Canadian lottery winner donates $40 million jackpot to charity

Comment #54

jamella724 — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 05:54:15 GMT

What a kind-hearted man. Maybe that's why God has chosen him to be the winner. All of us should be like him, you're truly an excellent role model Mr. Tom Crist.

Comment #53

Jon D — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 23:28:23 GMT

This is a classic case of: Darned if you do, darned if you don't

So, Tom knew that when he claimed, his name and picture would be published. It was required.

Question: do you grant a press interview? Or just duck out and not say anything?

C'mon, if he just ducked out and said nothing, the press would then be left to make up their own narrative:

Multi-millionaire retired corporate executive wins $40M jackpot, ducks out with the money and says nothing, no gratitude, not a thanks, n... [ More ]

Comment #52

GYM RICE — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 22:52:50 GMT

This is a good point...I however would be worried about certain charities suing me if I went public and told everyone I was giving it all away to a certain charity/s and then not follow through...

Comment #51

GYM RICE — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 22:49:49 GMT

I'm guessing the opposite would happen if he wore a DD disguise...

Comment #50

GYM RICE — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 22:48:39 GMT

So a man wears a hat and glasses because he doesn't want to be recoginized by the public, and then tells EVERYONE that he's giving it all to charity. Which will now bring endless amounts of attention to who the man is...Why tell the public anything about what you're going to do with your money? Donate it all away anon...

Comment #49

RedStang — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 21:54:53 GMT

Good thing he did'nt get the DD disguise. The public would of stoned him to death.

Comment #48

Jon D — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 16:15:55 GMT

Publicity stunt???

...it took Crist more than six months to tell anybody...

I just didn't want the media, the press, all that kind of stuff. So I just kept putting it off and putting it off, and putting it off.

Finally at the behest of the Western Canada Lottery Corp., he agreed to go public and have his photo taken. The fine print on the lottery subscription he'd bought had demanded as much.

The poor guy tried to duck and hide from publicity, but he was required to do it. He di... [ More ]

Comment #47

silverwater — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 15:52:32 GMT

I still call is bs and I will say it again, just my opinion. The way I see it is that he made a big publicity stunt - he didn't need to tell anyone how much of the $40M he will give away, how it will be given and to which charity. Once he passes away, there is absolutely no garantee that his kids will continue giving the money away. Personally, I hope the kids don't give it away - charities are overrated and corrupt. I tell you one thing, when I win, I keep it all.

Comment #46

Jon D — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 22:47:58 GMT

I think you really need to reexamine your basic argument, that Tom Crist is some kind of false philanthropist simply because he's not donating the way you think he should.

Your suggestion that he write one check for $40M and give it to one organization is just not smart and not how the rich do it. You don't want to dump a whole lot of cash on an organization, more than they know what to do with. Then you will certainly have the real potential for waste and abuse.

You give a smaller managea... [ More ]

Comment #45

silverwater — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 17:40:59 GMT

1. Just my opinion. Didn't mean to offend anyone.

2. Giving it away = write a one time big fat $40M check. Period. Not trusts throught kids, blablabla.

3. Wake up peeps.

4. Merry Christmas.

5. Ho. Ho. Ho.

Comment #44

MegaSuperPower — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 10:29:50 GMT

My two cents: Yes, he's probably savvy enough to use this charity thing to stave off leeches, but still keep enough of it to benefit his family in the long run, but two...

Is it just me, or do we live in a world where, say he gave away $39MM of it and kept $1MM as a nest egg, some people might still call him selfish or at the very least, still think they had good reason to hit him up for a chunk of it to help themselves? I just get that sense. Call me paranoid. But if I won the lottery and ga... [ More ]

Comment #43

golfer1960 — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 04:55:11 GMT

Hey Silver, don't worry I'm not positive or happy, especially when someone else wins. I usually feel like this when someone else wins.

Comment #42

rdgrnr — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 04:45:15 GMT

...every single person (well, almost) is excessively positive/happy.

Where'd you get that idea

Comment #41

silverwater — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 03:16:01 GMT

Is that what you understood from what I said? Seriously?

FYI: I am an American myself, just live and work in Toronto. Moreover, I never thought this place was just Americans and I sure didn't point the finger at anyone in particular - sorry you feel this way.

Comment #40

Jon D — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 02:11:04 GMT

Wow...nice intro new member.

So you think LP members are naive and disconnected from reality, and you are somehow superior up there in Canada compared to us dumb Americans?

Merry Christmas to you as well.

Comment #39

silverwater — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 01:45:26 GMT

Yeah, well, you know, people tend to believe pretty much everything they're told so this comes to no surprise. I am sure the guy gave/will give money to Cancer but to believe the entire 40 willl go to it is to be really and I mean, really, naive. No one, regardless of how poor/rich/wealthy, will turn down 40M, no one.

