Allen and Violet Large of Truro NS are receiving worldwide attention for what they perceive as doing the right thing: donating most of their $11.2-million lottery jackpot to local charities. Their winning Lotto 6-49 numbers were picked last July and last week they officially accepted their win from Atlantic Lottery Corporation’s headquarters in Moncton. After picking up the check and announcing their newfound interest in philanthropy, their phone started ringing off the hook.

In a video interview with the Canadian Press, Allan Large explains that he’s still baffled why no one understands why they would want to give so much money away.

“We worked for 30 years up on Ontario and we put a little bit away every year for our retirement,” Allen said, “so we didn’t need this big of an amount.” Violet puts an official stamp on the subject “We didn’t do it for recognition or ourselves. We did it because we wanted to.” She adds. “There’s somebody worse off than I am.”

The couple says that they’ve been living just fine in their century and a half old house and an 87 Dodge in their garage. The couple’s plan to give money to over 70 churches, hospitals and fire departments has attracted the attention of USA Today,  the Huffington Post and the UK’s Daily Mirror. 

To read more about the ‘Nicest Canadian Couple in the World’ read the full story at thechronicleherald.ca

^{Photo Credit: MICHAEL GORMAN / Chronicle Herald, Truro Bureau}