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TONIGHT THE FOUNDER
OF A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR TECHNOLOGY FIRM
WILL TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME INTO A FAMILIAR CITY.
THIS IS HEARTBREAKING.
ONE THAT IS STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT.
EVERY ROAD IS LIKE A GRAVEYARD.
THEY WERE FINDING BODIES, YOU KNOW, MONTHS AFTERWARDS.
FOR SIX DAYS, HE WILL LEAVE HIS IDENTITY BEHIND...
WOW. WHAT CAN YOU BUY FOR $30.50?
IN SEARCH OF REAL-LIFE HEROES...
OH.
WHO ARE DETERMINED TO REBUILD THEIR CITY...
I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN
TO MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR THE CHILDREN.
WE CAN BE POWERFUL OR WE CAN BE PITIFUL.
ALL YOU NEED IS SOMEONE WITH A WILLING HEART.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT MOMENT IN MY LIFE.
AND IN THE END, HE WILL SURPRISE THEM
WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF HIS OWN MONEY.
I HAVEN'T BEEN 100% HONEST WITH YOU.
WOW.
OH, MY GOD!
WHEN HE REVEALS HIMSELF AS THE...
♪♪
MY NAME IS AMOS WINBUSH III.
I'M 27 YEARS OLD.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND C.E.O.
OF THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY CYBERSYNCHS, LLC.
WE STARTED THE COMPANY WITH $250,
AND TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER,
IT'S WORTH $196 MILLION.
MY WIFE TIFFANY AND I LIVE
IN A LUXURY APARTMENT ON WALL STREET.
WE HAVE A BILLIARD ROOM,
A MOVIE THEATER, AND A PHENOMENAL LOUNGE.
SO BEING A MILLIONAIRE,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SMALL THINGS.
WE'RE ABLE TO GO TO A RESTAURANT
AND SPEND $1,000,
PURCHASE A $100 BOW TIE
OR A $400 PAIR OF PANTS.
SO I ENJOY LIFE.
GOOD SHOT.
THE WAY THAT WE LIVE NOW IS VERY DIFFERENT
FROM THE WAY THAT I GREW UP.
I AM ORIGINALLY FROM SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA--
A GOOD OL' SOUTHERN BOY.
GROWING UP, MY PARENTS STRUGGLED,
AND MY MOM HAD TWO JOBS.
SHE WOULD SACRIFICE SO MUCH TO GIVE
A LIFE THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO HER KIDS.
AMOS WILL NOW LEAVE HIS WIFE TIFFANY
AND HIS IDENTITY BEHIND
TO EMBARK ON THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.
SO WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST?
DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE WORKING HARD?
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
I THINK IT'S-- IT'S ALL SO NEW,
SO...
I'M JUST GONNA STAY OPEN AND...
WHATEVER COMES, COMES.
NO BOW TIES.
WOW.
HOW ARE WE GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU? (laughs)
(laughs)
I FEEL A LITTLE ANXIOUS, UH, RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, UH, IT'S AN EXPERIENCE
THAT I'VE NEVER, UH, GONE THROUGH BEFORE.
I'M LEAVING MY WIFE
AND PICKING UP AND GOING SOMEWHERE COMPLETELY UNKNOWN.
YOU'RE NOT TAKING YOUR WEDDING RING WITH YOU?
IT'S TOO BLINGY.
HE WILL LEAVE ALL CASH AND CREDIT CARDS BEHIND
AND WILL TELL THE PEOPLE HE MEETS
THAT HE'S PART OF A DOCUMENTARY.
AT THE END OF HIS STAY,
HE WILL GIVE MUCH-NEEDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
TO DESERVING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M EXCITED. I'M READY TO OPEN MYSELF UP.
SEE YOU IN A WEEK.
SEE YOU THEN.
I'M HAPPY THAT I CAN DO THIS.
I'M REALLY HONORED AND BLESSED TO BE A PART IT.
FOR SIX DAYS, HE WILL SEEK OUT PEOPLE WHO MAY NEED HIS HELP
IN A PLACE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE NEW-YORK LIFESTYLE
HE'S KNOWN FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS.
WE ARE LEAVING THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN.
HIS DESTINATION-- HIS HOME STATE OF LOUISIANA
AND THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
♪♪
IN 2005, THE DEVASTATION OF HURRICANE KATRINA
HIT NEW ORLEANS,
FLOODING OVER 80% OF THE CITY
AND DESTROYING SOME 200,000 HOMES.
OVER 1,800 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN LOST THEIR LIVES.
I HAVE NOT BEEN TO NEW ORLEANS POST KATRINA.
IT'S DEFINITELY MIXED EMOTIONS.
I THINK I'M EXCITED.
I'M ALSO VERY, VERY ANXIOUS
TO SEE WHAT THE CITY LOOKS LIKE NOW.
(sucks on lip)
OH, WOW.
ALL THIS WAS, LIKE, UNDERWATER.
THERE WERE PEOPLE ON THESE BRIDGES.
WE COULDN'T FIND LOVED ONES FOR... WEEKS.
I HAD--I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD DO THIS.
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE BACK.
I NEVER WANTED TO-- TO COME BACK...
BECAUSE IT WAS JUST TOO HARD.
I SEE DEVASTATION STILL.
THIS IS HEARTBREAKING.
AMOS WILL BE STAYING IN CENTRAL CITY
IN A ONE-BEDROOM HOUSE.
THE ANNUAL INCOME HERE IS UNDER $20,000--
LESS THAN HALF THE STATE'S AVERAGE.
THIS IS SCARY. THERE'S A TRASH BAG ON THE WINDOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN LIVE HERE.
OH, MY GOD. THERE'S A ROACH IN THE TUB.
FOR THE DURATION OF HIS STAY,
AMOS WILL HAVE TO SURVIVE ON THE CITY'S
AVERAGE WELFARE ALLOWANCE FOR A ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLD.
THAT CAN'T BE, LIKE, SERIOUS, THOUGH.
WHAT CAN YOU BUY FOR $30.50?
WOW.
I CAN'T SLEEP IN A DIRTY HOUSE
SO I GUESS I SHOULD CLEAN.
I HAVEN'T S-SCRUBBED A TOILET
IN YEARS, ACTUALLY.
(flushes)
WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT HOUSEKEEPER.
I'M NOT EVEN GONNA GO BACK THERE.
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW.
(water runs)
WOW.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
THIS IS, LIKE, THE SMALLEST BED EVER.
HOW DO YOU PUT THIS ON?
♪♪
NOODLES FOR BREAKFAST.
