95-year-old man left 2.6 million dollars for his hometown — but he had one condition

While it’s common to leave belongings to loved ones after passing away, a French millionaire took a different path, leaving his fortune of 2.5 million euros ($2,626,425) to his hometown of Tourettes. The man, who passed away at 95, had just one condition: the funds must be used to create a reception center for the town’s elderly population, as reported by BFM. The town council agreed to honor his wishes.

The man, Marcelin Arthur Chaix, died at the age of 95 last February and decided to leave a fortune to the town he had spent most of his life in. "This facility must not have a profit motive but strictly social," the mayor Camille Bouge said, repeating the terms of the will. The money came from Chaix's current accounts and life insurance contracts. "We can consider ourselves lucky for this legacy and show our gratitude to this Tourrettan, without a reserved heir, by standing up and applauding in memory of the late Mr. Chaix," the mayor emphasized. The elected officials have agreed the money would be used to build a new structure in the community center that already exists. Work to expand and beautify the current center would take place with the help of the money.

"It's wonderful! It's a very good action, congratulations. At least this money will be used for the good cause of the village," Gaby, a resident of the village, told the outlet. "I have been a nursing assistant my entire career. I have worked with the elderly for a very long time and finally, here is a good idea! The conditions are excellent," another resident, Anne, added. The work on the center will begin soon and is expected to be open before 2026. The center will accommodate ten people, as per outlet. "Now, these sums must be used well," Didier, another resident of the town, pointed out.

The donation might seem surprising, but it wasn't unusual for someone like Chaix, who had always helped other people in the town, according to several residents who had known him while he was alive, as reported by Daily Express. "It doesn't surprise me because he was someone who always helped others," Marc, a resident of the town, revealed. Three additional people will be employed to work on the place. The idea behind all the work is to make the existing place better to live in. The older structure is already home to Oustaou Tourrettan, one of the oldest clubs for seniors in the Pays de Fayence, as per BFM.

The gesture made to serve the elderly residents of the historical town has garnered a lot of attention, as per Irish Star. Although the sum would only help a small segment of the population, the will was received with a lot of praise from the residents of the town as per the outlet. The man's will was read at the town hall during one of the council meetings. The mayor also praised the millionaire for his philanthropic gesture.