Widower shocked when late wife leaves $127K for Make-A-Wish
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A retired school teacher gave her husband quite the surprise after her death when he learned she had saved enough money to donate more than $127,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Ninety-year-old Hartley Gaylord told ABC News his wife of 65 years handled their finances for about 20 years and he didn’t ask questions.
“It was a shock to me,” Hartley Gaylord told ABC News. “She used to make little deposits and she’d just say, ‘Oh, this is one of the accounts I have,’ and that was very fine.”
He thought his wife, Sandy, saved roughly $30,000 in the account that actually contained $127,414.39.
According to The Desert Sun, Sandy Gaylord opened the bank account 30 years ago following her mother’s death. Her mom left her $25,000.
“I knew she started this years ago for Make-A-Wish to benefit kids, but I never gave it much thought over the years,” Hartley Gaylord told The Desert Sun. “She taught fifth grade and loved kids.”
The widower got in touch with Make-A-Wish, and the organization was surprised.
“It’s the largest personal donation we ever received in the 33-year history our chapter,” Kara Bautch, senior marketing manager for Make-A-Wish, told The Desert Sun.
The generous donation will benefit 26 children’s wishes, according to Bautch. Wishes include going somewhere, owning something, learning to do something or meeting someone.
Earlier this month, Make-A-Wish gave Hartley Gaylord a plaque of appreciation.
“This would have given my wife the greatest pleasure,” he told ABC News.
