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American Morning
Interview With Shoeshine Man Albert Lexie
Aired September 25, 2003 - 08:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well let's talk about something nicer, shall we, much nicer. In Pittsburgh where he lives and works, Albert Lexie is something of a celebrity. Truth be told, he is a local hero. For the past two decades, the 61-year-old Lexie has been shining shoes at Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital and donating his tip money to needy children. Incredibly, since 1981, he's given $89,000 to the hospital's Free Care Fund.
And Albert Lexie is with us this morning from Pittsburgh.
Good morning.
ALBERT LEXIE, SHOESHINE MAN: Good morning.
COSTELLO: When did you come up with this idea and why?
LEXIE: The reason I came, I started going to school, and I first made my shoeshine box. And I had a couple other guys help me make my shoeshine box. And then when I made my shoeshine box, we went to the thing there, you know.
COSTELLO: That's awesome. You only charge $3 a shoeshine. You've raised $89,000. That's a lot of shoes shined.
LEXIE: Yes. But to tell you the truth is we -- I put out canisters. And I get about 15 canisters out in the valley, and I -- people donate money. Some of them keep their cans all year round, and it helps me to donate some money to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.
COSTELLO: So you go into the hospital and you talk to the children?
LEXIE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Tell me about some of your sweeties.
LEXIE: Some of my sweeties. Yes, I go see them once a month. Child Life takes me up there. And I go see them in their rooms and give them nice little toys away and give different things away for them. And I like to do all these good things.
COSTELLO: OK, Albert, one more question. Why isn't everyone as nice as you?
LEXIE: As nice as me? I just love Children's Hospital. That's one of my favorite places. I had a friend from the Mon Valley (ph) took me down there one time. And he says would you like to see Children's Hospital where your money goes? And I said yes, I would like -- yes, I would like to do that.
COSTELLO Well, Albert,...
LEXIE: Yes, go down there and shine shoes.
COSTELLO: Albert, we think you're great. And one of the nicest people we've ever met on AMERICAN MORNING. Albert Lexie, good luck in future raising of money, because I know your goal this year is to raise $10,000. And somehow I think you're going to do it.
LEXIE: Yes, I want -- that's what -- that's what I want to do.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Albert.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Sweet guy, huh?
COSTELLO: He was sweet.
HEMMER: Yes, very nice.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 25, 2003 - 08:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well let's talk about something nicer, shall we, much nicer. In Pittsburgh where he lives and works, Albert Lexie is something of a celebrity. Truth be told, he is a local hero. For the past two decades, the 61-year-old Lexie has been shining shoes at Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital and donating his tip money to needy children. Incredibly, since 1981, he's given $89,000 to the hospital's Free Care Fund.
And Albert Lexie is with us this morning from Pittsburgh.
Good morning.
ALBERT LEXIE, SHOESHINE MAN: Good morning.
COSTELLO: When did you come up with this idea and why?
LEXIE: The reason I came, I started going to school, and I first made my shoeshine box. And I had a couple other guys help me make my shoeshine box. And then when I made my shoeshine box, we went to the thing there, you know.
COSTELLO: That's awesome. You only charge $3 a shoeshine. You've raised $89,000. That's a lot of shoes shined.
LEXIE: Yes. But to tell you the truth is we -- I put out canisters. And I get about 15 canisters out in the valley, and I -- people donate money. Some of them keep their cans all year round, and it helps me to donate some money to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.
COSTELLO: So you go into the hospital and you talk to the children?
LEXIE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Tell me about some of your sweeties.
LEXIE: Some of my sweeties. Yes, I go see them once a month. Child Life takes me up there. And I go see them in their rooms and give them nice little toys away and give different things away for them. And I like to do all these good things.
COSTELLO: OK, Albert, one more question. Why isn't everyone as nice as you?
LEXIE: As nice as me? I just love Children's Hospital. That's one of my favorite places. I had a friend from the Mon Valley (ph) took me down there one time. And he says would you like to see Children's Hospital where your money goes? And I said yes, I would like -- yes, I would like to do that.
COSTELLO Well, Albert,...
LEXIE: Yes, go down there and shine shoes.
COSTELLO: Albert, we think you're great. And one of the nicest people we've ever met on AMERICAN MORNING. Albert Lexie, good luck in future raising of money, because I know your goal this year is to raise $10,000. And somehow I think you're going to do it.
LEXIE: Yes, I want -- that's what -- that's what I want to do.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Albert.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Sweet guy, huh?
COSTELLO: He was sweet.
HEMMER: Yes, very nice.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
