One Shine at a Time, Shoeshiner Raises $100,000 From Tips for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Yahoo.com ^ | 2/28/06 | unknown

[beyond the sea]

One of Albert's friends, Jonathan Finder, put it best when he said, "Albert makes you think of the song about how a mole can chew down a mountain," "He has donated tens of thousands of dollars, one pair of shoes at a time."

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The Albert Lexie Website

Albert began his shoe-shine career about 40 years ago, when he built a shoe-shine box in shop class. He has shined shoes in the business districts of the Mid-Mon Valley and in the Pittsburgh area for many years. He travels from store to store in the cities of Monessen, Charleroi, Donora, and Monongahela to serve his 50 regular customers (Albert refers to them as "buddies").

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he travels by bus to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, from his home in Monessen. Since 1981, Albert has donated over $100,000 of his hard-earned tips to the hospital's Free Care Fund.

The Free Care Fund provides financial assistance to children who need medical treatment but whose families do not have adequate health insurance or the financial means to pay for it.

[beyond the sea]

From: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_48/b3910406.htm – 11/29/04

The 62-year-old, who lives on just $10,000 a year, e-mailed President George W. Bush recently to ask if he could shine the President's shoes. He is still waiting for a response. "He'd probably give me a $100 tip," muses Lexie.

C'mon G.W. ;-)

................. ping

[martin_fierro]

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[beyond the sea]

"There are times my shoes don't need shining, but I get them shined because it's Albert," says Perry Roofner, the hospital's director of facilities."

"He stands for something that the hospital tries to represent ----- charity."

Great story.

[mysterio]

Wow.

[Marine_Uncle]

His rewards await him in heaven.

[Supernatural]

Yeah, the dude is from where I live and has been doing this for many years. He's kind of slow witted, almost retarded. But he has done more good that most people will in their lifetimes.

Nice thread.

[Fudd Fan]

Just wondering why you pinged me to this.

[beyond the sea]

You're on my Steeler/football ping list.

I thought you might like to hear about something nice like this, but if I was wrong or if you wish off that list, please let me know.

:-)

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"I thought you might like to hear about something nice like this..."

Thanks.

Albert is quite a model for us all.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

[beyond the sea]

Oh yes........... great scene. One of my all time favorite movies!

****

Tommy: Just don't go busting my balls, Billy, okay?

Billy Batts: Hey, Tommy, if I was gonna break your balls, I'd tell you to go home and get your shine box. [to his friends]

Billy Batts: Now this kid, this kid was great. They, they used to call him Spitshine Tommy.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Refreshing to read a positive story for a change. Go Albert!

[jennyjenny]

I'm not sure why I was pinged either. Am I on your Steeler/football ping list for some reason?

[Lurker]

Wow what a great story. Thanks for sharing it.

L

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

He found his true calling, didn't he? Some people will NEVER find it. This man has it in spades. God bless him.

[AGreatPer]

Monessen is no easy trip by bus to Oakland. This man is amazing. And, how can anyone live on $10,000 a year.

[Supernatural]

My heart goes out to the man. A simple shoe shiner shows up a lot of people with his years-long good deeds at great sacrifice to himself.

[Supernatural]

Monessen is a very cheap place to live. Housing and groceries are cheap. Way cheaper than most places in the entire U.S.