Man finds a $20 note at a parking lot—what happened next, transformed his life
Imagine you are walking through a parking lot, going about your day, when you spot a crumpled bill lying on the ground. Most people might pick it up, buy a coffee or tuck it away for later. But for one North Carolina man, that small moment set off a chain of events that would change his life forever. A $20 bill he found in a gas station parking lot, ended in a million-dollar reward, all thanks to a last-minute decision. Jerry Hicks, a master carpenter from Banner Elk, North Carolina, was going about his day when he noticed the bill lying on the ground outside a Speedway convenience store, as per TODAY.
With the newly found cash in hand, Hicks decided to try his luck at the lottery. However, his original plan didn’t go as expected. "They actually didn’t have the ticket I was looking for so I bought that one instead," he said, per NC Lottery press release. Also, it led him to purchase an Extreme Cash scratch-off. Within moments, he realized he had just won $1 million. Hicks wasted no time in claiming his winnings, heading to the North Carolina lottery headquarters on October 25, 2024. There, he was presented with two options: receive $50,000 annually for 20 years or take a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum, which, after taxes, left him with $429,007.
While many winners might struggle to decide what to do first, Hicks already had his mind made up. "We are going to head straight to Golden Corral and eat everything they’ve got," he laughed. But beyond the celebration, Hicks saw this win as his opportunity to retire after 56 years of working as a carpenter. He also shared that he planned to use the money to help his children, ensuring that his newfound fortune would benefit his family.
This shows how life is full of twists and turns. In another amazing story, a single mother found herself trapped under the weight of student debt, until an unexpected act of kindness changed everything. Unlike the lucky lottery win, this life-changing moment wasn’t the result of pure chance but rather an extraordinary act of generosity. Jasmin Ford, a single mother and dedicated nurse, was carrying a student loan debt of $150,000. With a toddler son, she found herself working two jobs just to make ends meet. She had resigned herself to the idea that paying off her loans would take a lifetime until a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity knocked on her door.
In what she thought was a simple documentary project about student loan debt, she was invited to share her story on camera. During the interview, she was caught off guard when Mike Crawford, a representative from Fifth Third Bank, arrived at her home with unexpected news. Having no idea what was about to happen, she listened in shock as Crawford personally informed her that her entire $150,000 student loan debt had been wiped clean. Bursting into tears, she could barely find the words to express her gratitude. Crawford told her, "You have inspired us and this is the least we can do." For Ford, the news was nothing short of a miracle. "I could not foresee when I’d be able to pay it off. I just knew this was going to be a part of my life as long as I was alive unless there was some significant change, which…wow," she remarked.