I gave away $10k yesterday

Yesterday, my friend Timmy asked me to help him give $10,000 dollars to a deserving family for a video. He’s done this 15 times so far. This would be my second time helping.

The following experience is a bizarre combination of heart, comedy, and tears.

We arrive at a Walmart in a poorer part of LA and get hyped in the parking lot, reflecting on how fortunate we are to be able to do this, and how our actions will create one of the most memorable days of someone’s life.

Our strategy is simple—find someone who looks like they could use the help, ask a few questions that will let Timmy figure it they’re the right person, deliver the goods.

We walk the aisles for twenty minutes. Lots of families are shopping. Cute kids are everywhere. Parents with babies. School shoppers galore. Then we see her:

A mom shopping with four kids. Perfect.
She’s in the school section. On brand.
But several other families are in the same aisle. Not good.

So we pretend to look at notebooks until the coast is clear.

“Go, go, go!” I say, pressing record on my iPhone and Timmy launches forward.

If you’re familiar with kindness content on social media, you’ll recognize what’s next.

“Excuse me, this is a wild question, but would you rather have two hundred dollars or this mystery backpack?”

Timmy holds up an envelop labelled $200 and then a cheap backpack.

The woman and her family are confused, but her older kids smile.
Have they seen something like this before?

Mom weighs her options.

“What would you buy with the money?” Timmy asks.
“School supplies. I lost my job when the Rite-Aid I worked at closed,” she said, then goes on to mention she’s a single mother of five.

I can feel the hairs on the back of Timmy’s neck stand up.
She’s the one.

With light pressure from her kids, she chooses the backpack.

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One of the kids opens it and reads the note inside:
‘You won a free 30 second shopping spree’

Timmy starts the timer and the kids scramble… slowly.
They’re shy. And they’re not greedy.

I follow one of the daughters walk around, looking.
She grabs a set of colored markers and some paints.

There’s little scramble nor urgency.

I ask, “Is that it?" You can get anything you want.”
She grabs a pack of sticky notes.

Timmy and I reunite at the cart and Timmy delivers the news.

On behalf of KiddoodleTV, we’re buying everything in your cart, and giving you the $200 dollars, AND giving you ten thousand dollars for groceries so you can take care of your kids.

Silence…

No, shock.

The kids look back and forth at each other. The younger ones don’t seem to understand what just happened. The older ones eyes are wide, smiling.

Timmy puts her hand on mom’s shoulder, “You’re trying to be strong in front of the kids, huh?”

“Yes,” she cries, tearing up. “This is going to help so much. Thank you.”

We checked them out and went back to my car, job well done.

If there is any lesson in this, it’s the same as the one I’m learning every day:

Raise your voice.

Mom didn’t make the miracle happen by going to Walmart. Timmy did.

The chain reaction for him to get there was started when he drove six hours to apply to work for free for an influencer who did similar things. He worked for years for this guy, helping facilitate miracles for people in need. Then he struck out on his own.

Despite losing access to the multi-million person following of the creator he worked for, he pitched companies, he raised his voice, and he remained dedicated to the dream of helping others achieve their dreams.

Relentless bravery and consistent kindness create miracles.

You never know how one action, or one brave ask, will ladder into something incredible.

So make an ask today… or answer one.

Oh, if you’re still with me - I have an ask for you!

I’m looking to connect with 365 school principals or college deans as I build out my speaking tour across the US. If you know ANYONE who works in a school (counselor, teacher, TA or janitor) please consider putting us in an email thread together.

Introduce me however you like, or just say:

to: person at school
cc: [email protected]

This is Orly. He’s helping students raise their voices to build resilient communities and make miracles happen.
Here is his website - www.orlyisrael.com - I think you should connect.

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Thanks for listening!
Orly