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Smart Move! Majority of Millennials Are Investing – and They’re Actually Quite Good At It

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Good News Network
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Investing is no longer something that only your dad does; according to new research, millennials are stepping up to the plate and taking a shot—and they’re quite good at it.

A new survey of 2,000 millennials shows that nearly 7 in 10 of them are currently financially investing in something. Furthermore, 85% of those youth do not, in fact, feel too young to invest.

The survey, which was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Ally Financial Inc., also uncovered how millennials felt about investing—which is, surprisingly confident.

According to the results, 85% of millennial investors have grown their money, with the average saying they’ve netted $2,527.

Most participants believed the “right age” to dive into investing is 28, and survey respondents said you should have at least $3,600 in your savings account.

While millennials, in general, are pretty on top of it, there are still about 1 in 5 who say they’re so overwhelmed by the idea of investing, that they haven’t even looked into its potential, at all.

Check Out: 6 Smart Money Habits for College Aged Kids (Most Crucial are the Final Two)

They need to learn about the magic of compounding (see link above), and jump in, if they can!

TOP 7 REASONS WHY MILLENNIALS DON’T INVEST

I don’t have enough money to invest. 53%
I don’t know how to properly invest. 42%
I don’t know the first thing about investing. 39%
I’m afraid of losing money on the stock market. 38%
I don’t have time to invest. 9%
Investing is completely out of the question for me. 9%
Investing is not worth it for me right now. 9%

Investments, we learn from this survey, are not always based on profit— it’s more about ethics for our younger generation.

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Of the millennials who never invested, 83% said if they were to do it, it would be important for that company to be ethical and socially responsible.

Additionally, when asked if they would invest in an unethical and socially irresponsible company that would make them “rich”, the majority of millennials said “no”.

WATCH: When Homeless Man Finds $17,000 Outside of Food Bank, He Turns It In So It Can Help Feed Others

“The millennial generation has plenty of motivation for getting invested; they know it’s one of the surest ways to overcome debt and build financial security over time,” said Ally Invest’s executive director Dave Dusseault.

“But all of the industry jargon and daily market moves have them spooked. The truth is, it only takes a few simple steps to get started and put yourself in a position to benefit from the market.”

TOP 10 SECTORS MILLENNIALS INVEST IN

Technology 58%
Energy 37%
Healthcare 34%
Financial 33%
Telecommunications 31%
Retail 26%
Industrial 25%
Established institutions 23%
Socially responsible companies 23%
New startups 21%

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Mom Snaps Viral Picture of a Cable Technician Comforting Her Disabled Son While He Fixes the Internet

By
McKinley Corbley
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This cable technician is being praised for going above and beyond the call of duty after he arrived at the home of a stressed-out mother and her wailing toddler.

Earlier this month, Jessica Nash Donnahoo had been having a particularly hard day with her 3-year-old son Sailor. She had been trying to finish her household chores and simultaneously care for her 2-year-old daughter while her husband was at work – but her tasks were made all the more difficult by the fact that Sailor had been crying all morning.

Because Sailor suffers from blindness and two rare brain defects, he has a hard time communicating his needs. To Donnahoo’s surprise, however, she was given an unlikely reprieve from her parenting duties when Rob Kinney walked in through the door.

Kinney, who works as a cable technician for Spectrum, had been called to fix the internet in their Greenville, South Carolina home.

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Immediately after he walked in through the door, Sailor ran up to the repairman and held up his arms – and to Donnahoo’s surprise, Kinney happily responded by scooping Sailor into his arms.

Kinney then spent the next 45 minutes rocking and soothing the youngster while he fixed the internet. By the time he was ready to leave, Sailor was almost asleep.

Donnahoo was overwhelmed with gratitude for the technician’s kindness. Upon having the freedom to finish folding her laundry and cleaning the dishes, she snapped a photo of Kinney and her son and posted it to social media.

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“It was a huge relief to this tired momma,” Donnahoo wrote on Facebook. “Robert could have walked in, rushed, and left, but instead he saw a need greater than internet and met it.

