HOUSTON It was a surprise six years in the making and one that changed the lives of three people forever.
Stefun Darts has been working toward one important goal: paying off his grandparents mortgage, according to Today. He stayed in when his friends went out, skipped out on big events, lived on a diet of cheap microwave pizza and earned the title of boring homebody.
I had to sacrifice a lot, Darts told Today. Friendships, relationships, going around and partying.
But for Darts, no sacrifice was too great when it came to his grandparents, who took him in when he was young and helped him become who he is today. Darts worked hard, saving every extra penny along the way.
My grandparents arent struggling by any means, but why are they living to pay bills? Darts said. Thats not the way of life I want them to have. If I can do anything, with every bone in my body, I will sacrifice because I dont know how long they have on this earth I will sacrifice that fun because that fun is temporary.
No job was too small. Darts, who set out on his mission at age 18, worked at a grocery store, manned the phones at a call center, made and delivered pizzas for Pizza Hut and later sold life insurance and real estate, Today reports.
Darts saved a total of $15,000 enough to pay off the house and send his grandparents on a trip to the Bahamas. Earlier this month, he surprised them with a giant check Publishers Clearing House-style at a party with their family.
Darts posted a photo of the surprise to his Facebook page, along with a tribute to his grandparents.
I promised God in the second grade I would pay off you guys house and help you retire. A promise I would never break, he wrote. Even with this, I could never repay you for what youve done for me. I sacrificed my teenage and early adulthood of not having fun for this moment.
With his mission finally complete, Darts can focus on his college studies, as well as his job at Exxon Mobil.
Stefun Darts has been working toward one important goal: paying off his grandparents mortgage, according to Today. He stayed in when his friends went out, skipped out on big events, lived on a diet of cheap microwave pizza and earned the title of boring homebody.
I had to sacrifice a lot, Darts told Today. Friendships, relationships, going around and partying.
But for Darts, no sacrifice was too great when it came to his grandparents, who took him in when he was young and helped him become who he is today. Darts worked hard, saving every extra penny along the way.
My grandparents arent struggling by any means, but why are they living to pay bills? Darts said. Thats not the way of life I want them to have. If I can do anything, with every bone in my body, I will sacrifice because I dont know how long they have on this earth I will sacrifice that fun because that fun is temporary.
No job was too small. Darts, who set out on his mission at age 18, worked at a grocery store, manned the phones at a call center, made and delivered pizzas for Pizza Hut and later sold life insurance and real estate, Today reports.
Darts saved a total of $15,000 enough to pay off the house and send his grandparents on a trip to the Bahamas. Earlier this month, he surprised them with a giant check Publishers Clearing House-style at a party with their family.
Darts posted a photo of the surprise to his Facebook page, along with a tribute to his grandparents.
I promised God in the second grade I would pay off you guys house and help you retire. A promise I would never break, he wrote. Even with this, I could never repay you for what youve done for me. I sacrificed my teenage and early adulthood of not having fun for this moment.
With his mission finally complete, Darts can focus on his college studies, as well as his job at Exxon Mobil.