VANCOUVER, Wash., Sept. 14, 2007
A New Lease On Life
Washington Car Salesman And His Employees Shatter Stereotypes
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Play CBS Video Video Karmic Car Salesman
A car salesman gives a job to a homeless man, leading to an entire sales team of ex-cons, drug users and people who need a second chance. Steve Hartman reports this week's Assignment America.
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Video Car Salesman Helps Homeless
Only On The Web: Car salesman Korry Holtzlander tells Steve Hartman what made him start lending a helping hand, and sometimes even a job, to people down on their luck.
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Korry Holtzlander (CBS)
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Photo Essay Assignment America Steve Hartman On Assignment. More Photos
His name is Korry Holtzlander.
"There are no bad men. There are no bad men on the planet. There are just those who are lost," Korry says.
By all accounts, this married father of two has always had a good heart, but it swelled to greatness after a series of three chance encounters at work. The first happened about a year ago.
Last December, Korry found a homeless man sleeping in one of the cars on his lot. Instead of giving him the boot, Korry gave him a cup of coffee, talked to the guy for two hours and eventually helped him find an apartment. It was such an amazing story, that the homeless man told another homeless man. His name is Don Peckham.
"Yea, Don showed up here about a week later and says ‘I got a son, he's graduating and he said I haven't been there for him and he said I really want to do something for him.’” Korry said.Click here to find out how you can help or to simply send Korry an e-mail.
Don was thinking something like a new pair of shoes; Korry was thinking bigger.
"It means a lot to me, because he gave me an opportunity to give my son… look where he's at,” says Don pointing to the car lot.
Korry gave Don's son a job as a lot attendant and he also mentor's the boy. Again, it’s such a wonderful story that Don passed it on to a guy he met in jail: Sean Wood -- a former meth addict and convicted thief.
"He's given me a second chance,” says Sean.
Korry gave Sean a sales job and a car to get to work.
“The guy’s just out of jail. You don't know him from Adam and you give him a job selling cars?” asks Hartman
“What's my other choice?” says Korry.
“To not give him a job,” exclaims Hartman.
“That'd be the wrong thing to do,” Korry says. “Here's a man in front of me asking for help and I say no!?"
"Every third call -- a lot of people wanted to talk to Korry,” says his receptionist.
Understandably, word of this good samara-salesman started spreading through the homeless and prison communities. And the more people showed up, the more Korry gave.
Andy Garcia was living in his van with his wife and two little kids when Korry gave him a sales job and a month's rent.
“So within 5 hours... he hired me at 11:30 and by 3:30 we moved back in our duplex,” Garcia said.
In total, about 50 people have come to Korry for help. In some ways it's been a real sacrifice.
“How much money do you think you've spent out of your own pocket?” Hartman asked.
“Everything we have,” says Korry.
In other ways, Korry says it’s paying off in spades. Remember Andy? He's now Korry's No. 2 salesman. And Sean? He's No. 1.
"They’re the hardest working, most loyal guys you could ever ask for,” Korry says. “They're the most giving caring men I've ever met."
Obviously, the feeling is mutual.
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- What an awesome report by an outstanding reporter about an outstanding fellow American and his faithful to support him wife and employer!!
May Steve Hartman''s reporting urge every one of us to step up!! - Reply to this comment
- This is so heartwarming after all the ugliness in this world we constantly hear of. What a superb human being Korry Holtzlander is. I know where I''ll drive to when I buy my next car. Bravo, Korry !!! And may you be blessed a hundredfold. So many who believe they are good people could yet learn so much from you.
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- Great story of Korry Holtzlander of VANCOUVER, WA.not outside of Portland,OR.
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- I wish I could read stories like this every day!!
WONDERFUL!!!! - Reply to this comment
- Korry Holtzlander, I''m glad to see that there''s still humanity for our fellow man. What a guy you are!!!
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- Congrats to: Korry Holtzlander
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- Congrats to Steve Hartman
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- After a brilliant senior season on Penn State''s 1982 National Championship team, Warner blazed a trail of his own through the NFL in 1983. I was excited to see the Curt Warner name in the story about Steve Hartman.. Hail to a fellow Nittany Lion class of ''77. Keep up the great work in the Northwest!!
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- Greatest story you have ever done. There are still good people in this world.
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