A waitress who was struggling financially enough that she was on the verge of losing her apartment was the recipient of a large tip that immediately addressed the issue.
In the midst of telling her story, the tipper, known only as Mike, decided to put one of his teaching projects into practice, with the help of a foundation that had been set up by one of his former teachers.
That former science teacher from eighth grade, Rich Specht, set up the foundation in memory of his son, who was two months away from turning two when he drowned in a tragic accident. The foundation’s name is ReeSpecht Life, and it seeks to emphasize the importance of the concept of “paying it forward.”
The final bill for Mike’s meal came to 43.50, and while the suggested gratuity was anywhere from six to eight dollars, Mike wrote down $3,000. He also quickly scribbled down a note that explained why he offered such an amount and asked that the waitress do three things.
They were to first go the foundation’s website to learn more about what they attempt to do on a regular basis; continue the concept of paying it forward; and to keep things anonymous if she chose to publicize the act of charity.
Mike’s basis for making the waitress the recipient was, “This woman has been serving us for almost a year now. She’s a lovely individual, and she talked about how she was served an eviction notice last month.”