IT'S NOT WHAT I'M USED TO.
I CAN'T EAT.
I DIDN'T SLEEP WELL LAST NIGHT,
BUT I'M EXCITED TO START THE PROCESS
AND SEE ABOUT MEETING SOME REALLY, REALLY GREAT PEOPLE.
YOU NEVER THINK HOW IMPORTANT PENNIES ARE
IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.
BUT... PENNIES ARE IMPORTANT
WHEN YOU... HAVE NO MONEY.
♪♪
EVERY ROAD IS LIKE A GRAVEYARD.
SO I'M WONDERING HOW THIS COMMUNITY
IS ACTUALLY GETTING BACK ON ITS FEET.
AMOS' COVER STORY IS THAT HE'S FILMING A DOCUMENTARY
ABOUT VOLUNTEERING.
HE HAS DISCOVERED AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED ST. PAUL'S HOMECOMING CENTER.
THE FOUNDER, CONNIE UDDO,
STARTED THE CHARITY IN THE WAKE OF KATRINA'S DEVASTATION.
TO DATE, THEY'VE HELPED OVER 30,000 RESIDENTS
REBUILD THEIR HOMES AND LIVES.
(woman) HELLO.
HEY.
HEY.
I'M AMOS.
HEY, AMOS. I'M CONNIE UDDO.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU, CONNIE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR AT ST. PAUL'S.
AWESOME.
WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE TODAY?
I AM FROM NEW YORK, AND RECENTLY IN TO THE CITY,
AND I WANTED TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION.
OH, COOL. SO...
YEAH.
ST. PAUL'S HOMECOMING CENTER
IS KIND OF A HUB FOR KATRINA RECOVERY.
OKAY.
SO THAT IS REALLY OUR CENTRAL FOCUS HERE,
IS TO BRING OUR RESIDENTS BACK HOME,
REBUILD NOT ONLY THEIR HOMES, BUT THEIR LIVES AS WELL.
SO ARE YOU INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING?
I AM INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, YES.
AWESOME.
YEAH.
LET ME SHOW YOU AROUND.
ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHY DO YOU ACTUALLY DO THIS?
I WAS 50 YEARS OLD WHEN KATRINA HIT.
THIS HOUSE ITSELF HAD, YOU KNOW,
ABOUT 8 TO 10 FEET OF WATER.
I WAS THE FIRST OF TEN FAMILIES
TO HAVE ELECTRICITY OUT OF 8,000 HOMES.
I MEAN, IMAGINE, MAYBE,
BEING IN JOPLIN IN THE ONLY HOUSE STANDING,
AND YOU'RE THERE,
OR IN JAPAN AND YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW HOUSES THAT MADE IT.
THAT WAS KIND OF MY STORY.
RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I WAS BORN HERE,
AND I'M THIRD GENERATION HERE,
AND HEARING PEOPLE COMING IN AFTER THE STORM
FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY OF, LIKE,
"SHOULD NEW ORLEANS EVEN COME BACK?"
IT KIND OF REVVED ME UP.
HOW DARE THEY EVEN QUESTION...
WHY WOULD YOU EVEN ASK THAT?
IF THE CITY--
YEAH.
WELL, YEAH...
YEAH.
A CITY LIKE NEW ORLEANS.
I WAS JUST NOT WILLING TO SEE IT DIE.
WE CAN BE POWERFUL OR WE CAN BE PITIFUL.
YEAH.
AND EVERY DAY, I KNOW THERE'S CALL IN MY LIFE
TO DO SOMETHING GREATER THAN MYSELF.
I WOULD BE HONORED TO VOLUNTEER AND...
YEAH.
WELL, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.
THE GUY THAT WE'RE HELPING TODAY,
HE'S A BUILDER HIMSELF,
BUT THEY'VE--THEY JUST HIT HARD TIMES.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN.
I'M GONNA SEND YOU OFF.
JOE REALLY COULD USE SOME HELP TODAY.
ALL RIGHT.
THERE YOU GO. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THANKS.
AND I'LL SEE YOU A LITTLE BIT LATER.
NICE MEETING YOU.
OKAY, BYE-BYE.
SEE YOU LATER.
ALL RIGHTY.
SIX YEARS AFTER THE HURRICANE,
40,000 PEOPLE IN NEW ORLEANS
ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO REBUILD THEIR HOMES
AND THEIR LIVES.
JOE ROBERT IS JUST ONE OF THEM.
(man) HI. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M AMOS.
I'M JOE.
NICE TO MEET YOU, JOE.
ALL RIGHT, AMOS.
YEAH, YEAH.
I HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO MEET CONNIE.
OH, ALL RIGHT.
AND I HAVEN'T BEEN BACK SINCE KATRINA HIT.
UH-HUH.
AND I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF-- WHERE I CAN BE HELPFUL.
WE GON' PUT YOU TO WORK.
(laughs)
YOU DIDN'T BRING NO TOOLS.
I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS.
ALL RIGHT. YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BRING SOME TOOLS.
MY BACKGROUND IN CONSTRUCTION IS...
HANGING A PICTURE,
UH... (laughs)
IN, UH, IN MY HALLWAY.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA TRIM THAT WINDOW OUT.
UH, HANG--WE GOT TWO DOORS TO HANG HERE.
OKAY.
(grunts)
YOU PULLED IT OUT. (laughs)
PULLED IT OUT AND ALMOST FELL.
PRESS IT IN?
PRESS IT.
HOLD IT. THERE YOU GO.
NICE.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER USED
A POWER TOOL, ACTUALLY, EVER.
REALLY?
A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T NEED, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT--
THAT HAS A WHOLE LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
RIGHT.
ALL YOU NEED IS SOMEONE WITH A WILLING HEART.
(power tools whirring)
SO WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET REALLY TIRED?
SLEEP.
SLEEP. (laughs)
A MUCH-NEEDED BREAK.
(Amos) WHERE DO YOU END UP GETTING ALL YOUR SUPPLIES?
'CAUSE THIS HAS TO BE REALLY EXPENSIVE TO DO.
OH, GOSH. UM...
WITHOUT CONNIE'S ASSISTANCE,
WE WOULD NOT BE AS FAR ALONG WITH THE HOME AS WE ARE.
DO YOU HAVE FRIENDS IN THE CITY STILL?
OH, YEAH.
ARE THEY COMING BACK?
SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK.
UM, I HAD SOME FRIENDS THAT, THEY PASSED.
THEY DIED. THEY--THEY DROWNED.
UM, BUT Y-YOU KINDA...
KEEP GOING, YOU KNOW?
SO...
