Lottery Winner Who Gave Away Half Her Fortune Is 'Addicted' To Helping Others

April 28, 2022

A woman in Hartlepool, England, says she is "addicted" to helping others after winning the lottery.

lottery winner good news
Frances Connolly / Credit: PA Media

55-year-old Frances Connolly won a £115 million prize from the The National Lottery in 2019.

She has already given away half of her winnings. She estimates she has given away £60m but does not keep a tally, joking she would be worried in case her husband saw it.

Connolly said helping others "gives you a buzz and it's addictive".

"I'm addicted to it now," she said.

The former social worker and teacher has set up two charitable foundations: one named after her late mother Kathleen Graham and the PFC Trust which supports local young carers, the elderly and refugees in her home town.

She also backs local community groups which help people get jobs, support refugees and young carers, and provide electronic tablets for old people so they can connect with their families.

Connolly baulks at the idea of spending money on luxuries like yachts, saying reports of someone spending £25,000 on a bottle of champagne made her think the money could have helped a young person buy a house.

When PA News asked her why she was happy to give so much away, she said: "Why wouldn't you? I've done that all my life."

"I'd have been a millionaire anyway if I took back all the money I've given away over the years."


Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz

feel good videoFootball Player Asks Friend With Down Syndrome To Homecoming

feel good storiesRick Astley Reveals What He’s Most Proud Of – And It’s Not The Music

feel good storiesThe Quantum Tunnelers: How Three Scientists Made The Subatomic World Practical

feel good storiesWoman Is Late to Her Own Funeral After Hearse Keys Get Locked Inside

feel good storiesPeople Are Sharing Their Oddly Romantic Date Stories, And They’ll Make You Smile So Big

feel good storiesThis Pit Bull Was Days Away From Being Euthanized. Now, He's A Police Hero

feel good videoDidn't Get The Life You Wanted? Woman’s Street Interview Is Inspiring The Internet

feel good videoOtter Attacks Surfer, Then Steals Her Surfboard

feel good videoDad Dresses As Beast To Walk His Daughter to School And It’s Melting Hearts Everywhere

feel good videoWoman Leaving Gym Finds A Dog Staring At Her

feel good videoThis Turkey Was Heartbroken — Until Her Owner Gave Her The Sweetest Surprise

Chris Filippou 12:17 PM (3 minutes ago) to me