However, one small-town couple saw their dreams come true, winning a large lottery prize. Instead of doing the normal thing, they chose a different approach on spending that money. Their unconventional ideas on using the cash left the entire town speechless. What could they have possibly done to create such a stir? Continue reading to find out!
Life Changing Moment
Cindy and Mark Hill lived a modest life in Missouri before their life-changing moment. They were parents of three grown children and a 6-year-old adopted daughter. Though Mark worked, Cindy lost her job, leading to money issues, but one lotto ticket and smart planning changed that!
Life-changing Moment
Life Gets Challenging
The Hills had a nice life but a small income, so things were rough. Cindy tried finding jobs, but they also had a young daughter. Therefore, she chose to be a stay-at-home mother while her husband worked.
Life Gets Challenging
Finding Alternatives
Money became tighter as the months went by. Therefore, Cindy had to try and earn money. Finally, she decided to work part-time to be with her daughter and help with household expenses. Finally, she got a waitressing job and found a few other options, too.
Finding Alternatives
Being Home
Overall, Cindy knew she had to find something that kept her close to home and with her children. However, she wasn’t sure the plan could work. Still, she had to fight and persist because she wanted better things for her family!
Being Home
Her Idea
Cindy saw advertisements for the $587.5 million Powerball Jackpot, deciding to try it. She bought five tickets at her local gas station, investing about $10 and letting the computer do the work. Her hopes weren’t high, and she left those tickets in her vehicle.
Her Idea
Unusual Situation
When she got home, Cindy told her daughter about the lottery, explaining how it was ridiculous to dream of winning. The next day, Cindy took her daughter to school and learned that someone in her state got the winning ticket.
Unusual Situation
The Impossible Possibility
After she saw the numbers for herself, she went through the lottery tickets and found the winner. She couldn’t believe her eyes! She had to call Mark and his mom to confirm the results to be 100 percent sure it had happened!
The Impossible Possibility
Amazement
Cindy recalled in an interview later that she had called her husband and told him she thought she was going to have a heart attack because they had just won the lottery. What happened next was what shocked everyone to their cores!
Amazement
$293 Million
The Hills won half of the projected jackpot, so they got about $293 million. They were now set for life and had no financial concerns. Plus, Mark could take a vacation. However, things didn’t go as planned!
$293 Million
The Next Step
Mark shared their happiness on social media, revealing that his family had won. Since the information was public, he ended up with many friend requests. He hoped to end the rumors, but the reactions they got made the couple think of something else to do with the prize.
The Next Step
No Extravagance
The couple wanted to be calm after winning big. These people weren’t materialistic and considered adopting a child and helping others with their newfound cash. In fact, they didn’t like the idea of huge financial decisions right then.
No Extravagance
No Ponies
Their daughter begged for a pony, but the couple decided to focus on smaller wishes at the time. Cindy claimed to want things normal again and get a good nap after such excitement coming into her life!
No Ponies
Store Worker Comments
When the Hills hit the jackpot in Missouri’s largest historical lottery win, news spread. The gas station cashiers were so happy that someone in the community got the money. Plus, they got $50,000 for selling the winning ticket!
Store Worker Comments
Trex Mart Owner Speaks
Cindy had bought the winning ticket on drawing night at the Trex Mart. The store owner said it was a huge event for the community and excellent publicity for him. Most people havn’t heard of Dearborn before, but they were now on the map!
Trex Mart Owner Speaks
The Beach
One of the couple’s first decisions as millionaires was taking their daughter to the beach. She had longed for the chance and had never been there before. Mark also treated himself to a red Camaro, replacing his tired pickup truck.
The Beach
Other Plans
Finally, they were ready to plan for the future, spreading their wealth. Initially, they wished to keep some money for nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, setting up college funds. The next decision surprised the entire community!
Other Plans
Worries
While they were solving their financial problems, the world learned that they had won. Cindy was grateful but worried because many people aren’t kind. Still, they chose to set up a fund to contribute to local charities supporting adoption and students.
Worries
Trip Around the World
Since the family won the lottery, they could travel the world without worrying about their finances or working too hard. They went to Ireland because they had Irish ancestry and also to China to see where their daughter came from. It was amazing to explore new things.
Trip Around the World
Coming Home
They ended up traveling for three straight months. Finally, the Hills were ready to go back home to Missouri. In fact, they missed Dearborn and wanted to build their lives there and continue living in the town.
Coming Home
Problems
Large sums of money often come with greater responsibility. The family worried about security. Many neighbors were highly curious about how the Hills would spend that cash. Some tried to sneak into the backyard to see what they were up to.
