The Best Birthday Present of All
- Making a Positive Difference
- June 10, 2013
Lisa Vasiloff knows that many of us take the idea of having a birthday party for granted, so she created a charity called “Birthday Wishes” to give homeless children the chance to experience the joy of celebrating their birthdays. She throws parties in 186 shelters nationwide and is supported by individual donations from children and
READ MOREMiserable & Magical: A Graduation Speech for Paradoxical Times
- Making a Positive Difference
- June 5, 2013
Chosen by the student body of an elite private school in Silicon Valley to give the graduation address this year, Nipun Mehta discusses the sense of disconnect and isolation that has come from our hyper-connected world. Over a decade ago, Mehta walked away from a lucrative, high-tech career to form a nonprofit organization called ServiceSpace that built
READ MOREViolinist’s after-school program brings hope to kids, community
- Making a Positive Difference
- May 31, 2013
In Venezuela, David France studied El Sistema, a community music education program that brings instruments and instruction to underprivileged kids. Now, David uses the money he makes playing the violin to fund Revolution of Hope, an after-school orchestra he started in the disenfranchised inner-city community of Roxbury, MA. Jose Duarte, principal of Dearborn Middle School,
READ MORETheir instruments may be garbage, but the music will bring tears to your eyes
- Making a Positive Difference
- May 22, 2013
In Cateura, a Paraguay slum, impoverished children make beautiful music on instruments constructed almost entirely of materials reclaimed from the dump. These children are part of the Landfill Harmonic Orchestra, led by local musician Favio Chávez. Rodolfo Madero, executive producer of a documentary about the orchestra, says, "It's been an important change for the community to see these kids rising above
READ MOREMother’s Day Special: Dinner with the Smileys
- Making a Positive Difference
- May 14, 2013
This is a a touching account written by a mother, Sarah Smiley, whose husband is in the military. When her husband got deployed once again in Nov. 2011– and would be away from his wife and 3 boys for 13 months– Sarah had a wonderful idea: Why not invite different people to dinner once a
READ MOREMan Pays Off Mom’s Mortgage To Thank Her For Being Awesome
- Making a Positive Difference
- May 3, 2013
A young man, who was only making around $30,000 when he saved up enough money to pay off his mother's mortgage, explains, "When there is a goal you truly want to reach, all the other things in your life begin to work around it… [It's] just a matter of choices." With Good for You! Messages,
READ MOREHappiness Clubs spread positive vibes on campus
- Making a Positive Difference
- April 28, 2013
It started with a simple idea at Northwestern University, and has caught on at several other college campuses: Create a Happiness Club as a student morale booster. These clubs provide the perfect antidote to academic stress. As Northwestern senior, Kyle Richardson put it, "It's important that people stop and realize that sometimes a smile is
READ MOREMillionaire uses fortune to help kids in struggling town
- Making a Positive Difference
- April 22, 2013
Good for You! to self-made millionaire Harris Rosen, who's used the fortune he amassed in the hotel business to help young people in the crime-ridden Orlando, FL neighborhood of Tangelo Park. Rosen created a scholarship program to pay free tuition to Florida state colleges for any students in the neighborhood. In the two decades since
READ MORENew Mission for Sandy Hook Teacher Kaitlin Roig
- Making a Positive Difference
- April 8, 2013
As a result of the devastating tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, Sandy Hook teacher Kaitlin Roig has created a new website called Classes 4 Classes. The website's goal is to teach every child to have a genuine interest in the well-being of others through a platform that actively engages them with
READ MOREHow letters from strangers saved a teen’s life
- Making a Positive Difference
- March 13, 2013
The story of how letters from strangers lifted the spirits of a depressed, suicidal seventh-grader is a testament to how simple, caring words of encouragement and support can truly make a difference when someone is going through a challenging time. The young boy, Noah Brocklebank, had posted a warning on the Internet saying that he planned
READ MOREGreat-grandmother inspires woman’s 89 acts of kindness
- Making a Positive Difference
- March 8, 2013
Virginia Booth, who died last month at age 89, inspired her great-granddaughter, Samantha Manns, to perform 89 acts of kindness in her memory. Manns fondly remembers her great-grandmother and the genuine kindness she displayed. She explains, “I want people to realize there’s still some good in the world — restore some faith in humanity." Newark Advocate, 3/4/2013
READ MOREER doc’s touching letter to patient’s family goes viral
- Making a Positive Difference
- February 16, 2013
An emergency room doctor at New York-Presbyterian Hospital touched the hearts of millions after a personal letter about the death of a patient went viral. The 24-year-old son whose mother died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital said, "This letter from my late mother's doctor has changed my life." It goes to show how a simple, thoughtful
READ MOREPenn State postman delivers lesson in happiness
- Making a Positive Difference
- February 12, 2013
Beloved Penn State postman Mike Herr has had a profound influence on the customers who've waited on his line at the post office over the years- simply by speaking to every one of those customers with genuine kindness. Mike lives by a simple motto– to always find something nice to say to someone. "You really have
READ MOREDavid Parsons Attempts To Break Most Hugs In One Day Guinness World Record, Gives 3,162 Hugs
- Making a Positive Difference
- January 27, 2013
On a mission to break the Guinness World Record for giving the most hugs in one day, David Parsons was inspired by his friend who died of cancer to raise money for Grants Wishes, a nonprofit that helps children battling cancer. Huffington Post, 1/22/2013
READ MOREIn Georgia, a mission: Adopt a soldier
- Making a Positive Difference
- January 8, 2013
A Georgia woman has started a grassroots effort, drafting a volunteer army of citizen soldiers on a mission to let American forces serving in Afghanistan know that they are appreciated and that they are not alone. NBC Nightly News, 1/6/2013
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