CNN.com - Anderson Cooper 360° Blog

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Temptation & doing right

--Randi Kaye, 360 Correspondent

Reggie Damone is starting the new year on the right foot.

This fast food worker from Connecticut caught my eye after the AP reported he picked up what he thought was litter on the street.

After finding it was a check for $185,000, he RETURNED it to its rightful owner.

This is a guy who lives on food stamps and works at McDonalds! He took a bus from his home to the bank and returned the check to the niece of the landlord it was made out to. He got $50 for his honest gesture.

Imagine how much rent he could have paid with all that money, but he says he was never even tempted.

Reggie says he rememberd his mom's words, "If you take something, you lose three times that amount, and if you do something good, something good comes back to you."

What would you do? Could you return $185,000 that didn't belong to you, but fell into your lap?

Posted By CNN: 11:27 AM ET
11 Comments

Randi,

Absolutely I would return the check, a wallet, a bag, envelope of money whatever I would find. I would do this because it is the right thing to do and if I ever lost anything I would want my property returned to me. However, I think it is a bummer that this guy only got $50 for his efforts. He should have gotten a much greater reward (maybe $1 to 2K) and should have been made employee of the month at his job.

Posted By

Charlotte : 11:44 AM ET

Randi,
Oh I would for sure give it back!! Nothing good comes from taking what isn't yours!! As I always say what goes around comes around...karma always gets you in the end rather good or bad!! So it's best to err on the good side I say!!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Posted By

Cindy : 11:45 AM ET

Hi Randi,
Yes, I'd return the money too.
My Irish Catholic guilt would make my head explode if I didn't...
Good for Reggie, it's nice to hear somewhere, someplace that people still know HOW to do the right thing.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

Posted By

Lorie Ann : 11:47 AM ET

Hi Randi, I admire this man a lot! Yes, I would have returned the money too. It was the right thing to do, and in life, we should always take the high road and do the right thing!

Thanks,

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Posted By

Lilibeth : 11:52 AM ET

Hi Randi,
I would return the money also. My mother always told me, "If it does not belong to you, don't keep it." I'm glad you are tracking this story to show that we do have good people in this crazy world!

Posted By

pamina : 12:01 PM ET

I agree. Great move on the guys part. I'd be riddled with guilt and lose sleep. I don't get enough sleep already!

Better to be honest and at peace that in the black and feeling bad.

Posted By

Theresasd : 12:55 PM ET

I have to be honest, I'm not sure what I'd do. Initially, I think I'd say "return it." But that's an awful lot of money. Oh, you're all right.....I'd hand it back.....shortly after I rubbed it all over me....and sniffed it...and held it close to my warm, beating heart. And then I'd take it back. Do you think they could at least buy me a little lunch with it???

Posted By

Lewis : 1:25 PM ET

I love stories like this one. It makes you believe that good and honest people still do exist even when no one is looking. He received some great words of wisdom from his mother. I'm a total believer in karma and anyone who doubts it should try it for themselves and see what happens. Good for Reggie!

Posted By

Amber Ft. Wayne IN : 2:37 PM ET

Glad some people will still do the right thing - hopefully, there are many more like this young man.

What would I do? I hope I would give it back to the rightful owner. That's what I was brought up to do. OF course, some of my parent's teachings didn't take root or got choked out by weeds, but hopefully this one is intact.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Posted By

Annie Kate : 7:05 AM ET

even though I'm a high school student with insane college tuition on the way, I would return the check. It worries me to think at the lack of conscience in my generation. at my school, we get laptops for the school year and one was stolen by the opposing team at an away game. follow the golden rule, kids.

Posted By

eyDA9 : 7:37 PM ET

Randi,

The law of Karma is prominent in my life and belief. Yes, I would definitely return the check.

Posted By

Ratna, New York, NY : 8:36 PM ET

Add a Comment

« Back to Blog Main

ABOUT THE BLOG

A behind the scenes look at "Anderson Cooper 360°" and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper and the show's correspondents and producers.

