The most expensive ride on the NYC subway...

On April 30, at our 74th New York Annual Gala, I told the audience of more than 460 people this story…

“A friend of mine is the President of a nonprofit organization here in New York. About a month ago, he had an appointment to ask for a large donation from a prospect he didn’t know, who was the President of a bank.

On the day of the meeting, he noticed a man having trouble with his MetroCard at the subway station. Without hesitation, my friend swiped his card for him. Surprised by this random act of kindness, the man asked, "May I give you the money for this ride?"

"Thank you, sir, but no," replied my friend. Then he added, "Just pay it forward, if you wish."

Long story short... My friend goes to his meeting and, as it always happens in the most classic of fairy tales, the President of the bank is the man he helped in the subway. "It’s time to pay it forward," said the man to my friend, handing him a check for one million dollars for his charity.

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