For three decades, Ann and Terry Panks have been taking `hard-to-reach' teenagers into their own home, built from the ruins of a former police station in Manchester.
The couple provide the youngsters - most referred by Barnardo's or other charitable organisations - with board, lodging and vital skills like cooking and sewing.
Youths who have sayed with them in what has now become known as the Copperdale hostel, in Wythenshawe, have ended up in further and higher education, eventually forging careers in everything from plumbing to psychology.
Now Ann and Terry are saying `thank you' to their own benefactor - after being given £50,000 by high-flying businessman James Benamor.
The 30-year-old tycoon posed as a youth worker to see the work the couple were doing in an episode of the TV show `The Secret Millionaire'.
He was so moved by their dedication he donated the cash for double glazing, a new roof, a roof garden and spruced-up bedrooms. Copperdale will also open its own cyber-café in September.
The family began helping hard-to-reach boys and girls - then labelled 'difficult youths' - in the 1970s.
At the time Terry, a builder who helped lay the M56 motorway, and Ann, a former secretary, used their own coaches to take disadvantaged kids on trips to Europe.
They soon realised that the young people had nowhere to go to when they got back to the UK - and decided to take them in.
The couple bought a derelict police station and converted it into a five-bedroom house.
In 1980 they sold the coaches, and used the money to add on another five bedrooms, with Terry doing much of the work himself.
Vandalised
"Since it was an old police station it had been terribly vandalised," said Ann. "So we got it at a good price.
"Many of the first people that we helped and spent nights in the cells there."
In the years since, up to 800 young people have passed through the doors of Copperdale.
The Panks have seen the youth fashions of the times - from Mohawks to tracksuits - come and go. In the punk years, even the family cat, Smudge, was dyed green and pink.
Copperdale became exclusively male in 1994, when the number of girls dwindled.
But the Panks' sons Glenn, 36, who helps run the hostel as well as the Fair Share lorry delivering food to other hostels, and Greg, 39, who runs the United Estates of Wythenshawe gym, both married women who were former residents.
The Panks were still celebrating their £50,000 gift last night.
"When James first said he was a millionaire I thought it was a joke," said Ann. "But we didn't feel we'd been spoofed. We were so excited we can't say. It's the first time we've ever had money to spend.
"That first night we all stayed up with the lads, we just couldn't settle. We were told not to tell anyone about the money - but the lads told everyone."
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It is interesting that a quick search of the Internet tells a different story about Benamor's philanthropy.
There's something nauseating about this series.
£50,000 from a high flying milionaire......how generous!!
The publicity gleaned by this 'guardian angel' is worth several times what he paid out.
Why not just donate anonymously, rather than become the subject of an hour long documentary.
I think the donation was a generous gesture considering two other large donations were made to very worthwhile causes.
I also think that the series is great but more for the reason it hightlights real life problems in local areas - I didn't even know that this family provided this service, they only live five minutes from me and it's heart warming to know that there are still people that care out there. Mr Manchester - I bet you didn't know these people existed until you saw this article or programme.
I do understand people get peed off with the millionaire side of it but the fact that worthwhile causes benefit from this programme makes me give it thumbs up and full support.
Whine, moan is all some of you ever do. Thats the trouble with Browns Britain, knock success, keep "em" in the gutter.
The Panks are pleased, nobody else would have given them the money for all your moaning. Mothers against Violence, they too will be able to use these funds to good use. How many of you moaning minnies have dipped into your millions to help others ? In fact what have many of you ever done to help others ? Shut up and be pleased at this series.It's feel good television, if you don't like it, there's always some smut channel for you.
Have to a agree with Mr M on this 1.
Although it was a very generous offer. I can not help thinking it was for self promotion and endorsement. 50k will be a drop in the ocean to what the he will earn of the back of the programme.
Praise to the couple for all thier hardwork in the community.
Well there's no such thing as bad publicity and when you read about this guy's business it certainly isn't good. I'd rather take my millions quietly to some luxurious place and enjoy it - why draw attention...doh!
What a lovely couple. It shows you that understanding, and compasion go all long way as opposed to screaing, shouting and ridiculing teenagers who go off the rails. Shame the lads parents never took the same approach.
These people deserve every penny, and more. Good luck to them!
I used to date a girl around the corner from this house. I'd walk past and think it was just a large 'anti-social' family! How wrong was I? Well done to the Panks!
Keep up, Tubby. This issue is not above the worthy recipients because, needless to say, they deserve every penny.
The issue is to do with the manner of the giving. I wonder if these causes are being manipulated to the donator's benefit.
Imagine I give £5.00 to a homeless guy. Good deed. But what if I do it posing for a photo of me handing it over to the homeless chap with a large cheesy grin plastered over my face, wearing a t-shirt advertising my business, and giving him a high-five? It's rather tasteless self-promotion isn't it.
I'm very glad for the Panks, but agree with other comments on this. Shameless self-promotion.
I just can't help but imagine the producers of the programme saying - "CUT! - could you try cry a bit more when he hands you the cheque this time?"
Listen out for the phrase "I wanted to give something back"...
And what's the betting the money came from his firm's marketing budget for the year?
I thought this couple deserved every penny but knew when it was being shown on the TV that it was not in Moss Side.
Would be interested to know why he went out to Wythenshawe.
What a wonderful family. Maybe when the honours are given out a few less could go to Labour donors and a few more to people like this. Arise Dame Ann Panks.
As to those who bemoan the manner of the giving, maybe the program is good becuase it opens the eyes of those more fortunate to what it is they do to make their money.
For me the issue is not that people like Mr Benamor make their money through high risk lending but more there is a market for it out there of people living beyond their means.
Big mortgages that they can't afford. Plasma TVs, two holidays a year, designer clothes and all on minimum wage, a bit of benefit and a high interest loan from Bright House. That is not the fault of Mr Benamor.