Born in 1908, Ozeola McCarthy attended the University of Southern Mississippi as a child and dreamed of becoming a nurse. But in the 6th grade he could not leave school to look after her aunt, who fell ill, and then continue her studies.
She got a job as a laundress and earned a few dollars a day. One day she came to the Bank of Mississippi and she opened a savings account and started investing $ 1-2 a day.
When she was asked why she was collecting, she said "Grandma".
After the death of his grandmother in 1944, she continued to invest a little, as usual. Her mother died in the 70's.
One day, when a bank employee offered to convert some of Ozeola's money into bonds, she ignored him and agreed.
She was single for 75 years and worked as a laundress.
She did not leave his hometown until his retirement. In 1995, Paul Loglin, a bank clerk, wanted to go home and find out what had happened to Ozeola over the last week.
But she was in pain. Seeing in front of him a man who had been tired of years of hard work, Paul decided to come to the bank and check his account. To say that she was surprised would be an understatement.
About $ 300,000 was saved. Miss McCarthy, who soon came to the bank, at first she did not believe, but when she was convinced, she said, "Let it lie in my account."
The bank employees told her that she no longer had to work and that the money she had saved was enough to live on. Ozeola told that she worked not for money, but for the benefit of the people.
"Then where do you spend your savings?" "I want to provide scholarships for children from poor families who want to study," Ozeoala said.
"And how much do you save for yourself?"
The story spread quickly to the state and then to the entire United States, causing many people to donate money to the fund. Media tycoon Tid Turner was so impressed that in 1997 he transferred $ 1 billion.
Ozeoala was invited to meet with students at the University of Mississippi: "What is your dream?" When asked, she said, "To see a student who has graduated from my scholarship."
Sadly, in 1999, at the age of 92, Ozeola McCarthy died. A year later, 18-year-old Stephanie Bullock was the first student to receive a scholarship from her foundation.
P.S. In 1996, she was awarded the Atlanta Olympic Flame. She received an honorary doctorate from Harvard University. She received an award from the United Nations. Her case was published on the front page of the New York Times and broadcast on all major television channels.
If you search for Ozeola McCarthy on YouTube, you can watch the video.
Ramazan AZHNIYAZOV.
Translated by:national portal"Adyrna"