Problems
Their Plan
The family had a clear vision of what to do with their money and started executing it. They chose to help the less fortunate in Missouri by donating to civic projects in Camden Point. The locals noticed that generosity and celebrated.
Their Plan
Neighbors Talk
Walt Stubbs was the chief of the fire department and described his friends as a conservative and traditional family. They ended up donating money to get a new fire station with space for an ambulance, making it much easier for the crew.
Neighbors Talk
Fixed Station
Stubbs claimed that it would have taken 25 years to create a fire station of that type if they had done it themselves. Therefore, the donation meant a lot to the Camden Point firefighters, but it held a special place in Mark’s heart, too.
Fixed Station
Close to the Heart
Mark’s father had been saved twice by firefighters of Camden Point in the past. Therefore, he wished to show appreciation. He couldn’t thank them for their service, but he could at least make their jobs a lot easier.
Close to the Heart
Be Remembered
Mark was proud of what he did for Camden Point. While there were only 500 people there, they had an ambulance to transport sick people. Sometimes, larger cities don’t have that, so it’s something great for this small town.
Be Remembered
Doesn’t End There
After building the fire station, the Hills donated a baseball field away from traffic, spending $50,000. The money bought land for a new sewer plant, as well. The mayor, Kevin Boydston, was surprised that someone would help his community like that!
Doesn’t End There
Boydston Interview
Boydston was interviewed by HuffPost, and he said that the entire town was amazed by what that family had done for them. In fact, they kept all of their promises. He ended by saying that those lotto winnings couldn’t have gone to a better couple!
Boydston Interview
More Donations
While that was plenty for the community, the Hills didn’t stop there. They chose to give away more money, but this time, it focused on education. The couple decided to treat their old high school to a makeover!
More Donations
High School Donation
The Hills graduated from North Platte High in Dearborn. These high school sweethearts remembered those days and wanted to do something better for the next batch of students. In fact, they donated to the scholarship fund so that everyone could learn.
High School Donation
Proud Shirley
Shirley, Mark’s mom, was also interviewed by HuffPost and said she was proud of what her son and daughter-in-law were doing. The years weren’t kind, but they persevered and helped their community without ruining their lives!
Proud Shirley
Honoring the Family
The Hills had done so many great things for the community, so the people chose to honor them in some way to show gratitude. In July 2016, the fire department in Camden Point dedicated the new building to the pair!
Honoring the Family
A Party
That same day, they opened up the space in the facility so that locals could come and celebrate, too. The family was grateful and thankful, but they didn’t want any fuss. They had true and honest reasons for donating all that money.
A Party
More than Thankful
Steve Flock, the fire protection board president in the city, said that there weren’t any words to describe the couple’s actions. The Hills chose to spread around the wealth so that everyone could be winners while they enjoyed a stable lifestyle.
More Than Thankful
Challenges for Some
The Hills stayed grounded, but many lottery winners can’t cope with their life-changing events. Cindy and Mark were beyond the exception. Don McNay studied those who won big during the last 30 years, and most crumble from pressure because they don’t get good advice.
Challenges for Some
No Guarantees
There have been many past occasions where lottery winners didn’t attain long-term wealth. They squandered what they earned or lost it all with gambling and other issues. It’s quite sad when you think about it, but it happens more often than you imagine.
No Guarantees
Famous Person
The most famous case was Jack Wittaker, a Virginia man. He won $315 million in 2002 and was already a millionaire. Still, he went bankrupt four years later. However, there are countless examples of people who won and couldn’t handle it.
Famous Person
Expert Weighs In
Jason Kurland is a lottery attorney and recently gave an interview with tips for the future lotto winners. That means they might cope better with a large event like this. Remember: you don’t win the lottery every day!
Expert Weighs In
The First Steps
Before you do anything else, you need to get a team of experts to help you with the process. These include financial professionals, lawyers, and accountants. The pros can help you make better decisions and determine your priorities.
The First Steps
No Social Media
Kurland believes it’s best for lottery winners to delete their social media accounts or at least deactivate them for a while. Never announce your winnings immediately because that puts more attention on you before you’re prepared.
No Social Media
Locals Get a Surprise
Mark and Cindy lived in Dearborn, Missouri, for their whole lives and so they chose to give back and donate to the community after winning the lottery. They wanted everyone to have a better life, and they were finally fortunate enough to be in a position to help out. If only everyone was kind and generous as them!
Locals Get a Surprise