YOU HAD FRIENDS THAT DROWNED?
YEAH.
UM... BUT IT--IT--
IT'S A--IT'S A... (sighs)
THEY WERE--THEY WERE THE NEIGHBORS.
UM... THEY ACTUALLY CLIMBED UP ON TOP OF MY TRUCK.
AND THEY WAS TRYING TO GET OUT.
UH, BUT THE WATER WAS--
THE--THE CURRENT IN THE WATER WAS JUST SO SWIFT.
THE...
(voice breaks) THE OLD GUY DIED, YOU KNOW.
(clicks tongue)
HMM.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT...
(inhales and exhales) THERE WAS SO MUCH DEVASTATION.
RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WE LOST EVERYTHING WE HAD.
THE ONLY THING WE HAD IS WHAT WE LEFT WITH.
IT SHOWS YOU WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF.
HIS STORY IS A HARD STORY.
IT'S A TOUGH STORY.
BUT HE'S MAKING THE BEST OF IT,
AND HE'S SUCCEEDING IN IT.
IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU...
(clicks tongue)
(voice breaking) AND IT'S PEOPLE LIKE CONNIE...
THAT GIVES US HOPE, YOU KNOW?
(Amos) IT'S TAXING.
IT'S TAXING ON ME, AND I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR SIX HOURS.
MAN, GET UP HERE AND GIVE ME SOME LOVE.
ABSOLUTELY. AH.
AHH.
AHH. OH, YOU HOT.
(laughs) AND THAT AIN'T IN A GOOD WAY, EITHER...
(laughs)
YOU KNOW? (laughs)
SEE YA.
ALL RIGHTY.
(blows air)
IN MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE, HONESTLY, I DON'T SEE HARDSHIP.
I-I-I JUST DON'T SEE IT.
♪♪
(exhales)
NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYONE
THAT'S HAD THE DEVASTATION TO THEIR LIFE
LIKE JOE.
AND IT KILLS ME THAT I CAN'T TELL HIM
WHO I REALLY AM.
HE'S A GREAT GUY, AND I THINK HE DESERVES TO KNOW.
♪♪
♪♪
IT'S AMOS WINBUSH'S THIRD DAY
AS THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE IN NEW ORLEANS.
CONCEALING HIS TRUE IDENTITY, HE IS SEARCHING
FOR UNSUNG HEROES IN THE COMMUNITY.
I AM MISSING HOME. I AM MISSING MY WIFE A LOT.
BUT I'M EXCITED TO GO OUT AND VOLUNTEER.
CONNIE POINTED OUT A SIGN FOR A's & ACES.
IT'S ALL ABOUT CONNECTING
TWO THINGS THAT I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT,
AND THAT'S LITERACY AND TENNIS.
♪♪
(knock on door)
HI.
(man) HI.
I'M AMOS.
HI, AMOS. HOW YOU DOING?
I'M WELL. HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO MEET YOU.
DAVID SCHUMACHER,
FORMER HEAD TENNIS COACH FOR TULANE UNIVERSITY,
HAS BEEN RUNNING THE A's & ACES PROGRAM
SINCE 2008.
(Amos) YOU KNOW, I'M A HUGE TENNIS FAN.
AND, UH, I'M INTERESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU GUYS DO
AND, UH, IF I CAN VOLUNTEER.
BASICALLY, UH, WE'RE A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM.
OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE,
LIFE SKILLS, AND TENNIS
FOR NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOLCHILDREN.
THE YOUTH OF OUR CITY NEED HELP.
TENNIS IS THE HOOK
THAT ALLOWS FOR THE EDUCATION INITIATIVE
THAT IS REALLY THE CORE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I PRACTICED LAW FOR 20 YEARS.
I COACHED TENNIS
AND I'VE COACHED A LOT OF JUNIORS.
BUT THIS--THIS IS THE MOST SATISFYING WORK
I'VE EVER DONE.
UH, I-I'M HEADING OVER THERE NOW.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME,
WE'D LOVE TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING
AND MAYBE PUT YOU TO WORK.
I WOULD LOVE TO.
GREAT.
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO.
GREAT. LET'S GO.
LET'S DO IT.
(laughs) ALL RIGHT.
(laughs)
A's & ACES IS A 2-PART PROGRAM
THAT COMBINES TENNIS WITH READING AND WRITING.
TODAY AMOS IS VOLUNTEERING WITH THE TENNIS LESSONS.
SO I'LL COME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE KIDS?
YEAH, YEAH. I WANT TO MEET THE KIDS.
LET'S SAY GOOD MORNING, AMOS.
GOOD MORNING, GUYS.
(children) GOOD MORNING, AMOS.
GOOD MORNING.
IS ANYBODY READY TO PLAY SOME TENNIS?
(child) YEAH!
YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S DO IT. LET'S DO IT.
(children speak indistinctly)
DON'T BEAT ME, OKAY?
INTRODUCE YOURSELF. ALL RIGHT.
(David) JAMAL, YOU'VE MET?
YEP.
GOOD.
THIS IS QUINCY.
QUINCY?
QUINCY, THIS IS AMOS.
OH, ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.
ARE YOU GUYS USED TO ME HITTING IT TO YOU
OR THROWING IT?
JUST HIT IT?
GET THAT RACKET HEAD BACK.
SO WHEN THE BALL IS COMING TO YOU,
IF YOU NEED TO MOVE BACK AND THEN PREPARE
AND HIT THE SHOT, THEN DO THAT.
GOOD PREPARATION.
(children speak indistinctly)
NICE.
G--THAT WAS GOOD.
RIGHT HERE. COULD'VE BEEN A VOLLEY.
LOOK, IF IT LANDED THERE, IT WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECT.
SO WHEN YOU'RE AT THE NET,
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO.
OOH!
GET IT BACK.
GOOD. GOOD, DUDE.
GOOD GAME.
GOOD GAME.
OH, MY GOD.
YOU GET A WORKOUT.
YOU DO--
THAT'S ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT DOING THIS.
YOU DEFINITELY GET A WORKOUT.
THESE KIDS ARE GREAT.
THEY'RE GREAT.
IT'S INFECTIOUS. IT'S FUN.
I'M PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT HOW MANY
REALLY TAKE TO THIS SPORT.
EVERYONE CAN START HERE.
EVERYBODY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET PAST THAT?
IF WE CAN GET THOSE RESOURCES,
UH, TO HAVE A HOME FACILITY,
WHERE WE HAVE CONTROL OF IT, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET BUMPED,
BUT WE'RE JUST MISSING THAT ONE INGREDIENT
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I'M LEARNING THAT THERE'S A NEED
FOR FACILITIES
FOR THE YOUTH OF NEW ORLEANS
TO ACTUALLY GET IN TO.
