Meet Dale Schroeder
Dale Schroeder, a humble carpenter from Iowa, worked his whole life not just for his bread and butter but to carve out a legacy of generosity that would outlive him. Despite his simple and frugal lifestyle, which saw him working for the same company in Des Moines for nearly seven decades, he had amassed over $3 million in savings. A shocker, right?
Dale’s Gift to Education
Rather than splurge on luxuries, Dale had a more altruistic plan for his hard-earned fortune. His thoughts were not on purchasing fancy homes or cars, but how his savings could fuel the dreams of deserving yet underprivileged students.
A Carpenter’s Fortune Funds College Dreams
College tuition doesn’t come cheap, and it can crush dreams before they have a chance to flourish. For many talented young Iowans, their path to higher education would have remained a closed door if not for Dale. He used his savings to fund the education of 33 youngsters, most of whom have carved successful paths in the fields of education and medicine. 
The Impact of Selflessness
Among the beneficiaries was Kira Conrad, who was choked with emotion to learn that a stranger, a carpenter named Dale, was funding her college studies. In an interview, she shared, "For a man that would never meet me… to give me, basically, a full ride to college…that’s incredible. That doesn’t happen."
Dale’s Only Wish
Although Dale’s savings were exhausted by 2019, his gift resonates in the lives of those he helped. His only request to his beneficiaries was to "pay it forward". He wanted his act of generosity to initiate a cascading effect of kindness – a legacy that was more precious to him than his amassed wealth.
The Extraordinary Story of An Ordinary Man
Dale Schroeder was an ordinary man, living an ordinary life, far from the public eye. But his extraordinary generosity immortalizes him as a beacon of rare selflessness and generosity. His story underscores the idea that in the end, it’s not how much we have, but how much we give, shapes the legacy we leave behind. His is a story worth sharing and celebrating! So, how are you planning to pay it forward?
