pm - IP Logged | |
You don't see people as selfless as these very often. God bless em. I'll never forget old whats-his-name...
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Albuquerque, New Mexico United States Member #5219 June 18, 2004 377 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 2:26 pm - IP Logged | |
Wow, what a noble, unselfish gesture -- that's a hard act to follow! Not every lottery winner can be that generous to the extend they are left with nothing left. The couple seem content and they're definitely not materialistic. Eleven million tax free dollars can be used to help others. However, to be honest with you, I wouldn't be that generous -- maybe some to my favorite charity -- but not all of it. I definitely have to think about my financial future, too, and that's not being selfish.  -- Bye, bye! When you win, may you glow as brightly as the
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United States
Member #75870
June 1, 2009
5350 Posts
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| | Posted: November 4, 2010, 3:54 pm - IP Logged | |
Wow, what a noble, unselfish gesture -- that's a hard act to follow! Not every lottery winner can be that generous to the extend they are left with nothing left. The couple seem content and they're definitely not materialistic. Eleven million tax free dollars can be used to help others. However, to be honest with you, I wouldn't be that generous -- maybe some to my favorite charity -- but not all of it. I definitely have to think about my financial future, too, and that's not being selfish. They did that because they are nearing the end of their lives, so they wanted to do something noble before leaving this Earth. I doubt a couple who were in their 20s would do the same. | | |
Hamilton, OH United States Member #4236 March 27, 2004 265 Posts Offline | | Posted: November 4, 2010, 4:27 pm - IP Logged | |
I would be happy to give some to the local animal shelters, habitat for humanity, leukemia/lymphoba society, etc. These people make a difference in the world. | | |
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