How a car mechanic donated over Rs 29 crore to a hospital

Ronald James Read wasn't the kind of man you'd expect to be a millionaire. Born in 1921, he grew up on a small farm in Vermont, walking and hitchhiking four miles to high school each day. After serving in World War II, Read returned to his hometown and took a job as a gas station attendant and mechanic. Later, he worked as a janitor at a department store until retirement. His hands were always calloused, his clothes modest, his car secondhand.

This article was originally published on March 13, 2025.