Inspired by Dolly Parton: lottery winner puts her prize to work

By Kate Northrop

Since winning a £115 million (US$ 155.3 million) EuroMillions jackpot seven years ago, the Irish lottery winner says she has given half her fortune away.

A £115 million EuroMillions jackpot winner from Northern Ireland says she believes it is human nature to help others and estimates she has donated half her winnings to good causes.

Frances Connolly and her husband, Paddy, have lived philanthropic lives since winning the prize in 2019. After coming into the massive fortune, Frances established a charitable trust to support those in need called the PFC Trust.

Being selfless is inherently natural to Frances — she grew up helping others in Northern Ireland and currently works as a teacher and social worker. The philanthropist credited her father for indirectly influencing her altruistic tendencies since he was a fan of country and western music, Dolly Parton in particular.

Frances told Press Association that the late singer, who passed away last month at age 80, was an "inspiration" for her compassion.

When she won millions in the lottery, that urge to share only increased tenfold.

"It depends on what you want in life. If your ambition is to be the richest person in the world and be influencing presidents, then you need to keep all your money, or you need to keep a lot of your money," Frances told the Press Association. "But I don't know anybody who doesn't share something."

This year marks a milestone for both Frances and her charitable tendencies. To honor her 60th birthday, she held her latest venture: the 60 for 60 Challenge.

Seven athletes who've benefited from her support for young sporting talent ran, swam, or cycled a combined 60 miles across a series of events to raise money for the PFC Trust. It kicked off on Sept. 6 with a family fun day in Middlesborough and culminated in the Great North Run finale on Sept. 13. The Great North Run is the world's biggest half-marathon, boasting a record of 63,000 runners this year.

"She has set such an example, and we wanted to help through sport, as we all know how vital it is for young people to live healthier lives," Paul Hewitson, who ran in the Great North Run for the trust, said in an interview.

Frances' campaign for the event raised over £20,000 (US$27,000).

Ever since the jackpot win, Frances's trust has funded loneliness projects and digital tech to help the elderly stay connected, delivered emergency food supplies to those in need, purchased young respite caravans to give families and caregivers a break from their responsibilities, installed defibrillators in local sports clubs, and supported youth athletes. 

"I think it's in mankind to share when you get to a level where you've got enough," Frances supposed. "'Enough' is a different level for everybody. Maybe if we had been younger, I'd have kept more, maybe you'd be a bit more nervous about how much you could give away, but unless I intended to live forever — I was 50-whatever when I won it — so even being generous, I was well over half-way through. So as long as the kids are sorted and they had enough to live comfortable, nice lives, I didn't see the point."

The jackpot win provided Frances and Paddy with plenty of financial freedom, and although she has focused her efforts on charitable causes, she hasn't denied herself comfort either. The couple has a large home on Teesside in Northeast England and enjoy nice vacations together.

But they are still aware of the value of their money, preferring to buy secondhand luxury goods, like a used Cartier watch or pre-owned Aston Martin, rather than buying new. Paddy also continues to run his plastics businesses.

"We have a lovely life," Frances said to the press. "I always tell people, we have the same life, we just live it bigger. You know, we haven't particularly changed, if you talk to my friends."

"I am at pains to explain to people that despite being a millionaire, I can't cure poverty, and I certainly can't do everything that's needed to be done on my own," she added. "I have a team of hundreds of people who work with me all the time... I get help and support every single day. I think people just need to be asked, and they just need to have that opportunity to do exactly what I do and change lives."

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Frances Connolly, who won £115 million playing the lottery in 2019, as she launches her latest charity venture.

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