Joe Semkow, professional photographer, videographer, lover of life, and doer of good deeds, is one busy fellow as he quietly goes about brightening the lives of others. He has paid off lunch debts at local schools, rented a movie theater so families could have a night out, and left brand-new bikes around town to be found by those who can’t afford them. And that’s just the short list.
“For me, the greatest gift is giving back, helping people whenever and however you can,” says Semkow, a kindness pied piper who has inspired others to join in his acts of spontaneous generosity.
“I used to use my own money,” he explains; “then I started getting messages from people who had heard about what I was doing and wanted to be part of it. They’re philanthropic by nature and contribute to the big causes like the American Red Cross, but they want to see where their $50, $100 goes right here in Vero Beach…