I did not believe what was happening!  I was ambushed in the snack-bar portion of the Hiram College Food Court .  It was filled with students at Hiram College having lunch.  In walked Phil with his film crew, cameras, boom mikes, and all.  Phil made the announcement that he was from the Discovery Channel and someone in the room was being granted 72-hours to have a wish granted.  He did not point me out because SSSSH is often anonymous, so he told the person in the room who was involved with NOW to go to his home within 30 minutes.  I did so, was greeted by Phil and his wonderful crew, and at 12:59 pm on a Thursday afternoon, I was given 72-hours for the bride and groom, whomever they might be, to say “I Do.”

2. How did you cope with the pressure of the 72-hour time limit?

I had no choice. If I panicked, I would have failed.  I called over 50-people asking them to volunteer their time (waiters, waitresses, set ups, drivers, hair dressers, manicurists, etc.) or to volunteer their merchandise (meals for rehearsal dinners, tuxedoes, wedding rings, wedding dress material, flowers, etc.) or their services (DJ for music, piano player for wedding, seamstress, hotel for honeymoon, minister for wedding, limo services, etc.). Over 90% of them said, “Yes,” and many of them were total strangers. In other words, I succeeded because of the generosity and kindness of many people and the good nature inherit in human beings.  My job was easy!

3. Did everything play out the way you imagined it would when you were filling out your application to be on the show? If not, what didn't go to plan?

Everything was hit and miss, tried for the first time, learned through experimentation.  I expected repeated complications and obstacles, and I was not disappointed.  We simply did what had to be done until we were successful. Obstacles are nothing more than challenges resulting in personal growth.  I encourage and embrace them.

4. In what way or ways did this experience affect you, if at all?

It showed me that enormous undertakings for the benefit of others could be accomplished with almost no money.  All you need is organization, perseverance, commitment, and the kindness of others.  The monetary value of the wedding was over $18,000.  NOW gave us $3,000 to spend.  We ended up giving $1,800 of that unspent $3,000 to the bride and groom for their honeymoon.  Thus, the $18,000 wedding cost only $1,200. 

The power of one person to help others, that is what SSSSH is all about, but you are making it possible to demonstrate this to millions of people!  After others see this show, I predict that millions of people will be helped all over the world, and just in time for Christmas! SSSSH encourages others to go beyond their perceived capabilities to help others anonymously just for enriching the amount of goodness in the world.  I encourage others to do this, but few believe it is possible.  Your show will demonstrate how this can be done, how this is possible, and how others can do it too.  By televising the success of SSSSH with your 72-hour challenge, you will literally inspire millions of people to help others. The result will be world-wide and overwhelming! Thank heaven for you, Phil, his crew, and Discovery NOW – you’re going to change the world!

5. Have you been inspired to pursue any other dreams? Or will that last you for a while?

I have perused many dreams. I am now presenting leadership, ethics, pursuit-of-excellence, and problem solving curriculums at Hiram College based on the legendary history of the Tuskegee Airmen and Women from the 1940s.  A few of them are still alive, and we fly them into Hiram from around the country for special celebrations. Not only are these classes for Hiram College students, but for high school teachers, the poor who have lost hope, high school students, and corporate leadership. My Hiram College students are writing a book about the Tuskegee Women, and almost forgotten and unrecorded group of remarkable historians. 

NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) has challenged us to go beyond our perceived capabilities. Now that we know we can do it, because we did it with N.O.W., we know we can do it again and again! Thanks to N.O.W., there is no stopping us; there are no limitations to our goals!

Hiram College students are now introduced to SSSSH and the power of giving to others as soon as they arrive for Freshman Orientation at Hiram College .  We then took these freshmen out into the cities of Akron , Cleveland , and Youngstown to pull Reichles (do anonymous good deeds for strangers) as part of their freshman orientation. 

We recently had an inauguration for our new president of Hiram College named Tom Chema.  Instead of the celebration’s theme centering on him, President Chema authorized a community service week instead where Hiram College students, alumni, trustees, faculty and staff, and local citizens participated in a huge community service project.  We had two buses and 15-vans delivering 400 people to the surrounding 5-county area where good deeds were performed for hundreds. Stopping traffic to wash cars in 45-seconds, cleaning up dilapidated properties, working in clothing and food banks, and building houses for the poor are just a few of the successfully completed projects.

6. What, if anything, would you have done differently?

I should have asked Phil and his wonderful crew for an autographed-group photo of them to serve as future inspiration for us all.

7. Anything else you'd like to add? (Feel free to leave blank.)

Your show N.O.W. is serving humanity as a special catalyst igniting the dormant passions in millions of people by demonstrating how anyone (wealthy or poor) can enrich other’s lives by promoting anonymous giving, love and goodness, hope, and encouraging growth and self-esteem. N.O.W. has given a new and positive dimension to the word “entertainment”! Well done! The Discovery Channel should be very proud!

Thank you,  Roger Cram

Modeling Future Heroes - Keynote Speeches & Seminars Based on World Heroes
G.R.E.A.T. (Grass-Roots Entrepreneurs Assistance Training)
The Hiram College Home Page
Click Here to Email the Hiram College Hal Reichle Scholarship Fund
Sparrow Village - the World-Famous Hospice for AIDS Children
The Rotary Club of Aurora, Ohio Home Page
The Tuskegee Airmen Home Page - North Coast Chapter
It's Never Your Fault - a Website for kids who have been traumatized by abuse

Quick Links to Other SSSSH Pages
 

The SSSSH Home Page
Who Was Hal Reichle?
What is Ego-Free Compassion?
What Are the Many Benefits of SSSSH
How to Join SSSSH
Print Your Own SSSSH Cards
Anonymous Good Deeds Done By Others
The Children's Idea SSSSH Page
The School Program SSSSH Page
Good Deed Ideas for SSSSHing
To Report a Anonymous Good Deed and Become a Member of SSSSH
To Email SSSSH