A longtime waitress in Iowa named Bonnie Barnett passed away last year at 80, but on her way out, she left $1.3 million to various organizations in her town of Fort Dodge.
Friends say she often worked two jobs, saved every penny, and loved her community. Mark Crimmins, an attorney who is the executor of Barnett's estate, says it seems like she saved nearly every penny she earned.
"She worked at the Starlight Village as a waitress for probably 30-40 years. I know we found some cash in her house. That had to be tips that she saved," he said. "... And she invested it and didn't spend any money."
Barnett gave more than $530,000 to Iowa Central Community College, money that will be used to create an endowed scholarship in her name. That and gifts to the local YWCA, Trinity Health Foundation, Domestic Sexual Abuse Outreach Center, Humane Society of Central Iowa, and the Boy Scouts of America Troop 8 totaled more than $1.3 million.
Jesse Ulrich, president of Iowa Central, said he was astonished by Barnett's generosity.
"We are just blessed to be able to receive this gift," he said. "Bonnie was well known in our community and I remember Bonnie for working at the cash register at the grocery store. Just a sweet person."
Two of the groups that received money from her are the Iowa Central Community College and Fort Dodge Public Library.