A single good deed has earned one area high school student the attention of a kind-hearted philanthropist and a college fund.
Several weeks ago, India Williams of Lakehill Preparatory School became headline news when she found $5,000 in the pocket of a raggedy Good Will stage prop jacket, because she did something weird with it. She returned it.
It took her and school officials some work to find the owner, discovering, when they did, that he was deceased. Eventually they found the owner’s daughter and executor of his estate, who went to the school to meet India and accept the money, giving her a $50 reward and donating $500 to her school.
One woman in North Carolina saw the story on the news while washing dishes and thought India deserved more than that.
“What got me the girl was so humble and she wasn’t looking for a reward. She did the right thing she was supposed to. And that little girl went to Target and Plato’s Closet, and I know that’s a used clothes store and I thought, it just made me angry, so unfair,” said the woman.
So she contacted India’s mother about setting up a college fund for her.
“I found out through the credit union we can start a college fund even though she’s out of state. And it will be ongoing, so when there are other people who want to give, they can even if its $5 or $10 and pay it into the college fund. Anything above and beyond all of that will be sent to pay for her books and school supplies,” the woman explained.
India’s mother was shocked when she saw the story gain so much attention, and even more so when she heard about the college fund.
“I just thank her for contacting us and just stepping out on faith and believing in my child,” India’s mother, Kenya Williams said of the woman. “I’ve always believed in her. She’s always been an outstanding student in school and all my hard work in raising her hasn’t been so hard at all. I’m proud of India and grateful for the contribution.”
“I just wanted to inspire her. I heard some of her friends were saying she should have kept the money and she felt bad and her mother could have used the money to pay bills. I didn’t want her to be discouraged and just wanted to show her that she should not have looked for a reward, but I wanted to show her she was appreciated,” the anonymous woman added.
Holly LaFon has written and worked for various local publications including D Magazine and Examiner.
