TORONTO – There’s a lot of videos posted on the Internet each day and only a small per cent make an impact.
Back in March the “Magician Prankster” Rahat posted a video on YouTube showing a homeless man’s reaction when he was given a “winning” lottery ticket.
Rahat worked with a convenience store to make the homeless man believe he had won $1,000 from a ticket he gave him outside.
When the man was handed the cash he broke down in tears and told Rahat, “I’ve been doing this for a long time and never, never had a friend… had somebody do what you just did.”
He even tried to give Rahat half the money.
After the video went viral Rahat began receiving messages asking how people could donate directly to the man, named Eric.
Rahat set up an online fund for him and in 17 days raised $44,000.
Part of the funds were used to rent Eric a house and pay for his utilities, cable and insurance for a year. A portion of it was used to furnish the house, including new appliances, and some was set aside for food, clothes, and supplies.
The remaining $21,400 was put into a joint account that Eric can access and Rahat can monitor.
Not knowing any of this, Eric was filmed entering what he believed was Rahat’s house. Then he’s told it’s his and he is once again filled with emotion.
“I am just so thankful,” he says to the camera holding back tears. “Everybody who helped me out, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I thank you for sticking with me and I thank you for believing in me. I love you all. I thank you all for being there for me,” he says.
The video of Eric receiving the house was posted to YouTube on May 7. It’s already been viewed over 1.2 million times.
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