• Reporter's Notebooks
• "Anderson Cooper 360°"
• Anderson Cooper bio
• "The Marquee" blog
• "Paging Dr Gupta" blog
• "Political Ticker" blog
• "Situation Room" blog
• "Art of Life" blog
• "CNN Business Traveller" blog
• "Exchange Notebook" blog
• "All CNN.com" blogs

• Republicans for Hillary
• Bhutto and me....
• Morning Buzz
• Moving into 2008.....
• From the 360 Control Room
• Road to Redemption
• New Year's Midnight Run
• Morning Buzz
• The Bloom, and that Huckleberry rose
• Cutting It Close

ARCHIVES

• 01/29/2006 - 02/05/2006
• 02/05/2006 - 02/12/2006
• 02/12/2006 - 02/19/2006
• 02/19/2006 - 02/26/2006
• 02/26/2006 - 03/05/2006
• 03/05/2006 - 03/12/2006
• 03/12/2006 - 03/19/2006
• 03/19/2006 - 03/26/2006
• 03/26/2006 - 04/02/2006
• 04/02/2006 - 04/09/2006
• 04/09/2006 - 04/16/2006
• 04/16/2006 - 04/23/2006
• 04/23/2006 - 04/30/2006
• 04/30/2006 - 05/07/2006
• 05/07/2006 - 05/14/2006
• 05/14/2006 - 05/21/2006
• 05/21/2006 - 05/28/2006
• 05/28/2006 - 06/04/2006
• 06/04/2006 - 06/11/2006
• 06/11/2006 - 06/18/2006
• 06/18/2006 - 06/25/2006
• 06/25/2006 - 07/02/2006
• 07/02/2006 - 07/09/2006
• 07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006
• 07/16/2006 - 07/23/2006
• 07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006
• 07/30/2006 - 08/06/2006
• 08/06/2006 - 08/13/2006
• 08/13/2006 - 08/20/2006
• 08/20/2006 - 08/27/2006
• 08/27/2006 - 09/03/2006
• 09/03/2006 - 09/10/2006
• 09/10/2006 - 09/17/2006
• 09/17/2006 - 09/24/2006
• 09/24/2006 - 10/01/2006
• 10/01/2006 - 10/08/2006
• 10/08/2006 - 10/15/2006
• 10/15/2006 - 10/22/2006
• 10/22/2006 - 10/29/2006
• 10/29/2006 - 11/05/2006
• 11/05/2006 - 11/12/2006
• 11/12/2006 - 11/19/2006
• 11/19/2006 - 11/26/2006
• 11/26/2006 - 12/03/2006
• 12/03/2006 - 12/10/2006
• 12/10/2006 - 12/17/2006
• 12/17/2006 - 12/24/2006
• 12/24/2006 - 12/31/2006
• 12/31/2006 - 01/07/2007
• 01/07/2007 - 01/14/2007
• 01/14/2007 - 01/21/2007
• 01/21/2007 - 01/28/2007
• 01/28/2007 - 02/04/2007
• 02/04/2007 - 02/11/2007
• 02/11/2007 - 02/18/2007
• 02/18/2007 - 02/25/2007
• 02/25/2007 - 03/04/2007
• 03/04/2007 - 03/11/2007
• 03/11/2007 - 03/18/2007
• 03/18/2007 - 03/25/2007
• 03/25/2007 - 04/01/2007
• 04/01/2007 - 04/08/2007
• 04/08/2007 - 04/15/2007
• 04/15/2007 - 04/22/2007
• 04/22/2007 - 04/29/2007
• 04/29/2007 - 05/06/2007
• 05/06/2007 - 05/13/2007
• 05/13/2007 - 05/20/2007
• 05/20/2007 - 05/27/2007
• 05/27/2007 - 06/03/2007
• 06/03/2007 - 06/10/2007
• 06/10/2007 - 06/17/2007
• 06/17/2007 - 06/24/2007
• 06/24/2007 - 07/01/2007
• 07/01/2007 - 07/08/2007
• 07/08/2007 - 07/15/2007
• 07/15/2007 - 07/22/2007
• 07/22/2007 - 07/29/2007
• 07/29/2007 - 08/05/2007
• 08/05/2007 - 08/12/2007
• 08/12/2007 - 08/19/2007
• 08/19/2007 - 08/26/2007
• 08/26/2007 - 09/02/2007
• 09/02/2007 - 09/09/2007
• 09/09/2007 - 09/16/2007
• 09/16/2007 - 09/23/2007
• 09/23/2007 - 09/30/2007
• 09/30/2007 - 10/07/2007
• 10/07/2007 - 10/14/2007
• 10/14/2007 - 10/21/2007
• 10/21/2007 - 10/28/2007
• 10/28/2007 - 11/04/2007
• 11/04/2007 - 11/11/2007
• 11/11/2007 - 11/18/2007
• 11/18/2007 - 11/25/2007
• 11/25/2007 - 12/02/2007
• 12/02/2007 - 12/09/2007
• 12/09/2007 - 12/16/2007
• 12/16/2007 - 12/23/2007
• 12/23/2007 - 12/30/2007
• 12/30/2007 - 01/06/2008

What's this?

CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.

CNN en Espaňol | Arabic | Japanese | Korean | Turkish

International Edition | CNN TV | CNN International | HLN | Transcripts