Forklift Philanthropist Keeps Going - Forum For Men

Mike · 05-31-2008, 01:43 AM

Matel Dawson drives an old car and lives in a one-bedroom apartment. At 78, he still works for Ford Motor Co. -- just like he has for the past 59 years. He drives a forklift, soaks up as much overtime as possible and pulls down around $100,000 a year. Just so he can give most of it away.

With a $200,000 donation to Wayne State University on Tuesday, Dawson has now donated more than $1 million to schools and charities since 1994.
"I get joy, happiness out of this,'' he said at a news conference, nattily dressed in a pinstriped suit with a pink boutonniere. "I can go home and sleep good.''

Dawson got as far as the seventh grade in Shreveport, La., before coming to Detroit in 1940. He didn't become a philanthropist by winning a lawsuit, hitting the lottery or collecting an inheritance. All he's done, he said, is work, work overtime, save and invest. "No matter how much you make or how little you make, you've got to save a little of that,'' he said. "I was raised like that, to help others. I have more than enough myself.''

For Dawson, who is divorced and has one daughter, "more than enough'' doesn't include vacations -- he said making money is more enjoyable. He drives a 1985 Ford Escort and his apartment is in down-on-its-heels Highland Park, where Henry Ford built his Model T factory. "A big house, a big car, that doesn't excite me,'' Dawson said.

Dawson earns about $100,000 a year through his base salary of $23.47 an hour, plus overtime from working 12-hour days. He runs a forklift and is classified as a ``rigger'' -- a skilled tradesman available for a variety of jobs at the Rouge assembly complex in Dearborn.

In 1994, years after he could have retired, Dawson began giving his money away. The first recipient was the United Negro College Fund, which got $50,000 then and has received $180,000 more since then. He has given $200,000 to Louisiana State University at Shreveport; $112,000 to churches in Detroit and Louisiana; $20,000 to the NAACP; and $10,000 to community colleges. The biggest beneficiary by far has been Wayne State, which with Tuesday's gift has received $431,500. The latest gift, like a $200,000 Dawson donation in 1996, will go toward scholarships.

Dawson "stands as an example to all others who thought they didn't have enough to give,'' Wayne State President Irvin Reid said. Turning to Dawson, Reid said, "Your money is very important to us, but your example is even more important.''

Dawson said he will remain at Ford and continue his blue-collar philanthropy as long as he stays healthy. Next year he plans to set up a $100,000 scholarship fund in Shreveport in honor of his grandparents.
"I won't say I want to give it all away,'' Dawson said. "But I'll give the bulk of it away.''

The Associated Press

The Mad Wombat · 05-31-2008, 08:49 PM

Truly an example for us all.

superx2 · 06-02-2008, 02:48 AM

What a guy!!! I guess that is where the saying money isn't everything comes from!!

Goose · 06-02-2008, 02:58 AM

Money can't buy happiness...

Goose · 06-02-2008, 02:59 AM

..well, actually thats kinda false, because this guy gets joy out of giving his money away.. which is kinda like buying happiness..

.....anyone else see the irony?

The Mad Wombat · 06-03-2008, 04:31 AM

Good point Chris!

VikingJew818 · 06-03-2008, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose

Money can't buy happiness...

but it can buy hookers, next best thing.

The Mad Wombat · 06-03-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VikingJew818

but it can buy hookers, next best thing.

No, that just proves money can buy herpes! Not a very happy purchase!

Goose · 06-04-2008, 02:10 AM

And syphilis!

Mike · 06-04-2008, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose

Money can't buy happiness...

I think I'd be pretty happy with a million dollars

05-31-2008, 01:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mike Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Mike has no status. Points: 2,305 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Forklift Philanthropist Keeps Going Matel Dawson drives an old car and lives in a one-bedroom apartment. At 78, he still works for Ford Motor Co. -- just like he has for the past 59 years. He drives a forklift, soaks up as much overtime as possible and pulls down around $100,000 a year. Just so he can give most of it away. With a $200,000 donation to Wayne State University on Tuesday, Dawson has now donated more than $1 million to schools and charities since 1994. "I get joy, happiness out of this,'' he said at a news conference, nattily dressed in a pinstriped suit with a pink boutonniere. "I can go home and sleep good.'' Dawson got as far as the seventh grade in Shreveport, La., before coming to Detroit in 1940. He didn't become a philanthropist by winning a lawsuit, hitting the lottery or collecting an inheritance. All he's done, he said, is work, work overtime, save and invest. "No matter how much you make or how little you make, you've got to save a little of that,'' he said. "I was raised like that, to help others. I have more than enough myself.'' For Dawson, who is divorced and has one daughter, "more than enough'' doesn't include vacations -- he said making money is more enjoyable. He drives a 1985 Ford Escort and his apartment is in down-on-its-heels Highland Park, where Henry Ford built his Model T factory. "A big house, a big car, that doesn't excite me,'' Dawson said. Dawson earns about $100,000 a year through his base salary of $23.47 an hour, plus overtime from working 12-hour days. He runs a forklift and is classified as a ``rigger'' -- a skilled tradesman available for a variety of jobs at the Rouge assembly complex in Dearborn. In 1994, years after he could have retired, Dawson began giving his money away. The first recipient was the United Negro College Fund, which got $50,000 then and has received $180,000 more since then. He has given $200,000 to Louisiana State University at Shreveport; $112,000 to churches in Detroit and Louisiana; $20,000 to the NAACP; and $10,000 to community colleges. The biggest beneficiary by far has been Wayne State, which with Tuesday's gift has received $431,500. The latest gift, like a $200,000 Dawson donation in 1996, will go toward scholarships. Dawson "stands as an example to all others who thought they didn't have enough to give,'' Wayne State President Irvin Reid said. Turning to Dawson, Reid said, "Your money is very important to us, but your example is even more important.'' Dawson said he will remain at Ford and continue his blue-collar philanthropy as long as he stays healthy. Next year he plans to set up a $100,000 scholarship fund in Shreveport in honor of his grandparents. "I won't say I want to give it all away,'' Dawson said. "But I'll give the bulk of it away.'' The Associated Press

06-02-2008, 02:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
Goose Lieutenant Colonel Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Goose is editing his status Points: 1,614 Thanks: 5 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Money can't buy happiness... __________________ Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war. --Thucydides-- From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots. --Thomas Jefferson--

06-02-2008, 02:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Goose Lieutenant Colonel Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Goose is editing his status Points: 1,614 Thanks: 5 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	..well, actually thats kinda false, because this guy gets joy out of giving his money away.. which is kinda like buying happiness.. .....anyone else see the irony? __________________ Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war. --Thucydides-- From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots. --Thomas Jefferson--

06-04-2008, 02:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
Goose Lieutenant Colonel Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Goose is editing his status Points: 1,614 Thanks: 5 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	And syphilis! __________________ Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war. --Thucydides-- From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots. --Thomas Jefferson--

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05-31-2008, 08:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
The Mad Wombat Lieutenant Colonel Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Wombatia system in the Sombrero galaxy The Mad Wombat is under the impression that it's his civic duty to be awesome! Points: 1,554 Thanks: 4 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Truly an example for us all.

06-02-2008, 02:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
superx2 Major Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Madelia, MN Age: 28 superx2 has no status. Points: 1,048 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	What a guy!!! I guess that is where the saying money isn't everything comes from!!

06-03-2008, 04:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
The Mad Wombat Lieutenant Colonel Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Wombatia system in the Sombrero galaxy The Mad Wombat is under the impression that it's his civic duty to be awesome! Points: 1,554 Thanks: 4 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Good point Chris!

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