The students name is Michael Williford, and he lives in High Point, NC. Responding to a story he and a friend saw on the local TV news about an elderly cancer patient who was forced to choose between feeding her family and paying out-of-pocket for her expensive cancer medications, Michael decided to do something about it. He discovered that most pharmaceutical companies actually offer discounted or even free drugs to people who fall beneath the poverty line, and, realizing that he and his friends could find and fill out these forms on behalf of seniors much more easily than the seniors could themselves, he began finding patients and writing to the drug companies on their behalf.
Michael told me that in the past ten months, they've helped over 50 patients save more than $18,000 in drug costs already! This is a perfect example for aspiring social entrepreneurs out there, as MIchael and his friends learned about a pressing social need, thought about what they could do specifically to make a difference, and began executing their plan with precision. Michael and his friend Carlie are going to college next year, and they'll have the opportunity to spread the program to other college campuses. Here's hoping that they do.