Jessica Rees was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 11.
When she saw other children having to stay in the hospital, she wanted to help “make them happier, because I know they’re going through a lot,” she said.
So she started making JoyJars — containers full of toys, stickers, crayons, anything that might brighten a child’s day.
A local marching band will have two musicians in the Tournament of Roses Parade Tuesday. Mi So Kwak will play the flute for the Bands of America Honor Band, while high school instructor Casey Bindle marches alongside her.
Kwak appreciates Bindle lending a guiding hand. It’s tough enough for anyone to march the entire 5.5-mile parade route. Especially for Kwak, who is blind.
I was struggling to find the Christmas spirit this year and hoped a short trip to Vermont to meet my son for skiing might help.
While at the LaGuardia airport on December 16th, right after I picked up my suitcase, I went out to the bus station in front of the terminal. I saw the M60 bus to take me to go to Penn Station. I immediately jumped on the bus. I was in and paying my due and the bus driver was closing the bus door, when a young black man who was breathless jumped on and gave me my briefcase. (My apple macbook and every important travel document was inside!)
It was a close catch. I had forgotten it at the bus station.
I was struggling to find the Christmas spirit this year and hoped a short trip to Vermont to meet my son for skiing might help.
While at the LaGuardia airport on December 16th, right after I picked up my suitcase, I went out to the bus station in front of the terminal. I saw the M60 bus to take me to go to Penn Station. I immediately jumped on the bus. I was in and paying my due and the bus driver was closing the bus door, when a young black man who was breathless jumped on and gave me my briefcase. (My apple macbook and every important travel document was inside!)
It was a close catch. I had forgotten it at the bus station.
A veterinarian at UC Davis says a dog from the Philippines who became an international hero after sacrificing her snout to save two young girls may have beaten cancer.
Veterinarian Gina Davis tells the San Francisco Chronicle the dog, named Kabang, appears to have beaten the cancer she was suffering from.
Some of the most popular stories on the Good News Network in 2012 involved animals. Whether the largest elephant or smallest dog, animals are often ready to reveal hearts of true compassion and they can easily evoke an equally compassionate response in us humans.
Enjoy these top stories of the year:
Tracy Lynn DelValle of Gardner, Massachusetts posted a story and photo on Facebook proving that (in her words), “Not all kids nowadays are thoughtless.”
Tracy’s neighbor, who is aging in her 60’s, was attempting to shovel the snow around her car in the driveway yesterday.
“She looked pale, and after each shovelful, she put her head down and rested for a few minutes,” wrote Tracy, who was ill, and unable to assist.
Tracy Lynn DelValle of Gardner, Massachusetts posted a story and photo on Facebook proving that (in her words), “Not all kids nowadays are thoughtless.”
Tracy’s neighbor, who is aging in her 60’s, was attempting to shovel the snow around her car in the driveway yesterday.
“She looked pale, and after each shovelful, she put her head down and rested for a few minutes,” wrote Tracy, who was ill, and unable to assist.
The White House announced last week it was expanding the area of protected California coastline known as the National Marine Sanctuary system by almost 3,000 square miles. The designation triples the area of coastline under protection to 4,500 square miles.
While still allowing fishing in these areas off Sonoma and Mendocino, the act prohibits offshore oil and gas drilling.
HooplaHa posted a video on YouTube celebrating the end of the year with an original montage of heroes filmed in 2012.
Watch the video and see if you can spot any stories that were posted on the Good News Network…
In a field often dominated by news of felled forests and population declines, tigers have delivered a bit of holiday cheer.
Wildlife conservationists report populations on the upswing in protected areas of India, Russia and Thailand.
Despite dangerously low global numbers, tigers are rebounding in three significant landscapes, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, fostering hope for these iconic big cats.
In a field often dominated by news of felled forests and population declines, tigers have delivered a bit of holiday cheer.
Wildlife conservationists report populations on the upswing in protected areas of India, Russia and Thailand.
Despite dangerously low global numbers, tigers are rebounding in three significant landscapes, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, fostering hope for these iconic big cats.
Ford Motor Company is spending more than $773 million on new equipment and capacity expansions across six manufacturing facilities in southeast Michigan. The investments will create 2,350 new hourly jobs.
Ford is delivering on a commitment made to the United Auto Workers in the recent contract negotiations to invest $6.2 billion in U.S. plants by 2015.
Patrick Dempsey says he wants to rescue a Seattle coffee house chain and more than 500 jobs.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” star said Wednesday he’s leading a group attempting to buy Tully’s Coffee. The Seattle-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.
In a partnership built on the true spirit of giving, members of the Muslim mosque in London, Ontario decided to help boost a Catholic church holiday food drive.
100 families were given supplies of food for Christmas, and with the bigger than average donations to the drive, the church will be able to replenish their food bank.
The Garden of Dreams Foundation paired nine Knicks players with deserving families to go on Christmas shopping sprees worth thousands of dollars.
Amare Stoudemire spent hours with one family, paying $5,500 for their carts filled with toys, clothes and goodies from the local Target department store.
Santa Claus — aka Julio “Sly” Dones — is back outside of the Harrison Gardens public housing complex, bringing holiday cheer to children of all ages for the 43rd year in a row.
Santa stands next to the elaborate Nativity scene he created at Third and Jackson streets handing out candy while Christmas carols play on a stereo.
(READ the story with a photo in NewJersey.com)
With so much darkness in the news lately, it’s amazing how one simple idea could bring so much light to so many lives. That’s what happened last weekend in Snohomish, when over 100 people came together to make a dream reality for their blind friend.
For the legally-blind teen, her dream was to drive a car just once.
It started as a simple tribute to his mother, a teacher and bibliophile. Todd Bol put up a miniature version of a one-room schoolhouse on a post outside his home in Hudson, Wisconsin, filled it with books and invited his neighbors to borrow them.
They loved it, and began dropping by so often that his lawn became a gathering spot. Then a friend in Madison put out some similar boxes and got the same reaction.
I dedided to take a day off in 2012. That day is December 25.
Hope you have a great Christmas and a happy New Year.
We will be back on the job tomorrow — ever ready to receive the best good news from around the world.
