America's Favorite Survivor: Rupert Boneham

I'm sure many of you remember Rupert Boneham from Survivor: Pearl Islands and Survivor: All Stars. He was the one who wore tie-dye shirts. A down-on-his-luck kind of guy with a big heart for the troubled youth. During his first appearance on Survivor: Pearl Islands, Rupert immediately became a fan favorite, and he even grew on some of his tribemates. However, toward the end, because he was winning so many challenges, some of those tribemates started to see him as a threat and felt they needed to vote him off. Nevertheless, if there was anyone who deserved the title of "Sole Survivor" as well as the one million dollars, it was indeed Rupert Boneham! Unfortunately, though, he only made it to the final six on Survivor: Pearl Islands. After being voted off Survivor: Pearl Islands, Rupert Boneham was invited back for Survivor: All Stars. He played the game the same and even made it further in Survivor: All Stars (the final four), but not far enough to win him the title of "Sole Survivor" and the one million dollars he so desperately needed. The big surprise, however, came when host Jeff Probst announced that there would be one more million-dollar win! The only catch was this time the fans would vote for the Survivor that they thought deserved the million dollars, and because Rupert Boneham was a "fan favorite," he was voted America's favorite survivor and won the million dollars that he not only needed but also deserved!

After Survivor: All Stars many may have forgotten about Rupert Boneham, but there were also several who may have wondered just what Rupert did with the money. Well, wonder no more, because this article will tell you how Rupert Boneham spent some of his million dollars as well as what he's up to today.

As you may already know, Rupert was a caring man and loved to mentor to the troubled youth. Therefore, after paying off all his and his mother's debts, setting up a college fund for his daughter, and buying a ranch-style home in Indianapolis, Indiana for him and his family (wife and daughter), Rupert donated a large part of his remaining winnings to Choices, Inc. in Indianapolis to help the youth that he cared so much for. He chose Choices, Inc. because he use to work there as a mentor for their Dawn Project. Choices, Inc. not only appreciated Rupert's generous donation, but they used it to create Rupert's Kids, which Rupert continues to raise funds and awareness for. According to the Rupert's Kids Web site, Rupert's Kids is a non-profit organization that "teaches valuable job skills and instills a sense of confidence and self worth that will lead each of the members of Rupert's Kids towards stable housing, employment and relationships which, in turn, will help them become independent contributing members of their communities."

In February of 2007, LifePress published Rupert Boneham's book entitled "Rupert: Just Being Me." "Rupert: Just Being Me" is about Rupert Boneham's life before Survivor. So, in addition to being a big part of Rupert's Kids, Rupert also spends a lot of time on the road doing motivational speaking and book tours. Rupert has also done a couple TV pilots. In 2004, he played the role of Paul in Half & Half: The Big My Little Pony. Then, one year later, he took on the role of a homeless man in an episode of Yes, Dear: The Radford Reshuffle.

If you would like to find out more about Rupert Boneham, Rupert's Kids and his upcoming appearances, please visit the Rupert's Kids Web site.

Sources:

Rupert's Kids

Reality TV Magazine

Daily Herald

Wiki

The Internet Movie Database