JAKARTA - Instead of using the sudden money he got for his own needs, this lottery winner chose to use all the money he got for charity.
Not a small amount, because he won the EuroMillions Jackpot worth 200 million euros or around Rp. 3,130,503,030,000 to set up an environmental foundation, which will protect forests and increase biodiversity.
Interestingly, the man who won the lottery chose to remain anonymous and did not want any recognition regarding the donation he made.
"My dream has never been to get a boat, palace or other sports car, it is useful and gives meaning to this money, with maximum positive impact," said the man who is familiarly called Guy in his open letter, as reported by Euronews April 8.
Guy named the foundation after Ayama, a city in Ivory Coast, Africa. He is known to have lived there, although nothing else is known about his ties to the west African nation.
Guy, who has been identified by French media as a retiree living in the south of France, won the 200 million euro lottery in December 2020.
He said he only bought lottery tickets during "important jackpots", with the sole purpose of devoting the lion's share of any potential winnings, to the establishment of a foundation that would support environmental protection.
After his win, he immediately expressed his desire to use the money for the greater good, as he wrote, "Anyama's endowment is the result of a strong desire to act for nature and people that I have had over the years."
"Above all, it's an expression of a belief that I want to share with as many people as possible: giving makes people happy, and it's a tremendous lever for turning anger into real, useful action."
Ivory Coast has inspired the foundation's goals, although Anyama's efforts will focus on France (mainland and overseas territories).
"During my life I have witnessed in Ivory Coast endless trucks loaded with felled trees in the forests of Burkina Faso, formerly Upper Volta. This truck ballet makes me very angry," the man wrote in a statement published on the website. foundation.
While the team working for the foundation is well documented on the website, the name of the founder remains a mystery. The man told French newspaper Le Parisien his plan was to continue to live 'peacefully' and as wisely as possible.
La Française des Jeux, the company that runs the lottery in France, has confirmed the donation. Speaking to AFP, FDJ big-winner relations head Isabelle Césari said the donation was a 'great first'.
"The profits are already great, but to do a job of generosity of this proportion is quite extraordinary," he said.
"So that's what I did today by creating Anyama, which acts for the common good, with one motto: protect the living."
To note, the Paris-listed foundation will focus on protecting biodiversity, preserving and regenerating forests, as well as supporting family caregivers.
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