Amy Shockley

Christ-follower. Wife. Mom. Wabash Football ❤️🤍 Avon HS fan 💛🖤Sports lover. Proud American. 🇺🇸

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

Girls bball opener Thurs, sectional fball Fri, state vball Sat. Best 3 days or what? GO AVON!

[The Real Mike Rowe @mikeroweworks]

Another Christmas Carol

Last week, I received a phone call from a woman who wanted to know if my foundation was set up to receive donations in the form of stock. When I told her that we were, she told me that her boss wanted to make a year-end donation.

“That’s great,” I said. “What’s your boss’s name?”
“She would prefer to remain anonymous.”
“No problem,” I said. “How much would she like to give?”
“A million dollars.”
(5 seconds later.)
“I’m sorry, how much?”
“A million dollars,” she said. “Of highly appreciated stock.”
(Another 5 seconds later.)
“Hello…are you still there.”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m still here. You have a very generous boss. Would it be possible to thank her personally?”

“I’m afraid not,” she said. “Her privacy is very important, and her time is valuable.”

“I promise to respect both,” I said. “It's just that no one has ever given me a million dollars before, and I’d really like to say thanks. Just a quick phone call would be fine.”

“Let me see what I can do,” she said. “In the meantime, where do I send the stock?”

I told her, and the next day, a million dollars of highly appreciated stock arrived in the MRW brokerage account. And the day after that – Christmas Eve – I received an email with a link to join a Zoom call at exactly 11:55 am to meet my anonymous benefactor, a woman I’ll call “Carol.”

I clicked the link at exactly 11:55, and Carol appeared on my computer screen. She had me on mute because she was talking to someone else on her cell phone. It looked urgent. A minute later she hung up and took me off mute.

“Sorry,” she said. “Crazy morning. Hey - you clean up pretty good!”

“Thanks,” I said. “It’s my second shower of the day.”
Carol’s phone rang again, but she ignored it.
“Thanks for making the time,” I said. “I know you’re busy.”

“Busy doesn’t come close to what I am,” said Carol. “I’ve got a board meeting in five minutes, a house full of cranky relatives, and a helicopter waiting for me on the roof.”

“With respect,” I said, “who schedule’s a board meeting on Christmas Eve?”

“My husband just asked me the same thing. In the immortal words of Robert Plant, I’m afraid the answer is, ‘nobody’s fault but mine.’”

“Actually,” I said, “those words came from Blind Willie Johnson. He wrote Nobody’s Fault but Mine almost a hundred years ago. Led Zeppelin “borrowed” it in 1976 and put it on an album called Presence. You can listen to Blind Willie’s version on You Tube. I'm not sure which is better.”

“I’ll be sure to work it into my holiday playlist,” said Carol, glancing at her watch. “Now what can I do for you?”

“You’ve already done it. I just wanted to tell you how I’m going to spend your money.”

“I already know how you’re going to spend it,” she said. “You’re going to give it to qualified applicants who want to learn a skilled trade. Hopefully, the electric trade. My company could hire fifty electricians right now, and fifty more in Q2. We just can’t find them.”

“I know,” I said. “I hear the same thing every day. Our goal is to award $10 million in trade school scholarships next year, and your donation has got us off to a terrific start.”

“Happy to help,” said Carol. “And by the way, my kids and I loved Dirtiest Jobs. Do you think you’ll do more?”

“Not unless it’s animated,” I said. “I don’t bend as easily as I used to.”

Carol laughed. “I feel your pain,” she said. “Anything else?”

“Well, at the risk of correcting you twice in one call, the show was called Dirty Jobs, not Dirtiest Jobs.”
“Really? Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure,” I said. “I did 350 of them.”

“That’s so strange,” she said. “I could have sworn it was Dirtiest Jobs.”

“It’s a common mistake,” I said. “TV has trained us to expect the extreme version of whatever it is we’re watching. It’s not ‘Home Makeover,’ it’s “EXTREME Home Makeover.’ It’s not America’s FUNNY Home Videos; it’s America’s FUNNIEST home videos. It’s not ‘Deadly Catch,’ it’s ‘DEADLIEST Catch.’ See what I mean? Everything is always oversold.”

“But don’t you narrate ‘Deadliest Catch,’” Carol asked.
“For the last 22 years," I said. But I didn’t name that show. If I did, I would have called it Deadly Catch. Not as sensational, but more honest. It goes to managing expectations.”

“Ok,” said Carol, "but tell me this. If Dirty Jobs had been called “Dirtiest Jobs,” and there was only one-episode, which jobs would you put on it?”

“Aren’t you late for a board meeting?” I asked.
“They can start without me,” she said.

