Michigan lottery winner opens horse therapy nonprofit

Phillip Chippewa promised his wife, Dawn, that he would get her horses back.

Dawn had given up her horses after their family grew, with seven children and 21 grandchildren in Suttons Bay, Michigan. Financially, it wasn't feasible to keep the animals. Dawn was heartbroken to give them up, according to Michigan Lottery Connect.

Phillip wasn't sure how he'd keep his promise. But on September 21, 2019, he walked into a local retailer called Barrels and Barrels Party Store and bought four Powerball tickets.

One of them was an $80 million winner.

Not only did Phillip buy horses for Dawn, but he helped her bring the horses to their community.

Serenity Ranch

Serenity Ranch is the Chippewas' nonprofit, 25-acre equine therapy ranch in Suttons Bay. According to the organization's website, its vision is to “empower those in need through the healing qualities of horses….allowing horses to nurture and teach them how to be authentic and present; how to seek open and honest communication with others; and how to take care of themselves by giving and receiving trust and respect.”

Equine therapy is used to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health issues. By bonding with horses, patients overcome fear and re-establish confidence and trust, according to a study of war veterans who underwent the treatment.

The life-changing win

After the lotto win, the Chippewas bought a new house for their big family. But it's the ranch that's taking up the brunt of Dawn's time. Dawn said:

Being able to provide the community with a place they can come and heal has been life-changing for us. We run the operation entirely on donations and the work of our volunteers. When we won the Powerball jackpot, I knew that I wanted to stay active and involved in Suttons Bay, and Serenity has given me that opportunity. I put in more hours here than I ever did when I was working, but this is truly a labor of love for me.

Other charitable winners

Many lottery winners opt to remain completely anonymous, but some choose to go public with charitable efforts.

Edwin Castro, who won a record $2.04 billion Powerball ticket in February 2023 in California, runs a charitable fund, giving money to various global charities and applicants.

In 2014, Roy Cockrum won a $259 million Powerball jackpot in Tennessee. He donated millions to nonprofit theaters.

Lottery winners should immediately secure expert financial advisors when deciding how to spend their prizes.