SO, QUINCY, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE PROGRAM?
FOR PROBABLY A YEAR.
A YEAR? HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?
YEAH, IT'S--IT'S PRETTY COOL.
SO WHAT DO THEY TEACH YOU GUYS IN--IN THE--
IN THE CLASS, IN THE CURRICULUM?
THEY TEACHES US A LOT OF THINGS.
ONE TIME, THEY TEACHES US HURRI-HURRICANES.
RIGHT. YOU WERE A BABY WHEN KATRINA HIT, RIGHT?
THAT WAY, WE--
THE HURRICANE.
YEAH.
YOU DON'T REMEMBER IT.
WELL, I REMEMBER ONE PART.
YEAH, WHAT PART?
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN THE APARTMENT
WITH MY--WITH MY UNCLE-- MY UNCLE GERALD.
HE PASSED AWAY.
(both) SORRY.
SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
YEAH.
UH, SOMEBODY WAS HOLDING ME. I THINK IT WAS MY BROTHER.
AND HE WAS HOLDING ME,
AND THEN A WHOLE BUCKET OF WATER JUST BUST IN,
AND I WAS FLOATING.
AND THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER.
THAT'S A LOT, THOUGH.
YEAH.
THAT'S A LOT FOR A LITTLE KID TO GO THROUGH.
IT--IT WAS CHAOS.
YEAH.
SO... BUT AT--AT LEAST WE SURVIVED IT
AND ESCAPED IT.
YOU'RE A COOL KID. I LIKE YOU.
YOU'RE A REALLY COOL KID.
YEAH.
(Amos) A's & ACES HAS THEIR EARS TO THE GROUND,
AND THEY'RE FINDING QUINCYS ALL ACROSS THIS CITY.
HI.
HEY.
HOW ARE YOU?
I'M AMOS.
HI. NICE TO MEET YOU, AMOS. I'M CALANTHIA.
NICE TO MEET YOU, CALANTHIA.
UH, I'M HERE, UH, TO PICK UP QUINCY.
I, UM, I'VE BEEN PLAYING WITH HIM ALL DAY.
REALLY?
NOT ONLY IS HE A REALLY GREAT TENNIS PLAYER,
HE'S SUPER SMART.
HE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR TWO YEARS NOW.
YEAH.
SO HE'S GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AS TIME GOES ON.
THE PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT MY SON, AND I LIKE THAT.
NOW I'M--I'M SO EXCITED...
YEAH.
TO ACTUALLY HAVE MET HIM.
(Amos) A's & ACES IS-- IT'S AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION.
AND I THINK DAVID HAS DONE A LOT
FOR THE KIDS ACROSS NEW ORLEANS
THAT DON'T HAVE POSITIVE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CAN DO,
AND HE'S DOING THE BEST THAT HE POSSIBLY CAN
WITH THE RESOURCES THAT HE'S BEEN GIVEN.
THIS IS HOPE FOR THEM,
AND THERE'S A LOT THAT COULD BE AT STAKE.
♪♪
♪♪
IT'S DAY 4 OF 27-YEAR-OLD AMOS WINBUSH'S
"SECRET MILLIONAIRE" MISSION,
WHERE HE'S LOOKING LOOKING FOR DESERVING PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY OF POST-KATRINA NEW ORLEANS.
I'M GOING OVER TO MEET CONNIE,
THE DIRECTOR OF ST. PAUL'S HOMECOMING CENTER.
AND, UH, I'M SURE SHE'S GOING TO PUT ME TO WORK.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M GOING TO BE DOING,
BUT I'M POSITIVE THAT IT'S SOMETHING TO DO
WITH A LOT OF MANUAL LABOR.
SOMEHOW I'VE, UH, BECOME OKAY WITH MANUAL LABOR. (chuckles)
ONE OF THE MANY PROJECTS ST. PAUL'S HOMECOMING CENTER
IS CURRENTLY HELPING WITH IS THE RESTORATION
OF HOPE UNITED CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTER.
BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE VOLUNTEERS NOT FOR VERY LONG TODAY...
OKAY.
WOULD YOU MIND IF WE'D, LIKE, GET GOING ON THE TREES, OKAY?
UH, YEAH, YEAH. THAT'S FINE.
ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT?
YEAH. OKAY.
THIS AREA, OF COURSE, BEING, YOU KNOW,
SO CLOSE TO THE BR-- THE LEVEE BREAKS AND THE LAKE,
GOT ABOUT 10 FEET OF WATER.
THERE WAS 10 FEET OF WATER...
WATER WAS--
THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE SPACE?
OH, YEAH. WELL, THE WATER WAS UP OVER THIS BUILDING HERE...
OH, WOW.
UP TO THE ROOF.
OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION HAD BEEN
TO BEAUTIFY THE GROUNDS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, UM,
WE'RE GONNA LINE THIS STREET.
♪♪
WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THINGS?
UM, HAPPY...
YEP.
IN CERTAIN MOMENTS,
AND THEN, CERTAIN MOMENTS, I'M--I'M MAD.
YEAH.
JUST--
YOU'RE JUST MAD AT THE WHOLE...
THE CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW?
MM-HMM.
AND THEN YOU GET OUT, AND YOU VOLUNTEER AND YOU WORK.
AND THEN YOU FEEL MUCH BETTER. (laughs)
AND THEN YOU FEEL MUCH BETTER.
YEAH, YOU DO.
RIGHT.
AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING GOOD.
YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING.
YEAH.
AND YOU'RE--YOU'RE GIVING YOURSELF HOPE, YOU KNOW?
YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET OUT OF THE HOLES.
LET ME TELL YOU, I WAS SO DEPRESSED.
WERE YOU?
THAT'S WHY I GOT INTO THIS WORK. OH, YEAH.
YOU CAN ASK MY HUSBAND. I COULD HARDLY GET OUT OF BED.
WOW.
BUT ONCE I STARTED DOING THIS WORK,
I FORGOT ABOUT IT ALL.
I JUST--I JUST GOT, LIKE, FOCUSED ON...
TUNNEL VISION, YEAH.
DOING WHAT I WAS DOING.
HAVING THAT, YOU KNOW, MISSION
TO JUST BRING IT BACK.
(Amos) CONNIE IS A TRAILBLAZER.
AND SHE SLOWS DOWN FOR NO PERSON
OR NO NATURAL DISASTER.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE CONNIE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
MORE SOLDIERS FOR THE CAUSE.
