Shortly before Sy Green's second year in high school, a family health crisis ate up the money that would have paid his tuition (学费) at the private school, His father needed a heart transplant, his mother lost 1when a softball hit her eye, and both parents lost their jobs. The school could provide some scholarship help, but not enough to 2 the annual tuition.
That's when a(n) 3group of people stepped up with the remainder of the tuition: prisoners at the nearby State Prison. They 4the money they earned bit by bit from doing prison, jobs. They raised a5of $32,000 over about three years — a remarkable victory 6prisoners in California earn 7wage of 8 cents an hour for many of their daily jobs.
"I 8and started crying because I knew where it was coming from," said Sy's father, Frank Green, about the 9. The prisoners started gathering their money in fall 2016, and they collected 10for Sy to graduate.
The idea for the scholarship was 11in a prison-school book group. Juniors, seniors, and teachers 12take regular trips to the prison to read and discuss books with the prisoners. Frank found the book discussions deeply13. But never did he imagine the prisoners would come together to14a student in this way. He said, "I think most people, 15 those of us who have made the worst decision, want to be a part of something good."
