“They found him by a dumpster—no one imagined what he’d become.” Bullied as “trash boy,” he grew up to create inventions that changed lives 🕯️💻 See who he is today in the article 👇
“Kids used to laugh at me. They called me ‘trash boy’ and said, ‘No one loves you… you’re dirty,’” recalls Freddie Figgers. But computers became his refuge – and eventually, he became a programming prodigy, creating his own software by age 12. Today, he runs a successful company.
No one knows why some parents abandon their children, but Freddie’s story is heartbreaking. As a newborn, he was left next to a dumpster in Florida. When he was taken to an orphanage, no one wanted to adopt him – until Nathan Figgers, a 74-year-old man with a big heart, stepped in. Nathan and his wife had dedicated their lives to fostering children, especially those whose parents were in prison. Although he felt he was too old to care for another child, learning about Freddie changed his mind.
Growing up, Freddie was bullied at school after other kids found out he had been abandoned as a baby. They called him names and made his life miserable. When the teasing became unbearable, Freddie asked his adoptive parents why kids called him “trash boy.” His father told him the truth.
“Dad said, ‘Your biological mother abandoned you, but Betty and I didn’t want you to end up in the system, so we adopted you.’ I felt terrible, but then he put his hands on my shoulders and said, ‘Never let that get you down.’”
Despite his father’s comforting words, school was tough. Kids bullied him, and some even threw him into trash cans while laughing.
Everything changed the day his father bought him an old computer for $24. It was broken and missing parts, but Freddie was determined to fix it. After about 50 tries, he managed to get it working – and in that moment, he knew he wanted to work with technology for the rest of his life.
By age 12, Freddie was already programming. He started working part-time at his school’s computer lab, fixing broken machines even though he had no formal training. His talent caught the attention of the city mayor, who asked if he could help out at City Hall.
Just three years later, at 15, he created software to monitor water meter systems for the municipality.
When his father developed Alzheimer’s and began wandering off, Freddie came up with an idea. He noticed his dad always wore the same shoes when going out, so he built a GPS tracker and installed it in his father’s shoe, connecting it to his computer. This was long before Apple or Google Maps. For Freddie, it was simple – his father never abandoned him, so he would never abandon his father.
Years later, he sold his revolutionary shoe GPS technology and turned to a new venture. He realized rural areas lacked internet access because major telecom companies didn’t want to invest there. Using $2 million he earned from his invention, Freddie launched his own telecom company to provide high-speed internet to underserved communities in Florida.
Today, Freddie Figgers’ company is worth $62 million. Following in his father’s footsteps, he invests in helping others.
The Figgers Foundation offers scholarships for African American students and provides disaster relief, including support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Freddie continues to innovate in healthcare technology, determined to use his skills to make a real difference in people’s lives.
