"A book about a young boy with an incredible dream…
As a boy, Harry Schmidt could not have been expected to accomplish much. The eighth of thirteen children born to an impoverished immigrant farm family on the Canadian prairies, he had no money, little education and a serious speech impediment. His first home was a one-room shack made of discarded railroad ties. About all he could do was dream. But he took the first job he could get, one thing led to another, and, before he knew it, his dreams had become reality. After relocating to Abbotsford, B.C., he became a successful building contractor, specializing in the construction of low-cost, high-quality seniors’ housing. Other achievements followed. He has been a city councilor, president of the local chamber of commerce and president of the local Kiwanis club. Through the Schmidt Family Foundation, Harry and his wife Marlene now travel around the world using their own money to build shelters for needy children. This book tells their remarkable story.
But this is not just a rags-to-riches autobiography. Along the way, Harry offers fascinating reflections on a world that many people have never seen. He asks probing questions: Why do the poor have to remain poor? Why do some people succeed while others fail? This book invites the reader to embark on an unforgettable journey to see the real faces of children and to be inspired to change the world one child at a time."