IT'S MY FIRST TREE. I'M PROUD.
GOOD JOB, MAN.
♪♪
CONNIE'S CHARITY HAS BEEN HELPING PASTOR DONALD NICHOLAS
OF HOPE UNITED CHURCH
REBUILD HIS COMMUNITY CENTER.
THIS MY COLOR?
THAT--THAT WORKS.
(laughs)
THE CENTER WAS JUST DAYS AWAY FROM ITS GRAND OPENING
WHEN IT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED
BY HURRICANE KATRINA.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD JUST DRAINED THIS POOL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
AND, UH...
SO ALL OF THIS STUFF HAS BEEN HERE...
IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE, UH...
KATRINA?
SINCE KATRINA, YEAH.
WOW.
YEAH. SO, I MEAN, THAT'S THAT SMELL YOU'RE SMELLING.
YEAH.
THAT'S STILL SOME OF KATRINA'S SMELL.
YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE WHOLE CITY...
THAT OLD, BRACKISH, STINKY WATER.
WOULD SMELL LIKE THAT.
YEAH.
YEAH, THERE'S A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING IN IT, OF COURSE.
SOME SAW IT IS A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF SAFETY.
SO YOU CAN SEE A THING AS A PROBLEM
OR YOU CAN SEE IT ANOTHER WAY.
AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH.
WE SAID, "WELL, LET'S FILL IT UP
AND TURN THIS INTO A-A COMMUNITY POOL."
AND I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN...
RIGHT.
TO MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY.
RIGHT.
♪♪
THANKS.
(woman speaks indistinctly)
♪♪
(Amos) WORKING IN THE RAIN, GETTING IN THERE
SHOVELING ALONGSIDE OF SOME REALLY GREAT VOLUNTEERS--
EVERYONE'S MAKING SACRIFICES TO BE HERE,
TO CHANGE SOMEONE'S LIFE, TO...
TO REVITALIZE A COMMUNITY.
THERE'S NO OTHER WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT.
IT--IT'S JUST SOMETHING COOL.
WHEN, UH, WHEN KATRINA, UH, HIT,
IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR
BEFORE WE FINALLY, UH,
UH, WERE ABLE TO RENOVATE HERE.
YEAH.
AND THE PASTOR WHO WAS THE FIRST PASTOR HERE,
PASTOR JOSEPH TENO,
WE LOST HIM IN THE CATASTROPHE.
IN FACT, HIM, MYSELF, AND ANOTHER MINISTER,
WE WERE THE ONLY ONES HERE THAT SUNDAY.
WE HAD WENT TO OUR VARIOUS HOMES...
WHEN THE LEVEE BROKE, AND--
SHE--SHE--
AND THE PASTORS STAYED BEHIND?
THAT'S RIGHT. RIGHT.
AND SO THE EXPECTATION WAS
THAT WE'D BE TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW,
IN A--IN A FEW DAYS.
BUT OF COURSE, UH...
THE LEVEE BROKE THE NEXT DAY.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
NO ONE, YOU KNOW, NO ONE EXPECTED THAT.
HOW DID EVERYONE FIND OUT THAT HE WAS...
NO LONGER WITH US?
THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DISCOVER THE BODY...
WOW.
UNTIL--FOR ALMOST-- FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS.
THREE MONTHS?
YEAH. UH-HUH.
YOU KNOW, THEY WERE FINDING BODIES,
YOU KNOW, MONTHS AND MONTHS AFTERWARDS.
ESPECIALLY...
IN THE LOWER NINTH WARD.
IN THE LOWER NINE, YEAH.
YEAH.
BUT, UM...
IT WAS A-A GREAT LOSS TO THE CONGREGATION,
A GREAT, GREAT, GREAT LOSS.
I, UH... I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME INTO YOUR CHURCH
AND VOLUNTEER AND, UH, YOU TELLING ME YOUR STORY.
WELL, IT CERTAINLY WAS A GREAT BLESSING, UH,
TO HAVE YOU HERE, UH, AMOS.
YOUR QUESTIONING CAUSED ME TO,
UH, TO GO A LITTLE DEEPER.
SO I'M CROSSING THE BRIDGE NOW
INTO THE LOWER NINTH WARD,
AND IT SURPRISES ME,
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BACK IN THEIR HOMES,
AND THEY STILL HAVE THE STAMPS ON THE FRONT.
AND THOSE STAMPS PRETTY MUCH LET YOU KNOW
WHEN THEY CHECKED THE HOUSE, HOW MANY PEOPLE DECEASED.
THE NINTH WARD SUFFERED THE MOST DAMAGE
IN HURRICANE KATRINA.
6 YEARS LATER, ONLY 5,500 RESIDENTS LIVE THERE--
ONE-THIRD ITS PRE-KATRINA POPULATION.
I'VE NEVER DRIVEN THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
WOW.
MY COUSINS WERE IN THE NINTH WARD,
UH, WHEN KATRINA HIT...
WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO RESCUE THEM,
AND IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH.
MY FAMILY HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS.
LUCKILY WE DIDN'T LOSE ANYBODY.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE LEVEE WAS BREACHED.
IT'S A LOT OF EMOTIONS THAT HAVE BUILT UP,
AND, UM...
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL...
LOSS.
THIS LAND HAD HOMES EVERYWHERE,
AND WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE,
ALL OF THIS WAS JUST DAMAGED.
WE CAN'T ERASE WHAT HAPPENED THERE,
BUT WE CAN BUILD NEW MEMORIES
THAT ALLOW THE PAST TO BE HONORED INSTEAD OF MOURNED.
THEY'RE GOING TO REBUILD,
AND THEY'RE GOING TO REBUILD BETTER THAN EVER.
♪♪
♪♪
IT'S DAY FIVE
OF AMOS WINBUSH'S "SECRET MILLIONAIRE" MISSION
AS HE CONTINUES TO MEET COMMUNITY HEROES
IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
YOU NEED ANY HELP?
I CAN HELP YOU.
ALL THE ANXIETY THAT I HAD BEGINNING THIS EXPERIENCE
STEMMED FROM FEAR,
BECAUSE I-I HONESTLY NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD COME BACK.
BUT I KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE IS NOW.
AND I KNOW WHAT MY RESPONSIBILITY
AND MY PURPOSE IS,
AND THESE PEOPLE WERE PLACED IN MY LIFE FOR A REASON.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
♪♪
I AM HEADING TO A's & ACES.
I'M GOING TO GO AND, UH,
SEE THE CLASSROOM SIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
I'M EXCITED TO ACTUALLY GO.
