For the soft-spoken teen-ager from the projects of West Baltimore, the past two weeks have been like winning the lottery.
Not many people knew of Tavon Johnson, the Anne Arundel County high school junior who won legal custody of his younger half-brother last summer. But since his tale appeared in The Sun on Oct. 31, his phone hasn't stopped ringing.
"Everyone kept asking me what I needed, but I couldn't think of anything right away," the Meade High School student said.
About 100 calls from people offering money, advice, food and other help came into The Sun newsroom. People also contacted Sarah's House, a shelter for the homeless at Fort Meade that arranged for the subsidized apartment where he lives. Anne Arundel County police officers who run the Youth Activities Program were also fielding calls. Officer Kyle Stargill said he has handled 62 calls from people who want to make life better for the pair.
"We have had so many offers. One lady wanted to give him a house, another wanted to make him an apprentice to a chef at an international restaurant in the Inner Harbor," said Officer Bernard Watson.
"Another offer could get him in to a Naval Academy prep school."
Tavon, 18, and his half-brother Gajuan Adams, 12, have spent most of their lives on their own. Their mother has a drug problem and lives on the street, Tavon says. Their fathers are in prison. Their two younger half-sisters live in West Baltimore with their grandmother.
Last year, when Tavon turned 18, he decided to apply for custody of his brother so he could give them both a sense of security and a chance to move forward.
Although Tavon says he does not think he is doing anything unique, many of the people who read his story, such as Liz and Tim Miller of Reisterstown, called The Sun and said they admire Tavon's courage.
"It really sounds like he could have taken the wrong direction," Mrs. Miller said. "But he didn't, and he should be rewarded for it. My husband was born and raised in the city, and I guess he could identify with Tavon and how much strength it took for him to be around drugs, guns and violence, and still stay so focused on what he really wants."
Tavon is overwhelmed. He has asked William Pitcher, an Annapolis lawyer, to help him sort out the calls. Mr. Pitcher is setting up a trust fund that Tavon could use for his college education or family expenses.
"This makes me feel really good about everything," Tavon said. "A lot of people have called me. It wasn't until yesterday that I realized what is happening to me."
One day last week he received a $90 check in the mail from several women. An agent for former Oriole first baseman Randy Milligan called and said the player would like to meet him. Several organizations have offered help and emotional support to make sure Tavon and his brother stay on the right track.
A few days after the story appeared, his mother called. Tavon had not spoken to her since July. Yasmin Fairfax said she heard about the story from friends and went to the library to find a copy of the newspaper.
"She said she was really proud of me," Tavon recalled. "She said she was trying to get her life together and go into treatment. I believe her."