For most of her life, Oseola McCarty quietly washed and ironed clothes in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, earning modest pay while living a simple life.
But what few people knew was that McCarty had spent decades saving nearly every dollar she earned. By the age of 87, she had accumulated roughly $280,000 through discipline and careful spending.
In 1995, she made a decision that stunned the nation: she donated $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi to establish a scholarship fund for students who otherwise might not have been able to attend college.
McCarty said she never had the opportunity to pursue higher education herself — so she wanted to help others achieve that dream.
Her gift became one of the most celebrated examples of quiet generosity in American history and has supported generations of students.
Source: @prettyshadesofmelanin
