What would you do if you won the lottery?
Mark and Cindy Hill, by all accounts an "utterly delightful" couple that lives in Dearborn, have decided to do something not quite as sexy as the $293.7 million they won last year.
Help fund a sewage treatment plant.
And the couple's kind hearts -- and their desire to help the septic needs of their hometown -- have gotten them some nice national attention this week.
Why a sewage treatment plant?
CNN published a story yesterday titled, "Couple wins lottery, buys sewage treatment plant?" Though if you read on, the answer to that question headline is, not really. They're not actually buying a sewage treatment plant -- because who wants to own that? -- but they are donating $50,000 towards one.
Which, from news reports on the couple's efforts to give back, sounds like it will be a major help to their city.
The Hills are paying for a new fire station and ball field in Camden Point, which is Mark Hill's hometown and are giving the town more than $50,000 to buy land for a new sewage treatment plant. Eventually that will allow residents to give up their individual septic tanks, the mayor told Reuters.
When they won in November, they made Powerball history by winning half of the game's largest jackpot ever as well as Missouri's largest prize.
But, reports say, they didn't become greedy. Nope -- their still regular ole' Missourians. As CNN writes:
They could have decided to travel the world, fill their garage with sports cars, or even buy their own island -- fantasies most people entertain when dreaming of a big win.But the couple chose to stay put in Dearborn. Mark still meets friends daily for coffee at a local convenience store. And although he considered buying a Camaro after his win, Mark opted for a pickup.
They may just be the "nicest lottery winners ever."
Here are two videos on the couple's win and subsequent good deeds.
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