May 7, 2018. Sylvia Bloom's story ran on the front page of The New York Times.
Within seven days, 50 news outlets had picked it up.
The Times' Facebook post drew more than 37,000 likes and over 4,600 shares.
People were stunned by the money. But they were moved even more by the woman behind it.
For nearly seven decades, she had sat at a desk watching wealthy men build their fortunes. She could have used what she learned to live like them.
Instead, she kept riding the subway. She kept her small apartment. And in the end, she gave it to students she would never meet.
"In this era of disheartening news, it was such a positive story, and the perfect antidote to the greed and dishonesty that seems to be at the forefront of news these days."
— Jane Lockshin
"This is such an affirming story of good in the world," Garza said.