If you’re looking for proof that good things happen to good people, just take a trip to a quiet corner of Vermont. That’s where Sarah and Mark Thompson, a beloved retired couple in their late 60s, became the talk of the town (and maybe even the whole state!) when they scooped up a mind-blowing $50 million Powerball jackpot in June 2025.
Now, these two weren’t exactly strangers to good deeds. They were already local legends, known for their unwavering commitment to community service and living a wonderfully humble life. For over three decades, they’d been faithfully buying lottery tickets, always sticking to the same numbers – a sentimental mix of birthdays, anniversaries, and the number 12, which Mark sweetly declared was his late mother’s lucky charm. On June 15th, all that persistence finally paid off. Every single number matched.
“Honestly, at first, we just didn’t believe it,” Sarah recalled, a wide, joyful smile spreading across her face during the televised announcement. “Mark was convinced he’d misread the ticket, maybe needed new glasses! But after we checked it, oh, I don’t know, five times, and it really did match… we just hugged each other and cried. Happy tears, of course!”
$50 million Powerball Jackpot
Instead of immediately booking a private jet or buying a mansion with 20 bathrooms, the Thompsons did what they do best: they thought about others. They decided to stay right in their cozy, modest home, choosing to invest their winnings in ways that perfectly reflected their lifelong values of community, education, and just plain kindness. After taxes, their lump sum payout was around $30 million, and they wasted no time crafting a plan to spread that incredible good fortune around.
Their very first act of grand generosity was a $2 million donation dedicated to completely rebuilding and modernizing their town’s aging community center. This place is the heart of everything – from after-school programs that keep kids safe and engaged, to lively senior activities, and countless local events that bring everyone together. They didn’t stop there; they also funded shiny new equipment for the town’s all-important volunteer fire department and gave the local library a much-needed digital upgrade.
But perhaps their most impactful gift was the creation of the Thompson Family Education Fund, a whopping $10 million endowment designed to provide college scholarships for graduating seniors in their school district. “We’ve always, always believed in the transformative power of education,” said Sarah, a retired elementary school teacher who clearly understands the difference a good education can make. “Now, we get to help generations of students chase their wildest dreams, without the financial burden we know so many face.”
Lifelong Givers, Long Before the Jackpot
Locals, predictably, aren’t surprised by the Thompsons’ generosity. They’ll tell you that Sarah and Mark were already givers long before they won the $50 million Powerball jackpot. They were the ones organizing clothing drives, helping neighbors fix leaky roofs, and personally delivering warm meals to seniors who couldn’t get out. “They were already community heroes, pure and simple,” beamed Mayor Linda Grayson. “This just gave them the resources to do even more of what they were already doing.”
Despite their newfound wealth, the Thompsons remain wonderfully grounded. You’ll still spot them in the same trusty pickup truck, Browse the aisles at the local grocery store, and joining in on Friday night bingo at the town hall. They insist the money hasn’t changed who they are – it’s simply given them the incredible opportunity to amplify their lifelong passion for giving back.
When asked about any extravagant future plans, Mark just chuckled, “Well, we might finally take a cruise – we’ve never actually been on one! But mostly, we’re just perfectly happy right here, surrounded by the people we love, doing what we can.”
Their story is a truly beautiful testament to how humble hearts and selfless spirits can transform a sudden windfall into a lasting, positive ripple effect. For this small town in Vermont, the Thompsons’ lottery win wasn’t just a headline – it became a living, breathing legacy of profound generosity.