Life daily teaches us different lessons. One of them, for example, is the ability to give something to others and take from others. We treat those people who treat us well. This is the golden rule of human relations. But there is another rule that should be remembered and which should be guided in life. Spread the good and you will be rewarded.
Dale Schroeder worked as a carpenter for 67 years
It was by this rule that one man lived in Iowa. Friends spoke of him as a hardworking and honest man. He never had his own family, respectively, and had no children. In 2019, an incredible event happened: 33 people got together and declared themselves his children.
He died in 2005. A lot of time has already passed since his death. There was no one to mourn for him. Dale's lawyer Steve Nielsen described his friend as follows: “He went to work every day, worked hard and hard. He was a very modest man, like many other Iowans. His wardrobe was also quite scarce: some work jeans and one - a formal weekend.
According to Steve, Dale lived a simple life. He worked for 67 years as a carpenter in the same company, located in the city of Des Moines. One day he came to Steve's office and said that he wanted to use his savings to help other people go to college.
“He wanted to help children who were like him and who had no other way to get an education than with Dale’s money,” says Steve.
Despite his modest lifestyle, Dale collected a decent amount
Steve always knew that Dale is a very kind person who does not spend a lot of money on himself. He asked the carpenter what kind of money he was talking about. When Dale announced the amount, Steve nearly fell off his chair. Dale collected over 3 million dollars.
The lawyer did as Dale asked him to. He used his friend’s funds to pay for training young Iowans. Thanks to Dale's money, dozens of people were educated, many of whom became doctors and teachers.
Young people did not believe their happiness when they learned that a stranger wants to pay for their studies
One of these students until recently was Kira Conrad. Kira wanted to become a therapist. She studied well at school, but her family could not afford to pay Kira for college. Her family, in which there was only one parent, was hard to count on even a loan for training.
And then Steve called her. When Kira heard that her dreams would come true, she burst into tears. In an interview with a local radio station, Kira said: “The man who had never met me before provided me with full college education! This is just unbelievable! I can not believe this!"
Kira was not the only person who experienced such feelings. In 2019, almost all of Dale’s savings were over. Together, they helped 33 people get college education without any credit.
33 people declared themselves “Dale's children”
In July of this year, all the people Dale helped gathered to honor his memory. According to Steve, Dale did not set any conditions, except one: “All he asked was that you try to pay in advance in your life. You cannot return Dale money because he passed away. But you can remember him, you can take an example from him. "
Everyone who attended the meeting called themselves Dale's children. Given that he never had children, it was a very moving gesture.
Thirty-three people, until now not knowing each other, vowed to continue the work of Dale.Some of them promised to use their knowledge and position in society to help people who need it, that is, pay in advance.
Many people were inspired by Dale's generosity. One can only hope that this inspiration will prompt them to action. There is nothing easier to spread kindness than to help strangers.