I also agree in part with hh5 but with a bit of a difference. Yes, it would be great to have a FEW ranches for runaways, battered, abandoned, and as KJames says, throwaways but there is an urgent need of centers in the cities in every state. Most of these kids are scared to death and don't know which way to go. They feel totally rejected by the world and if it was up to me, I'd collect every single one of them and give them what they so desperate need....Love. Whenever I read or listen on the news of a gay child being battered I just sit and cry. Being a mother with two Bi sons and a Lesbian daughter, I simply don't understand how can parents out there be so cruel to their own children. How can their love change overnight? That child is the same person as he/she was the day before. So, yeah, I would do what ever I could to help them out. Of course, I would also help my sister, niece, parents and my own kids and also do some travelling, I'd like to take my kids to the places I visited in Europe, etc. Plus, I want a 1950's VW Buswagon with 23 windows, covered in peace signs and peace flowers and a bed inside, like this one... http://tinyurl.com/ngawvu hope link works!
WL Wrote.... It is not widely remembered until it happens, but most lottery winners go bankrupt due to poor tax planning afterward in the US.
The reason is multi-state taxation. Powerball, Mega millions, Mega bucks, and other lotteries with over 10 million are usually set up by multiple states each having jurisdiction to tax your income gain as the lottery may go. Get a good tax accountant to re-allocate your winnings before you even cash the check. I might even advise placing the winnings within a trust that could act as a buffer between you and the states. Additional stuff like charitable deductions and exemptions can be played with.
If you do not heed my warning and spend without consulting a good tax accountant or financial planner, you will probably be paying 60-70 million of the winnings in taxes. and he is soooo right about it too!!!!