Who deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

Stu News Newport January 8, 2021

On Monday, Donald Trump announced he will be awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Reps. Devin Nunes and Jim Jordan.  Also on Monday, Orange County learned about Phillip Ingram, a Hoag Hospital janitor in Newport who dreamed up a unique fundraising idea.  His story was so inspiring, KNBC-TV in Los Angles aired a segment about him Tuesday evening.  

If you ask me, Mr. Ingram deserves the medal more than these two lawmakers.  His motive to help others is selfless; being elected officials, their motives typically are, shall I say, far more self-serving.

-DF

Editor’s note: The story on 38-year-old Ingram details a man who started from humble beginnings and who began collecting pennies from other people he came across in life. Those pennies totaled up to $1,400 which he then donated to the Boys & Girls Club.  His employer, Hoag Hospital, has now begun a payroll deduction plan for their 6,500 employees to further support Ingram’s efforts. The deductions begin at 50 cents and go up to $5.