Pizza man gets huge tip from college kids. Photo By Huffington Post

At Indiana Wesleyan University, CEO of Residential Education, Keith Newman, found a way to teach the lesson of giving to his students and faculty during a recent chapel service. The lesson, “do for one what you wish you could do for everyone” was demonstrated this past Wednesday with the pizza delivery man from Domino’s Pizza.

After ordering a couple of pizzas to be delivered to the university chapel, Newman passed around the basket to collect donations for the delivery man’s tip. He also asked everyone present to write a note of thanks to the unknown man. The bill for the pizzas was just $12.50. The amount collected for the tip was substantially more.

James Gilpin probably thought this was just another day at work. There is now way he could have known when he was brought to the stage in the chapel what was about to happen. He was given a piece of cake, a bag containing the thousands of notes and a tip of more than $1,200.00.

Jim Lo a faculty member who helped organize the event and was present for the generous tip-giving, described Gilpin’s face. Gilpin listened as what was being given to him was announced. His face was completely blank for a few moments. But as he left the stage with his tip, that smile was “wonderful to behold”, according to Lo.

Gilpin later he said he was completely overwhelmed by the act. He was not alone. Students who were there cheered, clapped and cried all at the same time. They later said they had definitely learned a lesson about the impact participating in such an act of random kindness can have – not only on the recipient but on the giver.

Gilpin plans to use the money to buy Christmas gifts for his kids this year. Looks like gift will influence others, too.