This $20 Million Lottery Winner Was A Philanthropic Booklover... And Now Everyone Benefits

The late Gary McGivney in the lounge of the Watertown American Legion in 2006. Photo: Watertown Daily

After winning $20.2 million in 1995, Gary McGivney bought books - thousands of them. After his death in 2014 the McGiven family bequeathed many of his collection to the Flower Memorial Library in Watertown, New York.

"He liked having books around him. When we cleaned his house out, there were books in every single room," said Susan Johnson of Friends of the Library.

"Even after he's gone, he's still finding a way to give to our library so we're so happy," said Yvonne Reff, library director.

And now the books are being sold. Proceeds will go to a gift in McGivney's name of more books to the library, and possibly a party to mark the library's 110th anniversary later in 2015. 

SOURCE: WWNYTV, NNY Living