San Dimas, Calif – A California elementary school received a donation Wednesday from a most unusual donor – someone who vandalized the school 32 years ago.
Brought in by a student and given to Shull Elementary School principal Chris Ann Horsley, the $2,500 cashier’s check came with an anonymous note.
Addressed to Horsley, the letter reads: “Approximately 32 years ago, myself and a group of local kids broke into a classroom and vandalized the room terribly. I have felt guilty for far too long and want to give something back to the school that I personally took from. I am sorry for any grief that I caused anyone at that time.”
It was signed, “A Regretful Baby-Boomer.”
The gift of $2,500 would have been worth $568 in 1973 dollars.
Horsley said the school, which opened in 1960 in this Los Angeles suburb, doesn’t have records dating back to 1973. But second-grade teacher Delphine Kiser, who has worked at Shull for 33 years, remembers a break-in during her early years.
Vandals shattered a window to her classroom, scattered papers and sprinkled dry tempera paint on everything, Kiser said.
She doesn’t remember whether anyone was caught.
Even so, Horsley said, she doesn’t plan to investigate the donor’s identity.
“The person wanted to be anonymous,” Horsley said. “We’re very grateful for someone taking personal responsibility for 30 years ago.”
