Powerball Winner Approaches Mom Shopping for Diapers, Hands Her $200 Gift Card to Target
Many of us have dreamed of stepping into Nicholas Cage’s shoes in the film “It Could Happen to You.” We dream of all the things we might do if we won the lottery.
A kind man from Wisconsin has made it his goal to give back following his Powerball jackpot win of $768 million, WFLD reported.
“It’s amazing. It feels like a dream,” Franco said during a news conference. According to WFLD, Franco had less than $1,000 in his bank account before his life changed forever.
Now he’s taking his blessing and paying it forward.
When Nicole Domitro — a Moody Alumni and Bible study children’s teacher — encountered Franco and his friend while shopping with her daughter at Target, she admitted she was skeptical.
Domitro shared her experience in a heartfelt Facebook post where she said, “even though the world is full of ugliness and hurt and pain and deceit — there are also those who are kind, and selfless, and good!”
Franco turned out to be one such kind soul. When he approached Domitro in the diaper aisle, she instantly went into what she calls “mama bear” mode.
But Franco meant no harm. Instead, he said, “Hi ma’am, sorry to bother you, I know this is weird but my name is Manuel Franco… and I was the Powerball winner in Milwaukee and I wanted to give you this $200 Target gift card for Mother’s Day.”
I have to admit, with all the predators out there I would have kept my guard up just as Domitro did. Even so, she accepted the gift card — which Franco said he’d already tried to give to other people — and asked to snap a photo with him.
“As much as I love Jesus, I unfortunately and ashamedly don’t always see the world the way he does…” Domitro wrote. “But, something that could only be the Spirit, told me to accept it graciously and, would you believe, he [Franco] ended up thanking ME.”
Later on that day, Domitro shared her experience with her husband, Mike. She hadn’t even used the gift card during her shopping trip that day, thinking it was too good to be true and also thinking of a family who could use it more than she could.
“I called the number on the back of the card and sure enough, the balance was $200!!” Domitro explained. “I also googled ‘Milwaukee power ball winner’ and saw the face of the sweet kid who blessed our day more than he could possibly know.”
Domitro shared that she hopes this story will “inspire” others. She also shared a verse from Acts 20:35 which says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
“I think that it’s an incredible opportunity to be used to share some good works,” Domitro told Liftable, a section of The Western Journal. “And I am so thankful that I was able to witness that first hand.”
She went on to share that she feels a particular family was placed on her mind when she received Franco’s gift. “I truly believe that it was the Holy Spirit that whispered that family’s name in my heart,” she said.
Domitro and her husband will be giving the entire $200 gift card to that family.
“I truly wish so many blessings on this man,” Domitro also told Liftable. “Whether he knows Jesus or not, Jesus knows his heart, and it seems to be a pretty good one.”
I think it’s safe to say that Franco isn’t the only one with a good heart here. May God bless Mrs. Domitro and her husband for their selfless and giving hearts as well.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
