Canadian man to give away $40 million lottery win to charity

The World

What would you do if you won $40 million?

A Canadian man who won a $40-million lottery jackpot last May said this week that he plans to give away the entire amount to charity.

(Saint) Tom Crist of Calgary said that he won the jackpot last spring but did not claim the ticket until Monday.

He heard that he had won while on a golf course in Palm Springs, Calif. He decided not to tell anyone and keep it out of his mind for a few months.

Crist said he didn't think twice about what he'd do with the money: give it all away.

The former president and chief executive of the electronics company EECOL even kept the news from his four children who will now help him dole out the money.

“I’m fortunate enough that I’ve done well for myself … financially. I don’t need the money," he said.

Crist said he would put the money in a family foundation and distribute it to charities. Crist's wife died from cancer in February 2012 and he told a Canadian news agency that cancer charities would be prominent in honor of his wife.

“Cancer is a big one because my wife passed away from cancer, two years ago in February,” Crist said.

It was the largest local lottery award ever given out in Calgary.

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