. >> reporter: jessica southerly, a volunteer at the shelter who also had been homeless, launched the james fund, a web site that asks strangers for donations. after a tweet from teach for america and a few plugs from celebrities, in just seven days, jessica's web site, homeless to howard, hit the target, though just for this year. >> i didn't know what to feel. i was -- i didn't believe it. it felt too surreal. it was like a dream. >> reporter: he's left skid row behind with this message. >> no matter who you are or where you are in life or what social class you're in, there's always someone out there to help you or someone out there who you can help. >> reporter: today james boarded a plane to get his college education, but he's already learned some of life's most important lessons through the kindness of strangers. miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. >>> as we end another week, brian has asked that we pass along his thanks to all of you, all the folks who have sent best wishes to him following the knee replacement surgery he underwent 11 days ago. he is continuing to recover an

. >> reporter: jessica southerly, a volunteer at the shelter who also had been homeless launched the fund, a web site that asks strangers for donations. after a tweet and plugs from celebrities, in just seven days jessica's web site homeless to howard hit the target, though just for this year. >> i didn't know what to feel. i was -- i didn't believe it. it felt too surreal. it was like a dream. >> reporter: he's left skid row behind with this message. >> no matter who you are or where you are in life or what social class you're in, there's always somewhere out there to help you or someone out there who you can help. >> reporter: today james boarded a plane to get his college education, but he's already learned some of life's most important lessons through the kindness of strangers. miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. >>> as we end another week, brian has asked that we pass along his thanks to all of you, all the folks who have sentd best wishes to him following the knee replacement surgery he underwent 11 days ago. he is continuing to recover and has written about his expernce on