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| AP photo |
When homeless man Glen James found a backpack containing over $40,000 in cash and travelers checks September 16, he never expected the kind of notoriety that followed his turning it over to the Boston police. Thanks to social media and news outlets, the story spread worldwide, prompting a man in Virginia to establish an online fund on GoFundMe.com to honor James' selfless act. Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis honored James with a certificate for being a Good Samaritan(see photo above).
The Today Show aired a segment October 3 during which James met Ethan Whittington, the man who established the fund for him. By airtime, over $148,000 in donations had been sent, far exceeding Whittington's expectations. The two embraced and James expressed his gratitude to Whittington for his thoughtfulness.
James confessed that he didn't enjoy talking on camera because he speaks with a stutter. He told the reporter Kerry Sanders that he never considered keeping the money and thought only of the best way to ensure it was returned to its rightful owner. Throughout the piece, James showed humility and kindness in his views. He has been homeless since 2005 and suffers frequently from vertigo, which makes it difficult for him to hold a job. He stays in a homeless shelter and panhandles to pay for the he needs to live, but that should soon change after he receives the money from the online site.
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