I proceeded to tell Carol, in great detail, about my top three dirtiest jobs, and was deeply flattered to see her spit out a mouthful of coffee during my explanation of castrating sheep with my teeth. I was equally delighted when she guffawed during my description of semen-gathering from a prized bull, and very pleased when she gagged during my recollection of dogpaddling through several tons of diarrhea while replacing a ruptured lift pump in a wastewater treatment plant.

When we finally hung up, Carol was a half-hour late for her board meeting, which I took as a personal victory. When she invited me to stay in touch, I assured her that I would. And the next morning, as I sat by the Christmas tree sipping eggnog, counting my blessings, and listening to Blind Willie Johnson sing Nobody’s Fault But Mine, I couldn’t help but wonder if Carol was doing the same. I like to think she was.

Mike

PS. mikeroweWORKS has always relied on the generosity of ordinary Americans who contribute modest amounts whenever they are able. That will always be the case. However, there is no denying the fact that lots of people this year are reducing their taxes in fairly dramatic fashion by donating highly appreciated stock to their favorite charities. This is most often accomplished through a Donor Advised Fund, which anyone who takes charitable giving seriously should have. It doesn't matter if you're rich - if you want to dramatically reduce your tax bill with charitable donations, a DAF is the best way to do it, especially if you want to donate appreciated assets like stock, art, real estate, etc. By donating appreciated stock instead of cash, Carol not only reduced her taxable income by 30%, she completely eliminated the capital gain tax she would have paid had she sold the stock. Bottom line, a big chunk of the money she would have paid in taxes, went instead to her favorite charities. One of which, happily, was mikeroweWORKS. May her example resonate from sea to shining sea!

PPS. The rules surrounding DAFs are changing this year, and not for the better. If you're thinking of setting one up, you still have a few days. It's worth doing. Here's a primmer. https://t.co/kC8aqGXXHt

PPPS. I read somewhere that 50% of all charitable giving happens in December, and 30% of that happens in the last three days. With that in mind, any amount is most appreciated, at mikeroweWORKS. In the immortal words of Tiny Tim, God Bless Us, Everyone!

[Candace Owens @RealCandaceO]

There will be no official response from the L’Elysees palace because what I have shared is TRUE and I have evidence to support my claim.
I even have names.
They are likely trying to figure out where the leak came from.
We are talking about the murder of citizens for speech.

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

Let’s go Avon and get that W!

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

Chilly but meeting so many great people at the polls this morning!💛

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

@avonHSPrincipal working to get the YES vote out this morning for Avon schools! Would appreciate your vote on Nov 4 to keep class sizes low and to pay teachers competitively!

[The White House @WhiteHouse]

'You have no idea the fire you have ignited.' - Erika Kirk

The legacy of Charlie Kirk.❤️

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

Let the school year begin! @AvonHSPrincipal

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

@fbcoachjmayo @JDSherrod12 Have the best time!

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

First trail Marathon! Congrats Sam. #WAF ⁦@WabashCollege⁩

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

Last day of school vibes

[Kent State Men’s Golf @KentStGolf]

A 69 from Bryce Reed leads the Flashes in round three at the Amherst Regional! Kent State finishes the team's 31st NCAA Regional appearance in 10th place ⚡️

#GoFlashes | #NCAAGolf

[MACtion @MACSports]

Kent State’s Jordan Gilkison reflects on his individual title, team title and earning MAC Golfer of the Year honors!

@KentStGolf | #MACtion

[Kent State Men’s Golf @KentStGolf]

For the 29th time in program history, the Golden Flashes are MAC Champions! ⚡️🏆

#GoFlashes | #MACtion

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

We knew you could do it! Congratulations Jordan!

[Kent State Men’s Golf @KentStGolf]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐀𝐂 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧

#GoFlashes | #MACtion

[Kent State Men’s Golf @KentStGolf]

Jordan Gilkison claims his second win of the season at the Buckeye Classic! ⚡️👏

The senior finishes the tournament at 11-under-par, his best finish to par this season!

#GoFlashes

[Kent State Men’s Golf @KentStGolf]

An individual winner and 4️⃣ top-20 finishes as the Flashes come in fourth at the Buckeye Classic! ⚡️

#GoFlashes

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

Listen to this—very informative.

[Anna Matson @AnnaRMatson]

This was a great meeting and allows us to know how our tax dollars are being spent.

If you enjoyed this thread, please consider subscribing, liking, and/or sharing so I can continue this work 🙏

[Anna Matson @AnnaRMatson]

This was a great meeting and allows us to know how our tax dollars are being spent.

If you enjoyed this thread, please consider subscribing, liking, and/or sharing so I can continue this work 🙏

[Indiana Pacers @Pacers]

Reggie! Reggie!

Reggie Miller received a standing ovation at @GainbridgeFH 👏

[Amy Shockley @AmyShockley2]

@CoachKent__ @GoJacksFB So excited for you! Been praying and I know you will be used mightily. 🙌