DAVID SCHUMACHER'S TENNIS PROGRAM A's & ACES
ALSO PROVIDES READING
AND WRITING CLASSES FOR THE STUDENTS.
THIS IS THE CLASSROOM.
AN ASTONISHING 80% OF NEW ORLEANS SCHOOLS
WERE SHUT DOWN AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA HIT IN 2005.
(woman) THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO ON YOUR PAPER IS,
AS A GROUP, WE'RE GONNA COME UP WITH TWO REASONS
WHY YOUR THING IS IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO JUMP IN AND HELP.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA DIVIDE INTO FOUR GROUPS.
IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND JUMP RIGHT IN...
LET ME KNOW.
YOU'RE GONNA BE WITH COACH DARREN RIGHT HERE.
OKAY.
HEY, GUYS.
HOW'S IT GOING, BUDDY?
DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER MY NAME, BY THE WAY?
(boy) AMOS.
YES. (laughs)
(woman) SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING IN THESE GROUPS IS,
WE'RE GONNA COME UP WITH TWO REASONS
WHY SUNSCREEN IS IMPORTANT
AND TWO EXAMPLES OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN
IF YOU DON'T HAVE SUNSCREEN.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE A PARAGRAPH.
IS IT GONNA BE A PARAGRAPH OR A SENTENCE?
(children speaking indistinctly)
OH, MY GOSH.
QUINCY.
HMM?
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR SENTENCE?
YEAH? IT'S GOOD?
(singsongy) IT'S GOOD.
SHOULD THAT BE, LIKE, M-I-G-H-T?
NO.
OH! I THINK IT'S--
YEAH, I DIDN'T WRITE--
YEP.
M-I...
MM-HMM.
G-H-T?
M-I-G...
H-T.
H-T.
(Amos) I THINK A's & ACES IS MORE THAN JUST READING.
I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING ABLE TO WRITE,
BEING ABLE TO ARTICULATE YOUR FEELINGS,
AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
WITH YOUR PEER GROUP.
(indistinct conversations)
HEY, GUYS.
YOU WERE WONDERING WHERE I WAS TODAY?
I'M HERE.
I'M ACTUALLY IN THE OTHER ROOM.
(speaks indistinctly)
YEAH, WE'RE IN THE OTHER ROOM.
(child speaks indistinctly)
I'LL COME RIGHT BACK, OKAY?
(children speaking indistinctly)
OH, MY GOD.
(sniffles)
(children continue speaking indistinctly)
SHE--SHE, UH...
(children continue speaking indistinctly)
SHE ACTUALLY, UH, SHE JUST ASKED ME--
SHE SAID...
"TODAY I WAS ACTUALLY WONDERING WHERE YOU WERE."
(children continue speaking indistinctly)
WOW.
(children continue speaking indistinctly)
THAT BROKE MY HEART.
I DON'T WANT TO BE JUST ONE MORE PERSON
THAT, UH, HAS COME INTO THEIR LIFE
AND HAS--HAS LEFT.
"TODAY I WAS ACTUALLY WONDERING WHERE YOU WERE."
(chuckles)
(sniffles)
(Quincy) ARE YOU OKAY?
I'M GOOD, BUDDY.
HOW YOU DOING, AMOS?
I'M GOOD.
DID YOU ENJOY THE COUPLE OF DAYS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE...
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
AT THE A's & ACES PROGRAM?
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
GREAT.
CAN WE INVITE HIM TO DINNER?
AW. NOW THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY LOUISIANA COOKING?
(laughs)
I HAVE NOT, NO.
I COOK VERY GOOD NOW.
OH, MY GOD.
SO WHY DON'T YOU COME BY?
I--YOU-- YOU GOT A DATE.
GREAT. WELL, WE'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT.
(children continue speaking indistinctly)
LET'S GO, Q.
BYE, BUDDY.
READY?
I'LL SEE YOU LATER, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT?
OKAY.
(Amos) I HAVE NOT EATEN A MEAL
IN SEVERAL DAYS,
AND MY STOMACH IS CRAVING FRESH FOOD,
BECAUSE I JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.
(knock on door)
CALANTHIA LIVES AT HOME
WITH 8-YEAR-OLD QUINCY
AND HER ELDEST SON BURGESS.
I'M AMOS.
(Calanthia) THAT'S AMOS.
NICE TO MEET YOU, BURGESS.
YOU, TOO.
SO YOU ARE RAISING...
(Calanthia) IT'S--IT'S COOKING...
TWO BOYS.
TWO BOYS.
YEAH.
UM, THEY KEEP ME BUSY.
YOU KNOW, GETTING INTO A's & ACES,
IT'S SOMETHING THAT QUINCY CAN BRANCH OFF TO.
YEAH.
THEY NEED TO BE, LIKE, LAWYERS AND ENGINEERS,
AND, YOU KNOW...
YEAH.
DO THINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT--THAT'S WHAT I LOOK FOR THEM TO DO.
WELL, GUYS. IT'S DINNERTIME.
AWESOME.
LET'S EAT.
YOU GUYS SIT ON THE SOFA.
(Amos) THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DINNER.
SURE. YOU FINALLY GET TO EAT SOME DINNER,
HUH, MY BROTHER?
YES, INDEED.
IN 2005,
CALANTHIA WAS WORKING A NURSE AT TULANE MEDICAL CENTER,
WHICH SUFFERED SEVERE FLOOD DAMAGE
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE AFTER THE HURRICANE.
I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE NIGHT OF THE STORM.
IT WAS SATURDAY.
BURGESS SAID, "MAMA, WE NEED TO GET OUTTA HERE."
(Burgess) YEP.
"WE NEED TO PACK EVERYTHING AND GO.
THIS STORM IS HEADED FOR US."
I GOTTA GO TO WORK SUNDAY, SO WENT TO WORK.
THE WIND WAS BLOWING. YOU COULD SEE THE STORM MOVING THE TREES.
TO UNDERSTAND HOW BAD THIS STORM WAS--
THERE WAS PEOPLE ON THEIR ROOFS
WITH THEIR FAMILIES,
WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME GET THEM.
SO OUR FIRST LEVEL WAS FLOODED.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA GET OUTTA HERE IS TO GO UP.
I COULDN'T LOSE MY COMPOSURE.
I'M THINKING OKAY, SOMEBODY'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY.
I, YOU KNOW, MY HEART--
GOD JUST KINDA PUT THAT IN MY SPIRIT...
SO I WOULDN'T PANIC.
I HAD TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE PATIENTS...
