Secret Millionaire on ABC

By Catherine Nailog

Having someone who cares makes a difference in one’s life, and ABC’s June 10th broadcast of Secret Millionaire (Sundays, 8:00 p.m. ET) depicted a heartwarming and inspirational story of people who have dedicated their lives in caring for others.  The show has been given the honor of Best TV Show of the Week.

Chuck Runyon and Dave Mortensen co-founded Anytime Fitness, the largest global co-ed fitness chain.  Both good friends and family men, Chuck and Dave decided to take the Secret Millionaire journey to build some new perspectives in their lives and to give to those in need.  Chuck and Dave were sent to the low-income neighborhood of Central Park in Oklahoma City. To drive in, they were given an old, beaten-up station wagon. To live in, they were given a home that was in desperate need of repairs. To live on, they were given $71.03 for the week.  Chuck and Dave decided to use the money to buy groceries. Unaccustomed to having to be on a budget, they were surprised at the cost of food and argued over what to buy using what little money they had.  

While walking around their neighborhood, they came upon an advertisement for volunteers for the OKC Youth Wrestling Foundation. Dave was passionate about wrestling; the sport that introduced him to a life of physical fitness. They met with co-founders Tyler Joe Williams and Shelby Bullard, the men responsible for keeping at-risk youth off the streets. The particular neighborhood that the foundation was located in was called “The Block,” once home to many of the people who were now in the prison system.  Tyler and Shelby wanted that to change. Dave and Chuck, along with the other volunteers, helped coach some boys during a wrestling session.  They learned that equipment and food were all provided through donations, and that the foundation cost $39,000 to run annually. Tyler had mentioned that starting out, the coaches spent their time breaking up fights, so it was a success to get the boys to a competitive wrestling level.   

Chuck and Dave then visited Limbs for Life, an organization that provided prosthetics for those unable to afford them. They met with Amy Gallegos and Pam Timmons. Amy explained that prosthetics could cost up to $20,000, and most U.S health insurance plans covered the cost of only one prosthetics per lifetime. That fact would be similar to a child having to grow up with only one pair of shoes. Chuck and Dave helped prepare donated prosthetics for shipment to developing countries. U.S. health laws prohibits donated prosthetics being reused. 

While at Limbs for Life, Chuck met Charlie, a volunteer who was born with no ankle bones or fibulas.  Charlie never realized he was different than everyone else. His mother taught him to do the best he could with what he was given.  Charlie reminded Chuck of his older brother who died from a heart condition at the age of 18. He realized his brother and Charlie never let their conditions define their lives.  Chuck was moved by the organization’s goal to improve the lives of amputees. 

Chuck and Dave returned to OKC Wrestling to train some of the boys in the weight room.  After training, they ate, and the coaches helped with the boys’ reading. In Oklahoma, over 30% of fourth grade students read below their grade level.  Dave spoke to one young man, Eric, who lived with his aunt. His mother had recently died from abusing drugs, and his father was back in his life. Chuck discovered the numerous essential roles that Tyler, Shelby, and the other coaches assumed when working with the boys: parent, teacher, and mentor. 

Chuck and Dave were invited to play volleyball with Charlie, a U.S. national sitting volleyball player, and his friends. They never realized how physical sitting volleyball was until they played with Charlie and his friends. Charlie introduced Chuck and Dave to Connor, a young boy with a prosthetic leg provided for by Limbs for Life.  Limbs for Life has been able to provide Connor with prosthetics throughout his life that would’ve cost his family $70,000.  His parents were very grateful for the support because it allowed Connor to be a normal soccer-playing, hauling-out-the-garbage child. Amy and Pam told Chuck and Dave that they’ve been behind in their funding causing a waiting list of 200 people that would have to wait a year or more for a prosthetic.  Chuck empathized with parents who worried over healthcare for their children. 

On the last day of Chuck and Dave’s journey they decided to reveal themselves to the OKC Youth Wrestling Foundation and Limbs for Life. At the OKC Youth Wrestling Foundation, Dave made an emotional, passionate speech about the foundation’s positive impact on the kids. They gave the foundation $39,000. Chuck and Dave also gave Tyler and Shelby a key to their own Anytime Fitness franchise and $150,000 toward making it successful. Through Chuck and Dave’s donation, the foundation bought uniforms and shoes, and planned to purchase an SUV to drive the kids to competitions. Tyler and Shelby’s Anytime Fitness opened in December 2011. Chuck and Dave returned to Limbs for Life. Chuck was appreciative for their work in helping individuals and their families. He and Dave donated $100,000 to the program. Pam was so grateful because their donation bought prosthetics for 50 people. 

This episode of Secret Millionaire has been given the honor of Best TV Show of the Week because the show demonstrated what can be accomplished when people care. Dave said regarding the impact of his Secret Millionaire journey, “I drove down the road with blinders on.  And I think many Americans do. We gotta get out of our houses, and we need to go outside and really fix this earth.” It’s easy to become complacent in one’s life, but all it takes is to step outside of one’s box to become inspired.  To all the fathers and surrogate fathers who take on active roles in caring and encouraging today’s youth, Happy Father’s Day.

 Old Navy sponsored this episode. To thank them, click here.

Best TV Show of the Week

The Parents Television Council - www.parentstv.org