Frances Connolly, a 55-year-old woman from Hartlepool in Co Durham, recently had a tough conversation with her husband. It turns out that she had exceeded her agreed charity donations budget by donating approximately £11 million to good causes in just one year. This amount was meant to be spread out over a span of 10 years.
Frances, a former teacher, is on a mission to change people’s lives. Since winning the EuroMillions jackpot of £115 million in 2019, she has given away more than half of it. In fact, she refers to herself as “addicted” to helping others.
Her husband, Patrick, had initially given her a “budget” for charity donations because he recognized her passion for helping others. However, after organizing a charity gala that raised £100,000, Frances couldn’t resist the urge to give even more. She explains that giving to good causes gives her an amazing feeling and she gets a “buzz” from it.
Frances, a former social worker and teacher, has stunned everyone by splashing the cash that was meant for charities over the next 10 years in just six months. She admits to being heartbroken by the poverty she sees in the world and finds more pleasure in giving than in material possessions, like their £2 million home and Aston Martin.
Her recent donations include £5,000 to buy clothes and toiletries for Ukrainian refugees and funding the school transport fees for a young asylum seeker. When asked why she does it, Frances simply said, “If you can do good things for deserving people, why wouldn’t you just do it?” She believes that having money and not using it to make a positive impact on the world doesn’t make sense to her.
Frances was inspired to help others after watching a TV show where someone spent £25,000 on a bottle of champagne. It made her realize that the same amount of money could have put a young person on the property ladder. Since winning the jackpot, she and Patrick have also bought a £50,000 caravan for young carers and set up ‘Local Heroes’ awards. They have also helped connect elderly people with their loved ones by donating electronic tablets, and provided pyjamas and laptops for hospitals during lockdown.
Frances is proud of her daughters, who have followed in their parents’ footsteps and have also dedicated themselves to helping others. She jokes that while everyone thinks she is the one doing all the charity work, it is actually Patrick’s money, and without his support, they wouldn’t be able to do what they do.
To continue their charitable efforts, the couple recently organized a gala dinner where they auctioned off items, such as Cristiano Ronaldo’s signed shirt and a diamond necklace worth £4,500. All the funds raised from the auction will be donated to local causes.
Frances strongly believes that money can liberate you to become the person you want to be. She encourages anyone in a similar situation to think about the impact they can make and how money can free them to be that person.
This incredible act of generosity by Frances Connolly is truly inspiring. She has selflessly given away half of her lottery jackpot to make a positive change in the lives of others. Her dedication to helping those in need serves as a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to make a difference, no matter how big or small our contributions may be.
