I'd like to point out the infectious nature of determination. This gets back to motivation vs discipline discussion on HN lately.
It seems like human nature, when you see someone leaning in so vigorously, to either join their cause or do something to help them personally. The manager's wife cooked James meals, the banker was giving him rides, and now as nwilkens points out, someone's crowd funding a car for him. Think how the guys at that plant feel working alongside someone like that.
For those keeping score with discipline and motivation, here's another tool for that toolbox.