MM-HMM.
THAT I WAS TAKING CARE OF AND HELPING.
AS THE DAYS WENT BY, WE HAD TO HELP PEOPLE
ROLL THE STRETCHER WITH THAT PATIENT ON 'EM
AND GET 'EM UP TO A HELICOPTER.
PUT 'EM ON A HELICOPTER, HELICOPTER WOULD GO.
(snaps fingers)
AND WE DID THIS IN, LIKE, A ROUTINE.
(snaps)
IT WAS LIKE A WAR ZONE.
THAT'S WHAT IT FELT LIKE.
THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.
I THOUGHT ABOUT MY FAMILY.
MY PHONE WAS DEAD. DIDN'T HAVE A CHARGER.
COULDN'T CALL THEM.
UM, DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE.
UM, FOR AT LEAST, WHAT, HOW LONG?
WAS IT A WEEK?
CAN YOU REMEMBER?
ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
TWO WEEKS.
YEAH.
NO.
ALWAYS HAD FAITH. ALWAYS.
(Amos) CALANTHIA'S AN AMAZING, AMAZING LADY,
AND SHE'S RAISED
TWO WELL-ROUNDED BOYS
TO BE REALLY GREAT MEN.
AND HER STORY IS
THE QUINTESSENTIAL SURVIVAL STORY.
NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND HER KIDS FOR TWO WEEKS?
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT I WOULD BE ABLE
TO BOUNCE BACK.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD BE THAT RESILIENT.
♪♪
(sighs) I MADE THE COMMENT
THAT, IN MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE I DON'T SEE
DISPARAGING SIGHTS,
I DON'T SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE
DOWN ON THEIR LUCK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD,
IN MY 15-BLOCK RADIUS.
IT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
I SEE THEM.
I JUST DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
I CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT, I UH,
WILL GIVE MY ATTENTION TO.
♪♪
♪♪
AMOS' "SECRET MILLIONAIRE" EXPERIENCE
IS COMING TO AN END,
AND HE MUST MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS
REGARDING THE CHARITIES HE HAS MET.
THIS IS REAL LIFE.
THESE ARE THE STORIES THAT MAKE THIS CITY WHAT IT REALLY IS.
AND THAT'S, UH, LOVE, UNDERSTANDING,
PASSION,
AND THE SOLDIERS OF CHANGE.
I'M WALKING AROUND WITH LIVING HEROES RIGHT NOW.
EVERYONE I'VE MET THIS WEEK HAVE BLESSED ME SO MUCH.
AND, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO GIVE THEM THAT BACK.
♪♪
(buzzing)
IT'S A BIG DAY.
(sighs)
I AM NERVOUS TO TELL THEM ABOUT WHO I AM.
I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO PHRASE THIS.
♪♪
WRITING A CHECK IS JUST ONE TOKEN.
BUT IT CAN MEAN SO MUCH TO A PERSON
THAT...
DOESN'T HAVE.
I AM STOKED TO SEE BOTH CONNIE AND PASTOR NIC.
I CALL THEM LIFE SOLDIERS.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE
A GREAT MOMENT IN MY LIFE.
(knock on door)
AH.
PASTOR NIC, HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU. YEAH, YEAH.
SAME HERE.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU GUYS CAN JOIN ME OUT--OUT HERE?
WELL--WELL, LISTEN, LET--
LET ME GRAB SOME OF THE MEMBERS AND CONNIE...
OKAY.
AND WE'LL COME OUT AND JOIN YOU, ALL RIGHT?
TOTALLY. ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY? SURE.
HEY, CONNIE.
HEY, AMOS.
YOU LOOK GREAT.
(Pastor Nic) ALL RIGHT.
I DO CLEAN UP EVERY NOW AND THEN.
(laughs) HEY, HONEY. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD.
GOOD.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
VOLUNTEERING WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION
HAS MEANT THE WORLD TO ME,
AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO ACROSS THIS CITY IS...
VERY REWARDING.
UM, TO BRING FAMILIES BACK HOME...
IS AMAZING.
(voice breaking) I HAVEN'T BEEN 100% HONEST WITH YOU
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
MM-HMM.
(normal voice) MY NAME IS AMOS WINBUSH III,
AND I'M A MILLIONAIRE.
(voice breaking) AND, UM...
I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH
A SMALL TOKEN OF MY HEART
BECAUSE YOU'VE GIVEN SO MUCH THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU...
A DONATION...
FOR $40,000...
(gasps)
TO HELP YOU WITH...
OH, MY GOD.
ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO DO
FOR ST. PAUL'S HOMECOMING CENTER.
AMOS.
(laughs)
OH, MY GOODNESS.
OH.
OH.
(speaks indistinctly)
♪♪
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE GAP WAS FOR THIS YEAR?
NO.
$40,000. (laughs)
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
(Pastor Nic) GLORY, GLORY, GLORY.
I-I AM DEAD...
OH, MY GOD.
(man speaks indistinctly)
I'M NOT SPEECHLESS VERY OFTEN. (laughs)
BUT...
WOW.
(Connie) WITH THIS,
I CAN HELP GET MORE PEOPLE HOME,
AND I'M JUST INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UH...
UH, TO LET PASTOR NIC KNOW THAT...
UM...
YOU REMIND ME SO MUCH OF HOME.
AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS...
(exhales deeply) IT'S PHENOMENAL.
AND, UM, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A TOKEN
OF MY... HEART....
A CHECK FOR $20,000.
(gasps) NIC?
GOD BLESS YOU.
(Connie laughs)
CONGRATULATIONS.
(chuckles)
LOVE YOU, MY BROTHER.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
BLESS YOU.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE WILL BE PRAYING FOR STRENGTH FOR YOU
AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU PUT YOUR HANDS TO DO.
GOD BLESS YOU, MY BROTHER.
THANK YOU.
AND GOD KEEP YOU.
THANK YOU.
(Pastor Nic) THERE'S A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING.
AND WHEN IT APPEARS THAT SOMETHING IS MISSING,
THE REALITY IS THAT IT'S ON THE WAY.
♪♪
JOE THINKS I'M COMING OVER TO WORK.
UM, SO HE HAS CROWN MOLDING READY FOR ME.
I'M SURE HE'S GONNA BE SURPRISED
AND HOPEFULLY, HE TAKES IT WELL.
JOE.
HEY THERE, DUDE.
HOW'S IT GOING, BUDDY?
MAN, LOOK AT YOU.
(laughs)
YOU'RE ALL SHARP AND ALL, LOOKING ALL GOOD.
THANK YOU, MY FRIEND.
