Liz Willock, a sales leader at a concierge service, recently took an hour-long trip through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Uber driver Ellis Hill. She and the driver began talking and eventually it came to light that he was the father of US shot putter Darrell Hill. Willock asked him if he was going to Rio to see his son compete, but Hill told her he can’t afford the expensive ticket to Brazil. Willock had an idea. The two exchanged information and the following day, Willock created a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising $7,500 to send Hill to Rio to see his son. Within days, an outpouring of helpful strangers collected $8,200 and Hill was able to fly to Brazil.

"There has been so much sadness and violence in the news lately and this really restored my faith in humanity," Willock told PEOPLE magazine. "We had over 150 people contribute and I think Ellis knew maybe 10 of them. The rest were strangers."