). What you were talking about... the daycare center needing a new roof, probably could use a few other things as well... it's what I was talking about. Sure it's nice to give to the big organizations (Cancer, Heart, Make-A-Wish, et al) but like I said earlier... locally who could use a helping hand? Real question is what are their real needs? You're driving through a neighborhood and see a house in sad disrepair and know there's a family living in there anyway and think to yourself... yeah $5,000 should help them get that house back in order... not perfect but decent looking... but what does that family REALLY need? Payment on late medical bills? Food? Mortgage late? Kids need new shoes/clothes? ... THAT I think is what people would appreciate. Extreme home make-over is a great show no doubt. They not only provide a new house but also new interiors for the house and all the bells and whistles to go with it. Sad thing is lately they've been finding the folks that have gotten the amazing new house have either sold it or NEED to sell it because Dad/Mom still needs a new job or their bills still haven't been paid. What they need to do is make a show called Extreme LIFE make over. Bills paid, mortgage paid off or at least caught up, job prospects, fridge and pantries full of food ... things that really matter I reckon. Still having helped out in anyway possible (even if it's a couple hundred bucks) says a lot about you as a person.
That's why it's better to disappear off the face of the earth (and net) for a couple of months until the furor has died down and the door has been replaced (from all the "pounding" to get in).
Tots TV? Oh goodness did you get that over there? I think me and the boy tolerated that show while waiting for like Bob the Builder or Thomas the Tank Engine ha. I should think you all speak French or Spanish very well now I think many smaller organisations are no less worthy of assistance and do work at a much more grass roots level so I am with you there absolutely.
Ah now well I should like to know what you would do with $100M that was earmarked for those other than yourself?
Wow this is an insightful plan. As not only will these that you have chosen to patronise learn to "fish" and but they in turn can train their own proteges thereby elongating the life of your donation. I like that plan a lot. Business start-ups will in turn reinvigorate the local area in which they are based. Excellent!
I like your prudence with your own share Rich. I think that is wise indeed. And yes 100 million dollars or Euro (we still use pounds sterling here thankfully!) would be fun to dish out for sure! Spending this in areas that you are already involved will I think ensure your donation is best employed and not squandered. Issues that have personally affected you are sure to be high on the list. As trite a hypothetical as my question is, I am pleased you have thought about it. I think too often we see ourselves as being near the bottom of the wealth ladder rather than (on a global scale) almost at the top. Thank you!
This is fantastic XS, it is encouraging that you had cause to think on this already. Facilitation of child protection is admirable. AS is donating to schools and but I wonder (paradoxically) are schools the best potential educators of our children? I think that is one for another day though
I would hope though that your $101M charitable donations might be written off as tax deductible no? As for your own $1M well you can hire some fancy tax lawyer to avoid any fiscal penalties I think you are absolutely right my friend, local is the key word here maybe. Your donation can have more of an impact on your area and those that inhabit it and perhaps you can safeguard its use a little more. I think real needs and like-to-haves are difficult to differentiate if you do not know individuals involved and you must therefore defer to local organisations that *do* know individuals or go yourself into your community places and meet people there
I think there is a sliding scale and what is genuine survival need for one individual or family might be table scraps to another. Still, the decision will be yours and yours alone Spend wisely 
I think these ideas are wonderful ideas my friend! Dealing with those you know on a (reasonably) personal basis is a sound safeguard against false "friends" and faux needy who, as you say, would come tripping over theirselves to fawn. Literature and reading, regardless of the genre, is imperative I agree and music brings its own joy and enlightenment, I like your thinking very much granfire
I could never get beyond those squeaky voices and squishy faces, though remembering that I grew up with the Muppets that does seem a bit contradictory ha Take care, Jenna xWould you ever consider setting up any kind of martial arts project with this money? Is it possible that martial arts can have a positive effect on the community?
I like your prudence with your own share Rich. I think that is wise indeed. And yes 100 million dollars or Euro (we still use pounds sterling here thankfully!) would be fun to dish out for sure! Spending this in areas that you are already involved will I think ensure your donation is best employed and not squandered. Issues that have personally affected you are sure to be high on the list. As trite a hypothetical as my question is, I am pleased you have thought about it. I think too often we see ourselves as being near the bottom of the wealth ladder rather than (on a global scale) almost at the top. Thank you!
Rich, your magnanimous viewpoint and your sense of humanity over greed is encouraging as always. You are right, his money would go far in helping friends and entire communities. You could change a great deal with an amount like this - I am just checking and this lottery has not yet been won. The jackpot for Tuesday is now £154M (US$245.5M). And this is why I am asking the question because there are in my mind too few people as yourself and others who have commented who would keep only a little of that money and utilise their time and the rest of that money to seeking worthy benefactors. I think it is an obscene amount to be entrusted to one individual who is as likely to accumulate a hangar full of private jets and exotic motor cars as they are to invest in something immediate that could save members of their own community for years and possibly generations to come.Yes I have thought about it do what I can to help causes I like and care about as well as people I know. Thank you for your kind words.
As to being on top, I know that more than others. What I make for me living humbling, versus some friends who make less and support more people and even struggling from time to time. A loan of cash to get s major item fixed and giving them time to repay without interest and or borrowing a vehicle or selling them a vehicle for real low cost to them or no cost so they can get through a rough period and get back to doing mroe for themselves. I expect nothing in return. Once again thank you for your kind words.
It could. It would be a large training hall where people I know out of work could come and make some money for the meet and greet and answering the phone and covering a class or two. But it would also fall under helping friends.
I tried to play within them. Yes I know I am greedy, but the plans would set me up for fail safes and bad markets and bad times.
How the other half live indeed! There is something amiss when the number of millionaire properties sold has increased this year (here in London). Wow, what depression. The Euromillions lottery here that prompted me to post has once again rolled over to £166M (US$266M). Scary.
Heh... where can I buy a ticket? :uhyeah:
Do not worry, I am always keen to share
Yes, if you were able to keep $1M surely, too many shoes is not a thing we can ever have!
and but what if you were charged with distributing the other $100M? Can I ask what would you do then?
I wonder do you think he would have been better served by not winning that prize at all?
