[QUOTE=PokS2k,Dec 15 2006, 10:35 AM] Jerry, I'm really glad you did that.


Another Day In Paradise

 

I've also been lurking on this thread. All of these good works seem like gifts from the heart. I think it is wonderful that Jerry and his Men's Group have chosen to make a difference

 

Men's Group Report- (cont'd)

5. Bill L- Insurance Exec (ret'd)- Bill is one of our oldest members and slowed down a bit w/ Parkinsons- Considered $50 + 50 match to buy 'Groceries for a Year' thru church counseling center program. Based on advice that this center already had 'too much money', Bill decided that his beneficiary would be the Covenant House in NYC. This charitable org provides housing/ counseling to runaway teenagers in several metro areas....giving them a safe haven.

6. Bob O- Investment Advisor @ major investment firm- Bob is a 9/11 survivor and very resourceful. He took the $50 bill to a fund-raiser this past week...he's a member of the local Rotary Club. He told the 'Story of Jack' (getting human interest element) posed the $50 as a true challenge to 'Pay It Forward' by turning it into $500 People 'bid up' the item by $50 increments until....bingo.....$500 was created out of thin air

to all the Lurkers! It's not too late to offer your own ideas! You'll see later that one of the guys still NEEDS some help

 

Good stuff Jerry. Even gets an old tight wad like me thinking.

 

Tell us more, Dave I never thought that you were a fellow tightwad

 

Oh I did the obligatory United Fund for 30+ years and fed the red kettles at Xmas but I can't say I've ever gone out of my way when it comes to charity (outside of the immediate family). Perhaps it was not having much growing up or perhaps I'm just stingy.

 

Mens Group Report (cont'd)

7. Ken B- Engineer (just ret'd)- His first inclination was to send it to his favorite 'diner' waitress in Upstate PA, who has had health problems and is in her 70's....but still needs to work. She's amazingly upbeat and energetic. After consulting with +1 Peggy, Ken decide instead to tell the story to a friend who runs a social service agency affiliated w/ Drexel U in Philly. She gladly accepted the 50 to assist a Grandmother who is raising 2 grandchildren. He matched Jack's seed money to give $100 to Granny (no rod).

8. Lee C- Administrator in national Acturial Firm- He is the first one to mention the PRESSURE imposed by the money that he didn't need personally. He consulted his +1 Becky, and also discussed with his closest friend at work this past Monday. He told he the Story of Jack and she had another Granny suggestion: A woman in her Bible Study group is a grandmother in her late 70's who is raising 3 grandkids....as the mother is a crack cocaine addict. The seed money will go to her to buy a few 'extra things' that little kids ought to have.

Friends, I couldn't make up these stories....although some might think it's Reality TV

 

Dave's comment is a good example of what my thoughts were from the start. So far, Jerry's post about how the money became "seed money" seems to bear that out.

 

This is all wonderful and heartwarming and inspirational. I think it's a great idea to help out in any way you can. During Christmas/Chanukah, this is a great sop to the conscience, the question is;what are you going to do the other eleven months of the year? If charity is a once a year thing, then you've done your duty and can relax, problem is that those people who needed help today will need it tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...

 

Underneath all that VSAiness lies a heart of gold! Thanks for the thread, got me to thinking that I need to get back into my Feed the Hungry ministry at church where we pass out lunches every week to the community. Great, heartwarming read, Jer.