The Lowdown on George Lowe

George Lowe is one of those people that you are proud to call a friend. He's the guy holding the plaque in the picture to the right. He's the guy you marvel at. He's also the guy that makes you feel like you just aren't doing enough. That's because they don't make many people like George Lowe.

I remember a couple of years ago right around this time of year my phone was ringing. I answered it, and it was George.

"Mike did you see the piece in the Post this morning on the homeless shelter?"

Unlike George, early in the morning I'm busy doing a newscast. So when it comes to the newspaper I'm scanning it. George is busy reading it. My objective every morning is to make sure we didn't miss anything. So I had to say in a sheepish fashion that I hadn't seen the piece he was talking about.

I wasn't the only one who got a phone call. George was worked up, and working the phone.

"Mike I'm telling you I couldn't believe it when I read this. So I got in my car and went there to see it with my own eyes. It's deplorable! We've got to do something about it. You have to do a story on it!"

So I did, I made the trip out to the shelter, met up with George and then Councilman Adrian Fenty. George had called him too. He knew what he was doing. If he could get me there, a TV camera, and Fenty after a piece in the Post than a lot of poor people would be in store for much better living conditions. George was right to bring us. The shelter was drafty, with damaged doors letting the wickedly cold air stream in. That was only the tip of the iceberg, there were lots of problems too numerous to mention in this blog. Of course George was there to point out some of the things we might overlook. A year later the phone rang again. You guessed it, it was George.

"I think we need to pay them a visit to see if things are better."

I made the trip again, and so did Adrian Fenty, only now he was the mayor of the District. Things had improved, but there were still some problems. The people running the shelter also knew that George Lowe wasn't going away, so they better make the problems go away.

I think having George as a friend is a little like having Mother Teresa as a friend. He has such a big heart. Three years ago he launched a unique concept for a holiday open house. Each guest coming has to bring a toy for the "Toys for Tots' program.

It's now in it's third year, and it's a huge success. Every year George goes out and buys 20 or 26 brand new bikes for kids he doesn't even know. This year another friend was so moved that he went out and bought another 20.

So Sunday I was at his home as he handed over some 46 bikes, a bunch of money, and a ton of toys. In addition he handed me a check for the Capital Area Food Bank.

George: "We want these kids to have a great Christmas, but they can't if they are hungry."

The whole time George was working his magic upstairs, Santa was downstairs. Every year I'm nabbed to go downstairs to sit on his lap. Mostly though it's kids on his lap. Kids whose parents are doing quite fine. Kids who are bound to have a great Christmas. While in another section of town, some poor little kid is now destined to have a great Christmas too. All because of my good friend with the big heart. George Lowe may not look like Santa, but he certainly does act like him.