The Billionaire

If I were to win a billion dollars, I’d open a cultural center in San Juan Cosala, the town I live in in Mexico.  It would include free art studios where anyone could come to paint, sculpt or learn computer graphics.  There would be a ceramics class, paper making, metal smithing–any art form that children or adults wish to learn, and I’d hire both local artists and artists from abroad who could come teach workshops to make the art experience fresh and expanding.

If there were any leftover money (ha!) I’d build a free hospital for local residents and for any children from Jalisco with birth defects or other debilitating conditions.

I would establish one hundred free college scholarships a year and hire the young people who availed themselves of these scholarships to come back and implement the changes in their village that they feel are necessary. I would also provide the funds so that all children could go to school and hire wonderful teachers who would stimulate them and make education a delightful opportunity.  It is true that Mexico has free schools, but also true that many children do not go to these free schools because they can’t afford uniforms, books and school supplies.

Then I’d buy a simple house with five bedrooms on the beach, use it myself for two months of the year  and loan it out to people from my village who could use a vacation or take children or adults away for art or writing workshops.

I know this is a very simplified version of huge projects that would take years of planning, but since this is a fantasy anyway,  I’m clicking my fingers and there.  It’s done!!!

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “You’re a Winner!.”You’ve just won $1 billion dollars in the local lottery. You do not have to pay tax on your winnings. How will you spend the money?