A 17-year-old teenager, Adrian Rodriguez, has received widespread praise after returning a lost purse filled with cash and personal belongings without taking a single dollar.
Adrian discovered the purse inside a shopping cart outside a grocery store in California. When he opened it, he found cash, cards and identification belonging to the owner.
Rather than keeping the money or simply handing the purse over to someone else, Adrian used the identification to determine where the owner lived. He then drove to her home and returned the purse with its contents still intact.
There was no demand for a reward and no attempt to take any of the cash.
According to Adrian, he was simply following the values his mother had taught him — to do the right thing even when nobody is watching.
The purse’s owner was reportedly so impressed by his honesty that she reviewed doorbell-camera footage to help identify Adrian and launched a fundraiser as a way of thanking him.
The story quickly attracted attention, and strangers began contributing to the fundraiser.
More than $17,000 was eventually raised for Adrian.
Adrian returned a purse expecting absolutely nothing in return. Instead, his simple act of honesty inspired thousands of people to show their appreciation.
Sometimes doing the right thing may seem ordinary — but the impact it creates can be anything but ordinary. ❤️👏