I registered to express my opinion on this matter and ... at the end of the day, it's just that: my opinion. Hence, I hope I don't offend anyone. To me, giving it away is to wr... [ More ]

Comment #38

Jon D — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 00:44:54 GMT

Just because he's going to set up a Trust doesn't mean there is anything sinister going on. That's the way to do it if you're doing charity/philanthropy.(rather than just giving out cash/gifts yourself)

And including his kids, who can be involved with and learn about charity/philanthropy, becoming trustees, assigning funds to beneficiaries, that's a great thing for a dad to do.

Comment #37

golfer1960 — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 20:44:13 GMT

This is a great story. This proves that everyone has a different reason for buying lottery tickets. Some of us need it to enhance our lives and others want it to enhance other peoples lives. Let's go buy some tickets and make our dreams come true.

Comment #36

DDOH937 — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 18:25:28 GMT

THANK YOU SILVERWATER!!!! Finally, a post from someone who gets what's going on here. Like i said earlier, kudos to him for his philantropic approach when he could have simply pocketed the cash and gone about his busniess. But i'm no fool either Silverwater, people need to look up/read upon these charitable Trust and how they work and why the benefit the wealthy. I am constantly AMAZED, just AMAZED about the naivete expressed by people (well meaning people i should add). Maybe its because we Ame... [ More ]

Comment #35

silverwater — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 18:15:23 GMT

Sorry but do people really believe he's going to give the whole $40M away? In a Canadian article, he said he put the money in trusts for his kids who are going to give it to charity. What garantees the kids will do so? I think it's a clever way to tell everyone I gave it all away, don't ask me for anything .

Comment #34

riscknight — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 15:50:42 GMT

He put the money where his heart is, the place and people that treated his wife. Because cancer has or will touch you and most everybody in this world. His hope is that better treatments will come along with the help of that money to help more people.

He is already well off. He probably learned the hard way that no matter what material things you have, how much money you have, if you don't have your health, you don't have anything.

+1000

Comment #33

riscknight — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 15:46:28 GMT

This man here is a REAL winner in my book.

Mine as well. He chose to help those who suffer; if other people who made a fortune could see through his eyes, the world would be a better place with less pain...

Comment #32

rcbbuckeye — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 15:06:07 GMT

There are a lot more than 800 families that are hurting. How does one find and/or decide who is hurting the most?

He put the money where his heart is, the place and people that treated his wife. Because cancer has or will touch you and most everybody in this world. His hope is that better treatments will come along with the help of that money to help more people.

He is already well off. He probably learned the hard way that no matter what material things you have, how much money you have,

Comment #31

rcbbuckeye — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 15:01:01 GMT

The article says that he said he didn't need the money as he has been quite successful. So he gave the money where his heart was, the place that treated his wife. Cancer touches everybody in some way everyday. I lost my mother to cancer. My wife lost her mother to cancer. If it hasn't touched one of us personally, it has or will touch you through someone you love.

I agree, it was a thoughtful and loving thing to do, whether he already has money or not. 40 million is still a chunk of change.... [ More ]

Comment #30

Slick Nick — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 10:25:18 GMT

He must have been very well off financially, along with a big heart

Comment #29

daxpax — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 03:18:20 GMT

I agree. How about 800 deserving families who are trying but are hurting at the moment receiving 50,000 each to give them a little breathing room.

To me, that would have been more satisfying in my eyes. Especially right around Christmas.

Comment #28

sully16 — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 02:43:32 GMT

What a very nice man, hope his donations helps many cancer patients.

Comment #27

iwantthejackpot — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 01:23:13 GMT

I've only watched that show a couple of times and then stopped, I got way too jealous. If I won $40 million, there is no way in heck I'd give it ALL to charity. A few million, sure, but not all.

Comment #26

RJOh — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 21:50:22 GMT

But i'll be much more impressed if he needed the money, .......

Would you still have been more impressed if he needed the money and wasted it on lottery tickets? There are lots of losers with gambling addiction doing that everyday.

Comment #25

Goteki54 — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 21:19:49 GMT

So many people who are well off never give any money to help others. It's always more, more and more. It doesn't matter that this guy was well off, he couild have still just added to his wealth and that would have been that. When someone do a good deed from the heart, it's bad to try and down play or dismiss what a person does.

Comment #24

One-Day — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 19:59:15 GMT

There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.

Comment #23

DDOH937 — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 14:37:41 GMT

I am quite inclined to agree with such perspective. People are acting like he was broke and purely out of altruism is giving his winnings away. No one knows his net worth, and by the sounds of it, it just might well be in the multi multi millions. Still a good move on his part, can't knock him for that. But come on people, the rich giving away new money because they have old money locked away is nothing new. Kudos to him for not being too greedy. But i'll be much more impressed if he needed the... [ More ]

Comment #22

JezzVim — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 04:55:21 GMT

He should be hospitalized, put under heavy sedation, placed in a padded cell, and given electro shock treatments three times a week. Something is wrong with this man.

He has kids, grandchildren, family. I can see giving 1/2 away and the rest to family members, but not the whole lot of money.

