With $3 million worth of savings in the bank, Dale Schroeder, a humble carpenter from Iowa, sent 33 people to college. All of them with scholarships.Schroeder worked at the same company for 67 years and according to a good friend of his, this humble carpenter really didn\u2019t have much.<\/p>\n
Schroeder passed away in 2005.
\nNo one really knew that Dale, a humble carpenter, had amassed $3 million in savings. No one expected anything but he saved all this money just so he could give others a better future.<\/p>\n
Dale never got to attend college since he grew up in a poor family.<\/p>\n
He never got married nor does he have children.<\/p>\n
In 2005, just before Dale passed away, he approached his friend and lawyer, Steve Nielsen, to discuss his life savings and what was to become of the money.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wanted to help kids that were like him that probably wouldn\u2019t have an opportunity to go to college but for his gift,\u201d Steve said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018How much are we talking about, Dale?\u2019 And he said, \u2018Oh, just shy of $3 million.\u2019 I nearly fell out of my chair.\u201d<\/p>\n
The scholarships he funded helped potential teachers, doctors, and therapists realize their dreams were now in reach just by going to college.<\/p>\n
It took a long 14 years for the fund to run out. The 33 beneficiaries call themselves \u201cDale\u2019s Kids\u201d, and are intent on paying it forward.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what Dave wanted.<\/p>\n
The beneficiaries from the scholarships recently gathered around the man\u2019s old lunchbox so they could talk about how Dale\u2019s support changed their lives.<\/p>\n
And to think they never got to meet the man.
\n\u201cI grew up in a single-parent household and I had three older sisters, so paying for all four of us was never an option. It almost made me feel powerless, like, \u2018I want to do this, I have this goal but I can\u2019t get there just because of the financial part.\u2019\u201d Kira Conrad said.<\/p>\n
She always had dreams of becoming a therapist, but her financial situation wasn\u2019t working in her favor so she knew it was impossible.<\/p>\n
It was at her high school graduation party that she planned on telling everyone, her friends and family included, that she wouldn\u2019t be able to afford college given her circumstances.<\/p>\n
And then Kira received a call that turned her whole life around.<\/p>\n
It was Steve and he called to tell her that $80,000 of her tuition would be covered thanks to Dale\u2019s scholarship fund.<\/p>\n
Kira broke down in tears. The realization that a complete stranger was sending someone to college just so they could achieve their dreams just didn\u2019t happen. Except it did.<\/p>\n