Hoping for a ‘Deal’
Steve Allen won $5 million on “Deal or No Deal” last Friday. Unfortunately, it was only a mock version of the show at Mt. Spokane High School. But it was good practice for Allen. The Mt. Spokane teacher is putting together his audition tape for the real version of the TV game show.
What sets Allen apart from other game show hopefuls is what he plans to do with his winnings. He’s pledged all of his winnings to help other families finance adoptions. He and his wife, Carrie, have five children, including three daughters adopted from China.
Memories of children he left behind in a Chinese orphanage haunt him.
“It was heart-wrenching. I wanted to take them all home,” he said. “Thousands of children here and around the world go to bed alone each night, with no place to call home, no place to belong.”
Each adoption costs an average of $20,000.
“We have 21 cents in our savings account,” he said. He believes more people would adopt if they had financial help.
In talking with fellow teacher Alex Schuerman, the idea of an appearance on NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” came up. Allen and his 8-year-old son, Jacob, are ardent fans of the show.
Allen appealed to his leadership students and class officers for help. They came up with the mock game show as part of his audition tape.
ASB President Dustin Schneider said Allen’s students would follow him anywhere. “When he spoke about adoption at our leadership camp this summer, I came home and asked my mom if we could adopt a baby from China,” Schneider said.
The student leaders put together a “Deal or No Deal” set and enlisted cheerleaders and the dance team to be models.
In a true spirit of giving, Schuerman shaved his head to play the part of game show host Howie Mandel.
During Friday morning’s assembly, the gym rocked with the voices of teens chanting, “We want Allen!” Allen is also asking every student to write a letter to Mandel, which he will send with the tape. The video is expected to be completed over the holiday break.
In the end Allen had to choose between what was in the briefcase and accepting the banker’s deal – enough money to help 250 families adopt.
“Deal or no deal?” asked Schuerman.
“I’m here to help kids,” Allen said. “Deal!”