“AmEx Angel” Merrie Harris Lends Credit Card to Homeless Man

New York City ad exec Merrie Harris shocked her friends when she loaned her American Express card to homeless man Jay Valentine -- but he returned it immediately.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on August 13 2010

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You’ve probably been asked for your spare change thousands of times in your life. Most of us just walk on by. But not Merrie Harris, a New York City ad executive. When Jay Valentine, a 32-year-old homeless man, approached her outside of a restaurant on August 12th, he asked if she had any money to spare.

She didn’t have any cash in her wallet—but instead of turning him down, she asked him a question: “Can I trust you?”

Valentine assured her that he was honest. So, instead of slipping him a few bills, Harris decided to loan him her platinum American Express card, asking him to return with it in a few minutes after he’d bought what he needed.

And, even though Harris’ friends were shocked at her decision, thinking she was being scammed, Valentine did exactly that. “I went and bought a few things and came back and gave her her credit card back, and everybody was surprised,” he told the New York Daily News. He spent about $25 on the card, purchasing a bottle of Vitaminwater, deodorant, body wash, and (unfortunately) a pack of cigarettes.

“It sets a good example that people in need—like I am or worse—can and should be trusted,” he said.

Filed under: General Interest, Heroes,

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