the kids and their parents and the teachers to say, you are definitely good enough. you are amazing and you're brillant. but my question is can they see it? do they see how far they can go. >> reporter: the fund-raiser made over $1 million and counting. enough to make the harvard excursion an annual fixture for years to come. for principal lopez the fund-raiser means more than money. you keep referring to the comments not the money. >> no. >> reporter: the comments are priceless. >> i don't follow the money. it's the people. today someone came in, a guy named aden came in off the street and i read your post and you need a volunteer. so what can i do to help? >> reporter: that gave me chills. the million dollar fund-raiser has given way to after-school programs and a future scholarship program named after nadal the scholar who started it all. >> every dollar over $70,000 is going to send these kids to school.