From newarkadvocate.com. Article by Anna Jeffries
Back around Christmas, long time Newark resident Brian DeGarmo found a cell phone in the parking lot outside where he works at Mental Health America of Licking County. Brian turned in the phone, and the phone’s owner repaid Brian by buying him a bright red electric scooter.
This is a seemingly simple story, but there is much more to Brian than meets the eye. In 1981, Brain had been in a car crash that sent him into a coma for 6 days and left him with serious brain damage. He was unable to drive or even work and had to endure an arduously long recovery process with the help of the former Executive Director of MHA, Paddy Kutz. As his own sort of repayment for Kutz’ kindness he now works at MHA helping out in whatever way he can, recycling, shredding papers, etc. Brain DeGarmo is loved at the office for his warmth and genuine kindness. He chooses to help out even though he does not have to and often picks up trash and recycling on his way to work.
On that December day, Brian was walking to work as he usually does when he found the cell phone. Rather than place the phone in a lost and found he wanted to ensure that it made it safely back to its owner so he promptly told his boss at MHA. Upon returning the phone to its owner, the owner wished to make a donation to the foundation. Instead, Executive Director, Pam Roberts, wanted Brian to receive some recognition and something truly helpful to him.
Brian had been looking at pictures of scooters so Roberts asked the owner of the phone if he would buy the scooter for him. He obliged and Brian has been ecstatic about his scooter ever since. He uses it to travel to work, especially now that the weather is getting nicer, and seems genuinely happy as he zooms around the parking lot at MHA. I love how the pay it forward method is really illustrated throughout this story: Kutz’ kindness towards Brian DeGarmo, followed by DeGarmo’s contributions to MHA and others in general, and the phone owner’s kind repayment to DeGarmo.
Source: http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20140401/NEWS01/304010030/Newark-man-receives-scooter-good-deed-wants-pay-forward?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1
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