BELOIT, Ks. — Imagine the surprise to open your mail and find a lottery ticket worth thousands of dollars. It happened in one Kansas county this month and now the hospital in Beloit is all the richer for it.
Hospitals in small communities such as the one in Mitchell County are a big deal. That's why, when Susan Concannon opened up an anonymous letter a few weeks ago, she was completely overjoyed.
"$10,000!!!" Concannon exclaimed as she showed us the celebratory check from the Kansas Lottery.
It was late July. Concannon, the executive director of the Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation, was opening her daily mail.
"We have a PO Box that I visit every day and hope that someone sends me some money," she said. "It was a very nondescript envelope that was in the PO Box on July 28th, no return address."
Imagine her surprise when she opened up the letter to find a lottery ticket and an anonymous note. The donor clearly knew the value of the Powerball ticket, but Concannon and hospital CEO David Dick did not. Come to find out, one line on the ticket matched four numbers and the Powerball for the July 17 drawing, meaning it was worth $10,000.
"The person obviously is a reflection of our community and the generosity that this community has," Dick said Saturday. "That's the amazing part of the story. All that trust in sending an unsigned ticket to a foundation."
The Mitchell County Hospital is currently undergoing an $11 million renovation funded solely by private donations. The foundation is now trying to raise money to build an office and a place for patients families to stay in the nearby Purdue House.
"It just seems so much more special that it was prize money," Concannon said. "I'd like to let them know how much it is appreciated and that we think they're a pretty special person."
The ticket was purchased at the Pump Start gas station just two blocks away from the hospital on July 16, but that is all that lottery officials know.
Concannon says the Mitchell County Regional Health Foundation still hopes to raise a total of $150,000 to renovate the historic Purdue House.
Thanks to Justin for the tip.
I am thrilled for the hospital and very thrilled to see that greed does not run this hospital. All the executive director had to do was write her name of the ticket and pocket a cool $10K. But because she is a moral and upstanding person she did the right thing. Too bad there are not more people like her than the greedy folks that run a lot of the large corporations in this world.
Wish I had the resources to donate in order to help them renovate.
I pray that the anonymous donor has many more big hits in his/her lottery career.
God Bless the anonymous donor in all he/she does.
All I can say to the story and what you wrote is AMEN
Amen!!!!! God bless the anonymous donor, the executive director and may many people be blessed by that money!!!!!!!
This is a wonderful story, thanks for sharing!
I've always wanted to know -- does this hospital will have to pay state and/or federal taxes on this lottery monies income?
there are still good and honest people in the world. I second that AMEN.
Amen!!! PERDUE
No, all the donor had to do was write "Mitchell County Hospital" on the ticket and attach a note stating where the ticket was bought and when. Typically, when someone comes in to the lottery office, lottery officials test the winner to see if he/she knows where and when the ticket was purchased. Otherwise, the lottery officials may become suspicious and investigate further. This has already happened several times in California where the "winner" arrived at the office and could not give officials this information. Officials investigated further and discovered the ticket was stolen.
As for donating to this Kansas Hospital, why would you, as a Texan, want to? You live in Texas. I would think you would want to donate to your nearby local hospital. Personally, if I won a huge amount of money, such as Mega Millions, I would give money. I just don't know who or what organization to give to. Finding the correct person or organization would be a difficult task, much harder than you think. If it was a person, it would be someone under 30, who wants to get an education, and has had a difficult life. I think the organization I would give to would be my local free kitchen for the poor. We have several in my county, I think. Strangely enough, I don't think we have any in my local city, only the next city over, about 8 miles away. I don't think we even have a local free food dispersal pantry which gives food to the poor.
EDIT: If I were to win Mega Millions, I would give on a steady basis, anonymously, perhaps a monthly money order of $1,000 or $12,000 yearly. This is all a moot point of course. I will never win the Mega Millions.
What a great post! This is spreading the wealth as it should be in a free society. I would be generous if I won a jackpot, but I would be able to do even more if it were tax free!
I am waiting to see how generous I can be after Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing ......... I spent a little extra for my birthday ........ odds against winning, but a small pleasure in an otherwise frugal life!
Happy Birthday !! and good luck on Tuesday!
Congrats to this lucky generous person. I wouldn't give up all of a win of this amount but if I hit a really big jackpot I'd dedicate a lot of time researching who/where to donate. I have a short list already (church, food bank, hospice, USO, etc) but would want to spread the wealth a bit further.
Thank you ...... and best of luck to you!
"As for donating to this Kansas Hospital, why would you, as a Texan, want to? You live in Texas. I would think you would want to donate to your nearby local hospital."
Why not give to someone that does not live in my area? If my pockets were deep enough I'd give to the Shriner's Hospital every week. There are a lot of people out there that need help. There are a lot of non-profit organizations that need help also. If my giving will help keep the doors open just one more day then so be it. It doesn't matter if it is in po-dunk, nowhere.
I know where I live and I know what I have here in my area. I also know what was on the ballot for them this past election and I know how I voted. I have no problem giving away money. What a person does with it once they get it is between them and GOD as far as I'm concerned. Those who convince themselves that they are running game on the giver are only running game on themselves. Believe it or not the receiver has to give an account for their actions as does the giver. When and where the accountable action comes due does not concern me.
But, that's just me and the way I am.
For the true giver, finding someone worthy go receive is not the problem. The real problem is convincing the receipient there really are no strings attached to the gift.