Hometown Hero: Sweet Volunteer is 'Asset to Beaumont'

Joshua Levinson is a popular person at in Royal Oak for a couple of reasons — his infectious smile and his candy cart.

The 31-year-old Royal Oak resident is known in some circles at the hospital as the Candy Man — the guy, who as the Sammy Davis Jr. song suggests, “makes the world taste good.”

For the past half-dozen years or so, he has volunteered five mornings a week at Beaumont selling chocolate and sugary treats to the staff and visitors, and otherwise brightening mornings with his winning smile.

"I like my job. It's fun," he said as he made change for a woman in the south entrance lobby. He easily charms the customer with his friendly face and warm personality. He may not say a lot to her, but she leaves smiling.

“I would say more people know Joshua than me,” said his father, Dr. Marty Levinson, a Beaumont pediatrician, “and I have been on staff here for 31 years.”

Joshua is the eldest of four sons of Levinson and his wife, Elise.

Williams Syndrome

Part of Joshua’s signature good nature can be attributed to genetics. He was born with Williams Syndrome (WS), an inherited condition that is characterized by heart problems and learning disabilities, but also by highly social personalities.

WS affects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide and is not unique to any ethnic group.

“Joshua is very interactive and social,” said his father. “That is his strength.”

After graduating from , Joshua attended in Ferndale until he was 26 years old. The school helps students with developmental delays ease into the work force. Because of his learning disabilities, Joshua was not suited for typical cleaning positions or stock work that others find success in.

“We tried that route,” said Levinson. “It didn’t work for him. It was torture. He needs to be around people.”

As a parent advocate, Levinson said he looked for opportunities for his son at his workplace. Joshua tried a few jobs before the landing the volunteer position selling candy, he said.

“It’s a job that plays to his strengths,” he said. “He is a great asset to the hospital.”

Joshua gets assistance throughout the morning from his job coach, Amber Olsen, who stays with him and keeps him on task. Olsen says everyone he meets falls in love with him.

"I don't know how to explain it, other than to say when I walk around with him I feel like I am with a local celebrity," she said. "Some people, even if they don't buy anything, will stop him and ask if they can have a 'Joshua Smile.' "

At one of Joshua’s routine stops at the hospital, the staff decorated their working area with the lyrics to the Candy Man in his honor, said his father.

“Show me another workplace where that happens spontaneously," Levinson said.

Hospital Hero

On a lark, the doctor entered his son in a contest through the Jewish Federations of North America called Jewish Community Heroes where the winner receives $25,000 for the organization in which they volunteer.

So far Joshua has over 2000 votes and is on the leaderboard in 15th place. The top 10 vote getter moves on to the semifinals when the voting closes at 11:59 Tuesday, Nov. 8. 

Levinson said he does not anticipate his son will climb into the 10th spot. “Still it’s nice to see him on the leaderboard,” said Levinson. “It’s very cool.”

To vote for Joshua Levinson click, go to Jewish Community Heroes