Former fraternity brothers from Louisiana State University stepped up in a massive way to help their house cook.
Once Phi Gamma Delta alumni found out their house cook was still working two jobs to pay off her mortgage, they decided to help out. According to The Advocate, they surprised her with $51,765 just before her birthday calling it “Jesse Hamilton Day.”
“They were my kids. They still are,” Hamilton told the Washington Post. “They used to tell me they loved me, and now, they’ve proved it.”
From 1982 to 1996 she worked for the “FIGI” house where she would start her shift at 4am to prepare and cook all the meals for the day. In addition to making the food, she would also act as a mother figure to the men by always listening and giving them rides when needed.
“I enjoyed doing it. They loved my cooking,” Hamilton said. ” I was always there to talk things through with them. They’d come in the kitchen and sit on top of the counter and tell me their problems.”
After many years, she still stayed in touch with a few of the men, including 52-year-old Andrew Fusaiotti. After talking to Hamilton’s kids, he found out she still owed $45,000 for her mortgage. Hamilton was still working hard at her jobs to pay it off.
Fusaiotti started contacting his fraternity brothers and before you know it, 91 brothers donated around $560 each for Hamilton.
“That shows how they all felt about her. Jessie is one of these people that shows up to work and always has a smile on her face, eager to please and never complains,” Fusaiotti told Washington Post. “She is the type of person that inspires me, people that don’t have a lot, but give a lot. She’s the most giving person you’ve ever met.”