CAN YOU COME OUT SO I CAN TALK TO YOU REALLY QUICKLY?
OH, SURE.
AH.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT...
YOU ARE AN AMAZING, AMAZING GUY.
WHY, THANK YOU.
I THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME INTO YOUR HOME.
I THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME INTO YOUR HEART AND YOUR LIFE,
BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE MORE FOR ME THAN YOU COULD EVER KNOW.
WOW.
UH, BUT I HAVEN'T GIVEN YOU THE FULL TRUTH...
(voice breaks) ABOUT WHY-- WHY I'M REALLY HERE.
UM...
(normal voice) MY NAME ISN'T REALLY AMOS JACKSON.
IT'S NOT?
MY NAME IS, UH, IS AMOS WINBUSH.
UH-HUH.
AND I'M ALSO THE FOUNDER AND C.E.O.
OF A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR COMPANY
AND I'M A MILLIONAIRE.
THAT'S GOOD.
AND BECAUSE YOU'VE TOUCHED ME SO MUCH...
(voice breaking) I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU
WITH A CHECK FOR $30,000.
WOW.
(laughs)
(voice breaks) OH, GOD.
(cries)
OH, LORD.
(Joe) I JUST DIDN'T--MAN, HE--
I MEAN, HE GAVE ME $30,000, YOU KNOW.
AHH.
IT'S LIKE, "MAN, THAT'S A GOOD THING."
AND IT HAPPENED TO ME, YOU KNOW?
UM... WOW.
I DON'T--I'M--I'M SHAKING.
MAN, MY--MY--MY-- YOU OUGHTA FEEL MY HEART.
YOU TAKE CARE.
SEE YOU LATER.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHTY.
LORD. WHEW.
(Amos) I'M ON CLOUD NINE
AND I'M READY TO DO MORE.
♪♪
♪♪
IT'S AMOS' FINAL DAY AS THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE.
HE IS RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY HEROES
HE HAS MET IN THE PAST SIX DAYS TO REVEAL HIS IDENTITY
AND SURPRISE THEM WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
I'M GOING INTO A's & ACES NOW
AND I'M ECSTATIC TO SEE THE KIDS
BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT TO BE 100% HONEST WITH THEM
ABOUT WHO I AM.
AH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, AMOS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
I'M GETTING READY TO JUMP ON A...
ON A PLANE AND--AND, UH, HEAD BACK TO NEW YORK CITY.
OKAY.
AND I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I THINK THE WORK THAT YOU DO
IS AMAZING.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING, UH,
ME TO COME INTO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND VOLUNTEER.
WE WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE.
IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MAKE THIS WORK.
I HAVEN'T BEEN 100% HONEST WITH YOU.
UH, MY NAME ISN'T AMOS JACKSON.
UH...
MY NAME IS AMOS WINBUSH III...
AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF A SUCCESSFUL TECHNOLOGY FIRM.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH
A SMALL TOKEN OF MY APPRECIATION...
(voice breaking) AND LOVE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO,
UM, ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY,
UM, FOR $50,000.
AMOS.
(voice breaking) THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW YOU'VE GOT ME...
(laughs)
EMOTIONAL.
THIS IS AMAZING. I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING.
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH ON BEHALF OF ALL THE CHILDREN.
UH, THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
YOU DO A LOT FOR OTHERS.
AND, UH, I WANT YOUR PROGRAM TO BE SUSTAINABLE
FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A FINANCIAL DONATION
FOR LEASING COURT SPACE FOR YOU FOR TWO YEARS.
(applause)
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
(Amos) IT FEELS REALLY GREAT TO SHOW THE TEAM FROM A's & ACES
EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY'VE BLESSED ME.
BYE, GUYS. (blows kiss)
THIS IS JUST ONE WAY THAT I'M ABLE TO...
RETURN THE FAVOR.
♪♪
(Calanthia) HI.
HEY.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
YOU, TOO.
OH, COME ON IN.
OOH.
HOW YOU DOING TODAY?
I'M GOOD.
COME ON IN.
THANK YOU.
COME ON. WHAT'S UP, MAN?
WHAT'S UP, BROTHER?
(speaks indistinctly)
I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH
YOUR FAMILY MEANS TO ME.
AND, UH, I THINK YOU ARE
AN AMAZING, AMAZING MOTHER AND WOMAN.
THANK YOU.
(exhales) UM...
YOUR STORY HAS TOUCHED ME A LOT...
YEAH.
FROM, UH, BEING WITHOUT YOUR KIDS...
YEAH.
TO THE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES OF BEING A MOM.
UM...
I HAVEN'T BEEN 100% TRUTHFUL WITH YOU.
REALLY?
OKAY.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND C.E.O. OF CYBERSYNCHS,
A TECHNOLOGY FIRM.
AND, UM...
I WOULD LIKE TO...
OH.
TO GIVE YOU A CH-CHECK FOR $10,000.
LORD, HAVE MERCY. OH, MY GOODNESS.
WHAT? WHAT?
OH, MY GOD.
WHAT?
OH.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
FEELIN' GOOD?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YEAH.
WHAT?
OH, MY...
THAT'S YOUR BLESSIN'.
I'M TELLIN' YOU, THAT'S YOUR BLESSIN'.
I TOLD YOU A BLESSIN' WAS COMING.
(crying) OH, MY...
(singing indistinctly)
(Calanthia) THANK YOU.
YOU HEAR ME?
YOU'RE WELCOME, SO MUCH.
OH, MY GOD.
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING THINKING THAT THIS HERE
WAS GONNA BE A BAD DAY.
WHAT?
(crying) I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
WHAT?
GOD IS SO GOOD, AMOS.
BOY, YOU'RE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU. MWAH. MWAH. MWAH. MWAH.
(Amos) IT WAS VERY HUMBLING.
IT ALLOWS ME TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR--
FOR US TO--TO GIVE BACK,
AND, UH...
WHEN, UH, MY SPIRITS WERE DOWN, THEY LIFTED ME.
THEY'VE GIVEN ME SO MUCH MORE THAN...
THAN I'M GIVING THEM.
♪♪
TO ME, THIS IS A LIFE MOVEMENT.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
THAT I WILL CHERISH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
NOW I SEE WHAT THIS CITY IS ALL ABOUT.
AND IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY PULLING TOGETHER.
IT'S ABOUT THE STORIES OF, NOT ONLY SACRIFICE,
BUT REBUILDING OF LIVES.
BUT IT'S COMING BACK,
AND, UH, IT'S COMING BACK STRONGER.
♪♪