As his nation celebrated its 240th Independence Day, a rich American expat in Udon Thani was in a swell enough mood enough to donate THB500,000 to his local police yesterday.
Jim Gebhard, 59, along with his Thai wife Jitprapa, 46, handed over a check for THB500,000 to the Muang Udon Thani Police yesterday in the spirit of the Fourth of July.
According to Thairath, Gebhard said his donation was to recognize the importance of the police institute and the officers who bear hardships in their daily work. He said some officers were indebted and struggled to pay for for their children’s tuitions because of their low salaries.
His wife Jitprapa said that she met her husband on a social network in 2002, back when he served in the US military and she was a DJ for a local radio station in Udon Thani.
After they decided to get married, Jim started a business selling leisure equipment such as pool tables and video games in the islands of Saipan and Guam. After he became successful, he wanted to help people in his wife’s hometown.
The police station is not the couple’s first stop for donating, Jim has reportedly given local children school scholarships, bought medical equipment for hospitals, and donated lunch money to orphanages.
What a guy!
We’re not sure how officers will use Jim’s check, but you can’t deny it was a sweet gesture.
Reader Interactions