Organizations involved with European lottery funds have faced some pressure to donate funds to Philippine typhoon relief. In at least one case, the lottery fund has responded.

The Philippines were devastated by typhoon Haiyan in November, 2013. The storm left more than four million homeless, and destroyed large parts of the island nation’s infrastructure and industry. Total damage has been estimated at at least £500 million (€590 million).

The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) will make up to £5 million (€5.9 million) available to UK charities for typhoon relief. The fund disperses income gained from the UK’s National Lottery. Typhoon aid distributed from BLF through its International Community Programme will be targeted for rebuilding communities and infrastructure.

Peter Ainsworth, BLF Chair, explained that the fund’s mission supports people and communities most in need. The BLF is coordinating its efforts with a number of UK charities, and its donation will complement other UK relief and rebuilding efforts already underway in the Philippines.

In a related effort, more than 130,000 people signed an online petition asking that an unclaimed £12 million (€14.2 million) prize in the EuroMillions Lottery be donated to typhoon relief efforts. The organizers have been unable to agree to this, due to regulations on how unclaimed prize funds are to be used. The EuroMillions lottery is available in the UK, through the National Lottery, and eight other European nations.

Lottery organizers explained that the money cannot be donated, because it will rollover into the next Lottery prize drawing. While expressing sympathy with the petitioners, a EuroMillions spokesperson explained that the money must be considered the property of lottery players, and used for prizes. As a result, the money from the unclaimed prize will roll over into the next jackpot.

About 28 percent of National Lottery proceeds go to charitable causes and organizations. According to Lottery organizers, this has involved more than 400,000 individual grants total £35 million (€41.5 million).

Organizations involved with European lottery funds have faced some pressure to donate funds to Philippine typhoon relief. In at least one case, the lottery fund has responded.

The Philippines were devastated by typhoon Haiyan in November, 2013. The storm left more than four million homeless, and destroyed large parts of the island nation’s infrastructure and industry. Total damage has been estimated at at least £500 million (€590 million).

The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) will make up to £5 million (€5.9 million) available to UK charities for typhoon relief. The fund disperses income gained from the UK’s National Lottery. Typhoon aid distributed from BLF through its International Community Programme will be targeted for rebuilding communities and infrastructure.

Peter Ainsworth, BLF Chair, explained that the fund’s mission supports people and communities most in need. The BLF is coordinating its efforts with a number of UK charities, and its donation will complement other UK relief and rebuilding efforts already underway in the Philippines.

In a related effort, more than 130,000 people signed an online petition asking that an unclaimed £12 million (€14.2 million) prize in the EuroMillions Lottery be donated to typhoon relief efforts. The organizers have been unable to agree to this, due to regulations on how unclaimed prize funds are to be used. The EuroMillions lottery is available in the UK, through the National Lottery, and eight other European nations.

Lottery organizers explained that the money cannot be donated, because it will rollover into the next Lottery prize drawing. While expressing sympathy with the petitioners, a EuroMillions spokesperson explained that the money must be considered the property of lottery players, and used for prizes. As a result, the money from the unclaimed prize will roll over into the next jackpot.

About 28 percent of National Lottery proceeds go to charitable causes and organizations. According to Lottery organizers, this has involved more than 400,000 individual grants total £35 million (€41.5 million).

Sources:

BigLotteryFund

MetroCoUk

NationalLoterryUK

BigLotteryFund

MetroCoUk

NationalLoterryUK