Boy Finds $100 Bill, Uses Money To Donate School Supplies

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- What would you do if you found a $100 bill? An 11-year-old found the money at the Vadnais Heights Target earlier this week, and what he decided to do with it has made his family proud.

"I've got 10 colored pencils, 10 colored markers, 10 crayons," Carter Bacigalupo said.

Carter picked everything out himself, adding up each item. He had $100 to spend. When he couldn't find who the crumpled up bill belonged to, his mom Heather suggested he do something with it.

"So we started kind of brainstorming different ideas," she said.

"I was like there's something bigger that we can do: buy school supplies," Carter said.

His teacher for "leader in training" inspired him.

"I was just thinking, I'll do the right thing," Carter said.

"I was just beaming with pride. I couldn't believe how quickly he came to the decision himself," Heather said.

Heather can relate to going to school without supplies.

"Gosh, now that I think of it I don't know where my supplies came from. They must've come from a very similar situation," Heather Bacigalupo said.

The whole experience makes her reflect on life and parenting.

"It makes you think you've done something right," Heather Bacigalupo said.

"I learned to take a whole different look on life, to do the right thing, to donate. I'm just happy inside that I know I did the right thing and how many kids will get a lot out of this," Carter Bacigalupo said.

The donation will be dropped off at Mississippi Creative Arts School on Tuesday. The school is 93 percent free and reduced lunch.

Be Vang, principal at Mississippi Creative Arts, issued a statement Friday: "On behalf of Mississippi Creative Arts staff and students, I want to thank Carter and his mom for their generosity and continued support.  It's a big-hearted gesture from such a young man to want to donate his findings to buy supplies for our school. And it's a wonderful way to lead by example for many young folks.  The students will definitely put the supplies to good use. If the opportunity should arise, we would love to extend the invitation to meet Carter and thank him personally."