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Politics | 02/10/2009 10:00 am

Woman Who Wins $3 Million Splits Prize With Sister

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© Shutterstock

Would you split a $3 million prize with your sister? Tough call!

Lia Gentile of Buffalo, NY, would — and did. Gentile won the $3 million top prize in New York Lottery’s "Money, Money, Money" game and is generously giving a $1.5 million share to her little sister, Franca Cavitt. Cavitt, who’s one year younger than Gentile, lives near Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband — who works seven days a week between two full-time jobs — and three daughters. While some would want to hold on to their cash, Gentile said she didn’t even think twice about sharing the wealth.

"I wouldn’t dream of keeping all this money for myself," Gentile, who stays home to care for her parents, told lottery officials, reports The Buffalo News. "Franca deserves to share in my good fortune."

How did Gentile win? She bought a $10 lottery card at a B-Kwik Market, won $10, then bought a second ticket with her winnings — and that brought her the jackpot. Each sister will receive $75,000 a year — or $51,112 after taxes — for the next 20 years. Gentile plans to pay a few bills and save most of the money, while Cavitt will use the money to cover college costs for her three daughters — and for a fun family vacation to Disney World. More importantly, Gerald Cavitt can cut back to 50-60 hours a week to spend more time at home. "It’s just going to make things easier for us," he said. "But we’re still going to be basically the same people." Congratulations to all!

15 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

caj p
What a wonderful sister she is, good luck to them both.
By caj p on 02/10/2009 10:10 am
Tee Zee
wOw Mama raised her right! Thanks for the great story.
By Tee Zee on 02/10/2009 10:18 am
E .
What a thrill for the entire family. Would I share a windfall with the people who are most important in my life - yes.
By E . on 02/10/2009 11:12 am
C Hardy
I would absolutely share the wealth with my family and some of my closest friends. Yes there are some out there that dont have a close family & I could see not sharing it but if your close and you see your sister struggling, if you have a heart, your going to help. Congrats to those Sisters!
By C Hardy on 02/10/2009 11:52 am
Belinda Joy
Good for her! I would have done the same thing. :-)
By Belinda Joy on 02/10/2009 12:05 pm
Patty E
From my point of view—-this was NOT a TOUGH Call, as the article suggested….whether the sister was struggling or not…how many ONLY give gifts to people to who NEED it? Most gift others who don’t need it, and call it a hand-out when they gioft someone who really really needs the money…. If I won…money would be flowing not only to whatever is left of my birth family, but also to my family of friends who have been with me thru thick and thin, and I with them….after all, we have all shared the bad with each other, why not the good, too?
By Patty E on 02/10/2009 12:28 pm
immoddesta godessa
Occasionally I buy a megabucks ticket and the thought has always been that the spoils would be shared! size matters though and were it substantial the checks would be written otherwise maybe just a great party in a far off place!
By immoddesta godessa on 02/10/2009 12:33 pm
Grande Camper
She has learned the true gift is giving. What a wonderful story.
By Grande Camper on 02/10/2009 1:31 pm
Donna H
I would consider setting up some kind of account that would pay some of the bills of my sister & younger brother, but hand a pile of money to that irresponsible duo? No bloody way! My brother & his wife are continuously coming to either Dad & I for a hand-out because of their financial carelessness. My sister is even worse; she’s 54 & stll lives with dad. In spite of the fact that he’s been bamboozled into letting her live there for free (that includes phone, internet, & cable as well as room & board), he just doesn’t get it that she’s in debt to her earlobes because of her out-of-control spending. If I just handed a money to either of them, within a few months they’d have blown through it & be at my door with their hands out for more. I would ensure that my neices & nephews would have college funds…that their parents couldn’t touch.
By Donna H on 02/10/2009 1:42 pm
Molly Rose
My sister, who all have kids with kids etc. promised they would at least pay off my bills. I would do so also but mostly it would go to my kids and /or charities. Good for her, not many would split 50/50. I probably wouldn’t.
By Molly Rose on 02/10/2009 1:43 pm
M C
I would do the same. I would divide it between my parents, my sister, and myself. I don’t consider helping my own family to be generosity, though. Generosity is giving to to strangers or charities.
By M C on 02/10/2009 3:45 pm
Diana T
As close as my sister and I are, I’m sure I would have done something like that.
By Diana T on 02/10/2009 6:03 pm
Green Tears
Most people won’t find themselves in such a grand position. It’s wonderful to know that some would share their bounty.
By Green Tears on 02/10/2009 6:47 pm
Marjorie C.
I might not be as generous with my sister as I would be with my children. I’d probably give them each a million and keep a million for myself.
By Marjorie C. on 02/11/2009 5:04 am
shirley adams
what a great valentine gift for all!
By shirley adams on 02/11/2009 7:01 am