Happy Tuesday, everyone!
So the Powerball is happening tomorrow. A cool $500 million. Easily about $300 million or so after taxes, give or take. I know I'm buying tickets this evening and crossing my fingers.
Have you ever thought about what you would do if you won the lottery?
For me, I'd pay off student loans and credit cards and give my parents a giant chunk as a "Thanks" for dealing with me all of these 27 blissful years.
Then what?
Travel?
Buy mansions and cars and gorgeous clothing?
Invest to make even MORE?!?!?!
...
What about giving it away?
No, not all of it. I'm no saint. Mama could use a new pair of shoes.
I'm just sayin'...
Makes you think, doesn't it?
So many people truly need some of this money...$300 million doesn't seem like it could help everyone in the world, but it could sure make a world of difference for some.
Today I want to share a story I happened to see on 60 Minutes. I normally don't watch this news show, but was too lazy to immediately turn the channel post-football on Sunday. Plus, I think I was also making food, which obviously takes priority over television.
Anyway, I am so thankful I stayed tuned into the show. I watched a heartwarming segment about kids providing global charity.
{Read the whole story about Free The Children.}
A 12-year old kid named Craig started his own non-profit in his living room with 11 other kiddos. He was essentially inspired to start Free The Children when he heard a story about a kid his age named Iqbal in Pakistan. Iqbal was a slave in a carpet factory, escaped, and started to speak out. Iqbal was killed for his efforts.
When 60 Minutes interviewed Craig in the 90s about his mission to free children from slavery, this is what he had to say (remember, he was about 12 years old when he said this):
[Ed Bradley: Why you?
Craig Kielburger: Why not? If everyone in the world could say, "Why me?" -- then nothing ever would be accomplished. Why me? Because I've met those children. Because I've seen them. Because I read the story of Iqbal Masih. Why not me?]
If only there were more Craig Kielburgers in the world, amIright?
Well, there kind of are.
From the article:
"Today, Free The Children is in 45 countries. A $30 million a year charity building schools, providing clean water, and connecting local craftsmen to world markets where their traditions bring in good money. There are two million volunteers nearly all of them under the age of 18...So Free the Children today is the world's largest network of children helping children."
The article continues by sharing stories of kids helping on a global scale for Free the Children.
Think of what Craig could have done with the $300 Powerball dough?
$30 million a year is already doing so much!
What do you think? How would you spend your lottery money?
3 comments:
Definitely something to think about. Everyone who spends all that money always ends up worse off. Have you seen those specials? They have less than before they won the lottery. Karma for being selfish?
But my soft spot is always for animals over children, I just can't help it. Retirement farm for shelter animals, that's where my money would go. Oh yeah after those pesky student loans. Ugh.
I'm def buying a ticket tonight, because even with low odds of winning, that is a lot of money. For me, student loan payoff, credit cards paid off, car paid off. Then share with my parents and brother and sisters. I'm not extravagant, but I would buy a ski boat and also travel, A LOT.
Well like you, Mama needs some new shoes... so I would definitely shop my heart out, but I would have to give loads to charity too, otherwise I would feel like an old miser :)
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