Today The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported about Lotta Fields. According to the New York Times, Ms. Fields was an avid reader and a regular donor to the New York Public Library. Her regular gifts were only described as “modest.” But when she died, she...
Did you hear the latest story about an unassuming millionaire? According to Foster’s Daily Democrat, Ron Newell was a quiet truck driver in Dover, NH. He liked kids and animals, especially dogs. Last August, Mr. Newell passed away at the age of 78. Last week,...
This man, Albert Lexie, shines shoes at a hospital in Pittsburgh. Over the last 30 years, he’s given all his tips to the charity care fund at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. That’s added up to $200,000 so far! From a shoe shine guy! All that...
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported of a couple of $4 million gifts give to surprised nonprofits. According to the story, a Pasadena couple, Robert and Adrienne Westerbeck, gave $4 million to each of their alma maters. As is typical in stories like this (and...
Do you remember Jean Preston, the unassuming librarian who’d amassed an $8 million estate? Or Helene Whitlock Alley, the $100 donor that bequethed $7.3 million to a diabetes group. Well here’s another entry in the never underestimate anyone category:...
