I pick up the phone, and I’m like, “Hello?” And I hear, “Hello. This is Tyler Perry.” And I’m like, “Nah man, you joking?” And literally, he says, “Hey, I want to help you cover your tuition.” My whole entire heart stopped. It was just the greatest moment of my life at that point.
— Rehan Staton, a former sanitation worker who will be attending Harvard Law School this fall, commenting on a conversation he had with actor, writer, producer, comedian, and director Tyler Perry. Staton has received many offers of assistance since his inspiring story first made national attention.
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.