Granny-shares for sale ...

[naschburger2]

Mike,I remember way back when there was a comedian that had a show with a big kid audience and he jokenly asked each child to send in a dollar. When $1,000 of dollars were received and the parents complained the comedian got in big trouble. The moral to this story is that we are all your children Mike but very funny.

[Cubswin]

This reminded me of this story... link

Mike Hayes of Rochelle, Illinois, long ago proved he was one of the more clever types. Back in 1987, while a chemistry freshman at the University of Illinois, he came up with a novel idea to solve his tuition and college expenses problem. Figuring that just about anyone could spare a penny, he brazenly asked everyone to do it.

He wrote to Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene, asking him to request each of his readers send Hayes a penny. The notion tickled the veteran columnist's fancy enough that he was willing to go along with it. From Bob Greene's column:

No one likes being used, but in this case I'm willing. It sounds like fun.

Mike Hayes, 18, is a freshman science major at the University of Illinois in Champaign. He is looking for a way to finance his college education, and he decided that my column is the answer.

"How many people read your column?" he asked me.

I told him I didn't know.

"Millions, right?" he said. "All over the country, right?"

I said I supposed that was true.

"Well, here's my idea," he said, and proceeded to explain.

I'll break it down simply: Mike Hayes wants every person who is reading this column right this minute to send him a penny.

"Just one penny," Hayes said. "A penny doesn't mean anything to anyone. If everyone who is reading your column looks around the room right now, there will be a penny under the couch cushion, or on the corner of the desk, or on the floor. That's all I'm asking. A penny from each of your readers."

You wouldn't think a scheme like that would be wildly successful. But it was.

In less than a month, the "Many Pennies for Mike" fund was up to the equivalent of 2.3 million pennies. Not everyone was content to send merely a penny (hence the "equivalent" statement above) — many sent nickels, dimes, quarters and even more. There's something lovable about a kid who asks you for a penny. Ask Debra Sue Maffett, Miss America 1983. Not only did she send a cheque for $25, but her donation was accompanied by a letter saying she admired him. "She even signed the letter 'Love,'" Mike said.

Donations were received from every state in the United States, plus Mexico, Canada, and the Bahamas. Yes, he ended up with the $28,000 he'd set out to get.

But 1987 was a long time ago, you say. Whatever happened to this lad?

He went on to earn his degree in food science from the University of Illinois. As for why this scheme worked: ''I didn't ask for a lot of money,'' Hayes said. ''I just asked for money from a lot of people -- 2.8 million people [of Chicago].''

Perhaps the last word is best left to the lad's father, Bill Hayes: "When Mike first told me about his idea, I just laughed and said that I thought it was dumb. Which shows you that he's smarter than I am."

[jasonHoldEm]

Can someone send me a penny?

jasonholdem on stars and paradise.

Thanks,
J

[LSUfan1]

[ QUOTE ]
Can someone send me a penny?

jasonholdem on stars and paradise.

Thanks,
J

[/ QUOTE ]

Everyone transfer me a penny in my PokerStars account (LSUFan1972). If I am really successful I may be able to play in a 1+.20 tourney later this month! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Talk2BigSteve]

It was Soupy Sales.

Steve

[mshalen]

Soupy Sales on his show told the kids to go into their parent's rooms and mail him the green pieces of paper on Daddy's dresser. The show ended up donating a lot of money to charity because they couldn't determine who the senders were. Many people believe this to be an urban myth, but is a true story.

[theghost]

[ QUOTE ]
Soupy Sales on his show told the kids to go into their parent's rooms and mail him the green pieces of paper on Daddy's dresser. The show ended up donating a lot of money to charity because they couldn't determine who the senders were. Many people believe this to be an urban myth, but is a true story.

[/ QUOTE ]

<http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/soupy1.htm>

"Hey kids, last night was New Year's Eve, and your mother and dad were out having a great time. They are probably still sleeping and what I want you to do is tiptoe in their bedroom and go in your mom's pocketbook and your dad's pants, which are probably on the floor. You'll see a lot of green pieces of paper with pictures of guys in beards. Put them in an envelope and send them to me at Soupy Sales, Channel 5, New York, New York. And you know what I'm going to send you? A post card from Puerto Rico!"

[naschburger2]

thanks, I couldn't remember Soupy Sales's name for the life of me and couldn't reach anyone old enough to remember. I used to be able to recall these names without trouble now it has become difficult. Getting old is frustrating.

[LetYouDown]

So these kids:

1.) Could figure out how to address/stamp an envelope
2.) Had means to mail it without their parents noticing it in the outgoing mailbox
3.) Don't have any concept of what money is
4.) Kept it quiet.

Add me to the list of people that not only think it's an urban legend, but an urban legend you'd have to be stupid to believe.