In 1923 Russ Gremel was four-years-old and had just moved into a new home with his family in the Jefferson Park area of Chicago. The street lamps had to be lit at night and there were horses that took people around town, but besides that Russ says not much else has changed on his quiet little street.
Now at the age of 98, Russ lives alone in that same house eating his favorite foods of stew and oatmeal. Though he enjoys living a simple life Russ has a huge secret that he has hidden from his family and friends for 70 years.
Fox 32 Chicago
Back when he was a young man his brother told him that he should invest money in a pharmacy because people will always need medicine and women will always buy makeup. So Russ took $1,000 and bought stock in a local Chicago pharmacy.
Now all of these years later that pharmacy has grown into the huge national chain known as Walgreens and the stock that Russ purchased has soared to a massive $2 million in worth.
Chicago Tribune
After all of these years no one knew about the stocks that Russ was saving.
Then a few years ago Russ finally decided what he wanted to do with it. Give back. So he donated the money to the Illinois Audubon Society.
As it turns out that they had their eyes on a piece of property that they wanted to purchase and thanks to his gift last month they were able to officially opened the 400-acre refuge for wildlife.
It was dedicated in his name.
YouTube
As a young man, Russ loved going out into nature and exploring and he hopes that now his fellow Chicagoan’s will be able to have the same experiences that he did.
“You have to do some good in this world,” Russ told the Chicago Tribune. “That’s what money is for.”
What an incredible way to give back! Share this story to inspire more giving!
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