Order of Canada recipient mistakes $25M lotto win for $25K: ‘I didn’t have my glasses on’

While some might be thinking of their first big lavish purchase to make, 81-year-old Charley Coffey has other plans for his $25-million Lotto Max win.

The winner of a $25 million Lotto Max jackpot says the money will go a long way in helping him continue to give back.

Charley Coffey is a 81-year-old retiree currently living in Toronto, and a recent winner in the Jan. 31 Lotto Max draw.

While some might be thinking of their first big lavish purchase to make, Coffey, who is also a recipient of the Order of Canada, has other plans.

“This win gives me the opportunity to sustainably support the causes I have championed for decades. I believe in the premise of a hand-up versus a handout, and want to support organizations that need a stronger voice,” Coffey said in an OLG news release Thursday.

“The motto for the Order of Canada is: ‘They desire a better country,’ and that speaks to me. A desire for a better Toronto, a better Ontario, and a better Canada, in particular for our Indigenous peoples.”

Coffey’s commitment to these and many more causes is well-documented through numerous accolade; the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has also named him an Honorary Chief for his support of First Nations.

Coffey has also received the Canadian Women’s International Business Initiative Award from the Canadian embassy in the United States.

When he collected his $25 million cheque, Coffey admitted he was “overwhelmed, humbled, and filled with gratitude by this massive lottery windfall.”