Sports

Dennis Paiva's $4,000 Debt to Tom Brady Paid By Dan Greenwald

by Jon Azpiri | July 13, 2009 at 07:47 pm

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Boston ad man Dan Greenwald has agreed to pay Dennis Paiva's $4,000 debt to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after Paiva stole some of Brady's flower boxes.

Dennis Paiva was forced to pay $4,000 to Tom Brady's realty trust after he took some of Brady's expensive flower boxes and sold them for scrap metal. Paiva says he took the boxes because he thought Brady had thrown them out.

A court ordered Paiva to pay Brady $4,000 for the flower boxes. Dennis Paiva, a convicted bank robber who had recently suffered an aneurysm and was unable to work, says he had to resort to panhandling to pay the millionaire quarterback.

Dan Greenwald heard about Paiva's story and offered to pay Brady the money on his behalf. Greenwald felt a connection to Paiva since the wife of a close friend had also suffered from an aneurysm. He also felt that he wanted to help give an ex-con a chance to turn his life around.

“For them to come forward and do this for me, it’s like a dream come true. I appreciate it very much,” Paiva said yesterday.

Greenwald said he will contact Paiva’s probation officer Monday and relieve him of his debt.

“We’ve all been there when everything has gone wrong for you,” Greenwald said. “Sometimes people just need a little bit of help.”