(Nov. 12) -- A retired barber left a surprise gift – more than $800,000 – to a charity in Erie, Pa., that serves developmentally disabled children and adults.
Dominick J. Colelli, who died in January at age 95, gave the surprise gift to the foundation of the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute, the Erie Times-News reported.
The donation, which was announced Wednesday, is the one of the largest gifts in the organization's history.
President and CEO John Barber described Colelli as humble, unassuming and personable. Colelli had no friends or relatives who were clients of the institute but had befriended its founder and Barber's aunt, Gertrude Barber, years ago. Colelli regularly attended spaghetti dinners and other fundraisers for the institute and even organized bowling events to help raise money.
"I guess that is what makes human beings great," Barber told the Times-News. "He made money not just for him, but saved it up and wanted other people to have it."
Colelli, who never married or had children, cut hair for 37 years. The institute is the only charity named by Colelli's estate. He left smaller, but generous, amounts of money to nieces and other relatives.
To read more about this story, go to the Erie Times-News.
