Myles Eckert of Toledo, Ohio, was selected for his volunteer philanthropic work on behalf of Gold Star children. While visiting a Cracker Barrel restaurant with his family, Eckert found $20 in the parking lot. During breakfast, he saw a soldier and his family enter the restaurant and told his mother that the soldier reminded him of his father, who was killed in combat in Iraq weeks after Eckert was born. Eckert paid it forward by giving the $20 to the soldier. After this remarkable story was told nationwide, many people sent Myles $20. But instead of taking any money, the Eckerts directed those donations to various charities that help kids who have lost a parent to war. To date, donations total more than $2,000,000.00.

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