That is my opinion, I could be wrong

Comment #21

Erzulieredeyes — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 02:22:03 GMT

He only donated the millons because he was the C.E.O. of a billion dollar company and well off to begin with in the first place. I would love to see if he would give it all to chairty if he was poor or middle class living pay check to pay check.

I wouldn't donate to most chairities if I had that kind of money, I'd rather set up a chairty org myself and distribute the money so I know where the money is really going.

Comment #20

RJOh — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 01:38:11 GMT

I too plan to donate to my favorite charity if I ever win a lottery jackpot. I have always donated to it since I started working back in high school.

Comment #19

delS — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 00:31:21 GMT

There are really nice people in the world..... Its a fact/reality that not everyone is greedy, selfish and materialistic. For those who have nothing but negative comments about chaitible services, have never been in need of charitible services. Pray that the day never comes where they and their families need the good will of great charities.

Comment #18

Jon D — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 00:22:31 GMT

I think it was required, he had to do it.

That's why I said he should have gone all out, like full ZZ Top or Duck Dynasty disguise to really piss off the marketing guys

Comment #17

RedStang — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 00:19:24 GMT

Great story but they could of skipped the picture. Don't see what they gained by showing it.

Comment #16

Jon D — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 23:24:34 GMT

I think it was a particularly wise move to hide it from everyone, even his kids. Well, especially from his kids. Otherwise they may have made a move for the money.

Kind of reminds me of Warren buffett, who chose NOT to give loads of cash to his kids, and instead pledge to give it all away to charity before he dies in the The Giving Pledge.

Good move. Prepare them, educate them, help them if needed, but don't just give them or leave them tons of cash, it can spoil them. The son of a rich ma... [ More ]

Comment #15

Artist77 — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 22:32:35 GMT

Amen.

Comment #14

Artist77 — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 22:31:59 GMT

Good info. I need to add this to my future charity plans if I win big. I planned to check out the the charities but forgot about the BOD salaries.

Also, for those of you who plan to donate to an animal charity, a lot of the big national ones like PETA and the Humane Society are ripoffs and often care little about the animals. Donate to your local no kill rescue group or no-kill shelter.

Comment #13

helpmewin — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 22:19:05 GMT

Comment #12

Goteki54 — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 20:47:18 GMT

Wow, Mr Crist is not only a winner in the lottery, he's a winner in life. I have total respect for him and wish him all the best, a class act human being hands down.

Comment #11

Kee12 — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 20:26:27 GMT

Comment #10

maringoman — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:55:26 GMT

I think its a fantastic move. We need more people with this kind of generosity; generosity from the heart

Comment #9

mypiemaster — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:34:20 GMT

I hope the death of his wife has not adversely affected him.

Comment #8

blessings0424 — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:17:39 GMT

Very touching story of a selfless man. May God continue to bless him and his family. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and many blessings to come.

Comment #7

mrcraft — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 17:27:36 GMT

Congrats! Very cool story.

Comment #6

DDOH937 — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 16:49:03 GMT

GREAT GUY!!! BUT, there is no way i would do this. This is going to upset a lot of people but Cancer research donations/contributions have turned out to be the BIGGEST charity scam in history. The medical center will do and obviously has done good work for for patients, including his ear late wife (may she rest in peace) and so i get it. And i'm sure some will benefit from his kindness. WHEN i win one day, and i decide to give to charity. I already have one stipulation, none of my money will go... [ More ]

Comment #5

lottolaughs — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 16:41:29 GMT

It really made me ill watching that Lottery show with those winners and their mansions and extravagances. This man here is a REAL winner in my book.

Comment #4

dallascowboyfan — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 16:38:27 GMT

Great story indeed may God continue to bless you Mr. Crist

Comment #3

Coin Toss — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 15:44:11 GMT

Wow, whay a guy.

I just hope he doesn't still get hounded despite having given it all away.

Slap some on me .

I gave it all away

No you didn't share the wealth.

I'm also wondering about that item in the Reader's Digest 13 Things Lottery Winners Won't Tell You that it's better to give annually than once. Maybe since Candaians aren't taxed on winnings, eh, it's a little different.

Comment #2

Jon D — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 15:22:12 GMT

Classic! You Da Man Tom, that's the way to do it:

That's all you're getting. You're not getting a smile, nothing.

Should've also worn a mustache, full beard, vulcan ears and a unibrow. Even better

Comment #1

helpmewin — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 15:08:23 GMT

Very Nice!! God Bless you Mr,Tom Crist

Canadian lottery winner donates $40 million jackpot to charity

Lottery Post — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 14:45:55 GMT

Includes audio report

Unlike most big lottery winners who spend days, or even months, trying to figure out how they'll spend their newfound riches, Tom Crist needed only a moment to decide where his $40 million in winnings would go: all to charity. Top on the list would be the medical center that cared for his late wife when she developed cancer.

Still, it took Crist more than six months to tell anybody including family members he'd won. The retired Calgary executive had been lunching be... [ More ]