Since I was once a very successful TV star, it's not surprising that not a day goes by without someone recognizing me on the street. "Hey Monty!" a stranger will invariably yell at me. While I appreciate the recognition, I sometimes wish that I were known more for what I do today ? charity work. I make more than 50 charity appearances a year and must have raised nearly a billion dollars for worthwhile causes. Countless times I have seen that if you cast your bread upon the waters, it will come back a hundredfold. But there is one story in particular for me, illustrates the point. To this day it can still move me to tears.
On a crisp spring day in 1942, Max Freed, the owner of a Canadian shirt-making company, was returning to his factory with a bundle of orders tucked neatly beneath his arm. Business was good and Max, although only 30, was carving out a niche as a successful businessman.
As he walked to his office, he noticed a young man across the street on his hands and knees, scrubbing the front steps of a store. The boy looked familiar. Freed crossed the street and asked him, "What are you doing here?" The 20-year old answered, "I work in this store. My boss told me to scrub these steps." "What's your name?" asked Freed. The young man told him. "Is your father my butcher?" Yes, the youth replied. Freed went to his office and phoned the butcher. "I just saw your son washing the steps of the company across the street from mine. He seems like an intelligent young man. Is that the kind of work he's chosen to do?"
"He wants to go back to college," the soft-spoken butcher told him, "but I can't afford to send him." He explained that his son had worked for two years after graduating from high school, saving for college. But after a year and a half at university, his money had run out. Business was poor, and even though the butcher's wife had two jobs, the family barely scraped by. The boy's weekly salary of nine dollars help out tremendously.
"Tell your son to see me tomorrow," Freed told the butcher. The next night, after finishing his work as a delivery boy and cleaner, the wiry 20-year old met Freed in his factory office.
"Do you want to go back to college?" Freed asked.
"More than anything!" the young man replied.
Freed looked him straight in the eye.
"I'll put you through college. Write down how much money you need and bring it back to me ? tuition, books, everything."
A smile broadened across the boy's face; he could not believe this was happening. Where had this guardian angel come from?
The next day when the young man showed Freed his figures, the shirt maker looked them over and said, "Don't you want something for yourself?" Don't you eat lunch or get the occasional haircut? "You'll also need some new clothes. Add all that in."
Before handing over a cheque, Freed told the young man, "There are several conditions I insist upon." The boy sat silently, eyes wide with expectation.
"First, you must tell no one where this money came from." The boy nodded.
"Second, you must maintain top grades; I'm not sending you to college to be a playboy.
"Third, this is a loan. You have to pay me back every penny when you can afford to. And lastly, you must promise to do this for someone else in your lifetime."
"Thank you, Mr. Freed," the 20-year old replied. "I won't disappoint you." Each month he visited Freed to report on his progress. At university, he earned high grades, was near the top of his class and was elected president of the student body.
Over the years, Max Freed lent the butcher's son $990. the young graduate began repaying the debt as soon as he landed his first job after college. He sent Freed $100 the first year, $100 the next and the rest the third year after he graduated.
Throughout his life, he never forgot the day he'd been given the opportunity he needed to succeed. He also remembered the vow he'd made to do the same for someone else and has since helped several young people through college. There was one promise the boy made to Max Freed that he couldn't keep. For nearly 30 years, he told no one the identity of his mysterious benefactor. But he finally decided to tell his story because he felt it would inspire others to help someone, and because he felt that Max Freed deserved the recognition despite wanting to be anonymous.
I often tell this story. It reminds me that no matter what we do in life, no matter how high we climb the ladder of success, we will ultimately be remembered for how we helped others less fortunate than ourselves. There's another reason I love telling this story:
I am the butcher's son.
Monty Hall
On a crisp spring day in 1942, Max Freed, the owner of a Canadian shirt-making company, was returning to his factory with a bundle of orders tucked neatly beneath his arm. Business was good and Max, although only 30, was carving out a niche as a successful businessman.
As he walked to his office, he noticed a young man across the street on his hands and knees, scrubbing the front steps of a store. The boy looked familiar. Freed crossed the street and asked him, "What are you doing here?" The 20-year old answered, "I work in this store. My boss told me to scrub these steps." "What's your name?" asked Freed. The young man told him. "Is your father my butcher?" Yes, the youth replied. Freed went to his office and phoned the butcher. "I just saw your son washing the steps of the company across the street from mine. He seems like an intelligent young man. Is that the kind of work he's chosen to do?"
"He wants to go back to college," the soft-spoken butcher told him, "but I can't afford to send him." He explained that his son had worked for two years after graduating from high school, saving for college. But after a year and a half at university, his money had run out. Business was poor, and even though the butcher's wife had two jobs, the family barely scraped by. The boy's weekly salary of nine dollars help out tremendously.
"Tell your son to see me tomorrow," Freed told the butcher. The next night, after finishing his work as a delivery boy and cleaner, the wiry 20-year old met Freed in his factory office.
"Do you want to go back to college?" Freed asked.
"More than anything!" the young man replied.
Freed looked him straight in the eye.
"I'll put you through college. Write down how much money you need and bring it back to me ? tuition, books, everything."
A smile broadened across the boy's face; he could not believe this was happening. Where had this guardian angel come from?
The next day when the young man showed Freed his figures, the shirt maker looked them over and said, "Don't you want something for yourself?" Don't you eat lunch or get the occasional haircut? "You'll also need some new clothes. Add all that in."
Before handing over a cheque, Freed told the young man, "There are several conditions I insist upon." The boy sat silently, eyes wide with expectation.
"First, you must tell no one where this money came from." The boy nodded.
"Second, you must maintain top grades; I'm not sending you to college to be a playboy.
"Third, this is a loan. You have to pay me back every penny when you can afford to. And lastly, you must promise to do this for someone else in your lifetime."
"Thank you, Mr. Freed," the 20-year old replied. "I won't disappoint you." Each month he visited Freed to report on his progress. At university, he earned high grades, was near the top of his class and was elected president of the student body.
Over the years, Max Freed lent the butcher's son $990. the young graduate began repaying the debt as soon as he landed his first job after college. He sent Freed $100 the first year, $100 the next and the rest the third year after he graduated.
Throughout his life, he never forgot the day he'd been given the opportunity he needed to succeed. He also remembered the vow he'd made to do the same for someone else and has since helped several young people through college. There was one promise the boy made to Max Freed that he couldn't keep. For nearly 30 years, he told no one the identity of his mysterious benefactor. But he finally decided to tell his story because he felt it would inspire others to help someone, and because he felt that Max Freed deserved the recognition despite wanting to be anonymous.
I often tell this story. It reminds me that no matter what we do in life, no matter how high we climb the ladder of success, we will ultimately be remembered for how we helped others less fortunate than ourselves. There's another reason I love telling this story:
I am the butcher's son.
Monty Hall
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