CafeMom Back to School
/ General Discussion
- Browse Group:
- Group Home
- Forums
- This Forum
- Chat
- Photos
- Calendar
- Chatterbox
- Links
- Member List
- Guidelines
Keep up with discussion in the "CafeMom Back to School" group through your e-mail, or join in the conversation yourself!
Join CafeMom Today (It's free and easy!) Already a member?
Did You Know #10: Ask For a Penny - Pay For College
posted to General Discussion
in CafeMom Back to School
on Aug. 21, 2008 at 7:30 PM
- 26 Replies
- 389 Total Views
In 1987 Mike Hayes of Rochelle, Illinois, came up with a novel way to pay for college. As a freshman at the University of Illinois, he wrote to Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene, asking for his help in raising $28,000 by soliciting donations of a penny from each of his readers. Hayes figured everyone would be willing to spare a penny, and if he could find a way to convince 2.8 million people to each send him one, he could pay for school.
Amused by Hayes's creativity, the columnist agreed to go along with the idea, and in his September 6 column, he shared the student's story and told readers where to send donations. Within a month, the "Many Pennies for Mike" fund had raised more than $23,000, with donations from every state in the United States, ranging from 1 cent to $100. Hayes eventually reached his goal and went on to earn a degree in food science, financed by the spare change of Chicago Tribune readers.
Replies:
-
- by on Aug. 21, 2008 at 8:09 PM
-
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET AN EDUCATION THIS BOY WAS DETERMANDE
-
- by on Aug. 22, 2008 at 12:10 AM
-
Wow, I want to do that. I need it. heehee
Mother to Jasmine- 4 months Kearah- 2 years, and Tyrone- 5 years old!!!
-
- by on Aug. 22, 2008 at 12:57 AM
-
After one month of collecting, Bob Greene followed up on his article. At that point, the Many Pennies for Mike fund had received about 70,000 donations. The donations ranged from the one penny asked for to several checks for $100. The average of all donations was estimated to be 34¢ per envelope. In other words, Mike raked in approximately $23,000! He was only $5,000 short of his goal. 95% of the envelopes had a letter enclosed. One person wrote "I'm 76 years old. Here's a penny. If you use it to buy drugs I hope a bolt of lightning strikes you dead." Another letter from Debra Sue Maffett (Miss America 1983) was signed "love" and included a check for 25 smackeroos.
Wonder what he is doing now?
-
- by on Aug. 22, 2008 at 2:17 AM
-
now see what a difference 1 person can make by just having ideas like that.
Only group members can reply to this post.
Around CafeMom
Check out some of today's most popular Journals:
