Woman Who Gives Abandoned Babies Loving Burials Wins Lottery Jackpot

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2004/12/08/a1.winner.1208.html

LOS ANGELES - All too often, the ring of Debi Faris-Cifelli's cell phone means there is another abandoned newborn at the morgue, another forsaken child for her to name and bury in a shoebox-size coffin under a white cross in the California desert.
Last week, though, Faris-Cifelli - who has had to rely on donations, grants and fund-raising events to give babies a decent burial - got a very different call.

She had won the California lottery.

The jackpot: $27 million.

"Maybe it's the children saying, `Thank you' for taking care of them when nobody else would," Faris-Cifelli said, bubbling with laughter. "It's a gift and one for which we feel an awesome responsibility."

The money could not come at a better time for Faris-Cifelli and her Garden of Angels, the tiny cemetery in the town of Calimesa where she has buried dozens of tiny children whose mothers didn't hear - or didn't care - about California's safe-haven law.

Under the 2001 law, parents have three days to abandon infants without fear of prosecution. California is one of 46 states with such a law.

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[chefgirl]

1. Wow

That's got to be the saddest happy news I've ever heard.

'Garden of Angels'. :cry:

-chef-

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

2. I know ... sigh ...

[fleabert]

3. wow. that is amazing. I think I saw a news piece or a documentary

about this woman several years ago. what a great thing to happen to her. Karma sweet Karma.

[Debbi801]

4. I read an article about her a couple of years ago...

No one deserves it more.

[dolo amber]

5. Fantastic!!

I suspect this is one lottery winner we won't be seeing on any cheesy talk shows talking about how winning millions ruined her life. ;)

[ET Awful]

6. I can't think of anyone more deserving.

http://www.gardenofangels.org/Home%20page.htm

I also appreciate the fact that while obviously religious, she doesn't try to force it on anyone through her site, I was actually very impressed by her comment that these children belong not only to god, but to all of us.

What a great lady.

[BiggJawn]

7. I read that she lobbies for these "safe haven" laws.

Her head's screwed on straight and her heart's in the right place.
It's sad that people aren't aware of these laws where they're in effect, and even sadder that there are 4 states that don't have such laws.

[NNN0LHI]

8. I was not aware of that law mentioned in the story and wondered how many...

...more people have never heard of it. Thats why I posted an extra paragraph or two for others like me. And yea, this is some lady. Glad she hit too. :D

Don