Caption

2nd Portrait

Christopher A. Record, Charlotte Observer

Five years ago, Bruce Parker had $15 million in the bank. It came to him as a windfall. After years of saving pennies and working 70- to 80-hour weeks, he sold his company and became a rich man overnight. But not just any rich man: Parker was a rich man who wanted to give away his money because his faith and social conscience wouldn't let him justify keeping it to himself. He gave half of the money to charity. The rest, he lost in bad investments. Now he's $3.5 million in debt.