A viral video of a homeless veteran smashes stereotypes and results in a well-deserved chance for a new life.
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A 51-year-old former Marine sat down at one of Sarasota, Florida’s public pianos, and it ended up being the first day of a whole new life for him.
The day Gould sat down at the piano, passers-by had no idea what was coming. When his fingers started flying over the keys — playing “Come Sail Away” by Styx — people stopped to pay attention.
What they didn’t realize was this man — whom many might have walked past without even noticing, if he’d been sitting on the sidewalk holding a sign asking for help — has tremendous musical talent. Gould “studied music theory in college and had to learn everything ‘from the piccolo all the way down to the tuba.'” But when the cost of a college education became too high, he dropped out. And never went back.
After the video of him was picked up by a local news station, social media went crazy. News about his life and his talent eventually ended up back at his former school, which offered Gould a scholarship worth more than $30,000.
“Offering him the scholarship was an easy decision … We have seen countless students and lives impacted by the transformational education we provide and know that Donald has a unique gift for music that he can use to change lives,” said Malachi Crane, vice president at Spring Arbor University in a statement to USA Today.
But the gifts didn’t end with the scholarship. A family friend saw the video of Gould playing and notified his son’s adoptive parents. The little boy Gould gave up for adoption is now a teenager, and the two have reunited.
Watch Gould’s sidewalk performance here:
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#85: Brave Cellist Performs in Bombed-Out Buildings of Sarajevo << 100 Acts of Male Goodness
Do you have an Act of Male Goodness to share? Or know someone who should be profiled in this series? Email Kristi Dale (kdaleliv@gmail.com) with ‘100 Acts of Male Goodness’ in the subject line.
Photo: Donald Gould/Facebook