“That’s beyond customer service – it’s humanity at its best,” she added.

According to an interview with Good Morning America, Kinney is used to caring for anxious children because he is a single father to a 4-year-old girl.

Despite the Facebook post accumulating over 164,000 shares, Kinney is humble about his good deed.

“For them to adopt him and take care of him on a daily basis is much more than what I did for a short period of time,” he told GMA. “God really has blessed that family and will continue to do so because of the kind and gentle spirit they have. They deserve more recognition than anyone.”

Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story Of Kindness With Your Friends On Social Media…

World Wildlife Fund Gets Ex-Poachers To Protect and Save the Big Cats They Once Hunted

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Good News Network
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Snow leopard populations are no longer an endangered species – and it is partially thanks to the poachers who once hunted them.

Rather than trying to discourage Russian hunters from poaching the elusive big cats, the World Wildlife Fund decided to take advantage of their unique tracking skills and recruit them as researchers to help monitor snow leopard populations and movements.

RELATED: Watch the Badass Footage of Africa’s First All-Female Anti-Poaching Team in Action

Since the program was launched in 2015, snow leopard populations in Russia have stabilized and even improved in certain regions.

This trend is also likely a contributor to the snow leopard’s reclassification from “endangered” to “vulnerable” in 2017.

WWF now plans on implementing similar initiatives in the neighboring countries of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as a means of ensuring the species’ protection.

(WATCH the breathtaking BBC video below) – Photos by WWF / WWF Mongolia

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Contraceptive Jewelry Could Be Discreet New Method of Birth Control for Women Around the World

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Good News Network
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Photo by Mark Prausnitz / Georgia Tech

Family planning for women might one day be as simple as putting on an earring.

A new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology describes a technique for administering contraceptive hormones through special backings on jewelry such as earrings, wristwatches, rings or necklaces.

The contraceptive hormones are contained in patches applied to portions of the jewelry in contact with the skin, allowing the drugs to be absorbed into the body.

Initial testing suggests the contraceptive jewelry may deliver sufficient amounts of hormone to provide contraception, though no human testing has been done yet. A goal for the new technique is to improve user compliance with drug regimens that require regular dosages. Beyond contraceptives, the jewelry-based technique might also be used for delivering other drugs through the skin.

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“The more contraceptive options that are available, the more likely it is that the needs of individual women can be met,” said Mark Prausnitz of the institute’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

“Because putting on jewelry may already be part of a woman’s daily routine, this technique may facilitate compliance with the drug regimen. This technique could more effectively empower some women to prevent unintended pregnancies.”

This proof-of-concept research, which was published in the Journal of Controlled Release earlier this month, was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

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Contraceptive jewelry adapts transdermal patch technology that is already used to administer drugs that prevent motion sickness, support smoking cessation, and control the symptoms of menopause, but have never been incorporated into jewelry before. Contraceptive patches are also already available, but Prausnitz believes pairing them with jewelry may prove attractive to some women – and allow more discreet use of the drug delivery technology.

Photo by Mark Prausnitz / Georgia Tech

“There is a lot of experience with making and using conventional transdermal patches,” he said. “We are taking this established technology, making the patch smaller and using jewelry to help apply it. We think that earring patches can expand the scope of transdermal patches to provide additional impact.”

Upon applying the concept in animal models, the researchers simulated the removal of the earrings during sleep by applying the patches for 16 hours, then removing them for eight hours. Testing suggested that even though levels dropped while the earrings were removed, the patch could produce necessary amounts of the hormone in the bloodstream.

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The earring patch tested by the researchers consisted of three layers. One layer is impermeable and includes an adhesive to hold it onto an earring back, the underside of a wristwatch or the inside surface of a necklace or ring. A middle layer of the patch contains the contraceptive drug in solid form. The outer layer is a skin adhesive to help stick to skin so the hormone can be transferred. Once in the skin, the drug can move into the bloodstream and circulate through the body.

If the technique ultimately is used for contraception in humans, the earring back would need to be changed periodically, likely on a weekly basis.

The contraceptive jewelry was originally designed for use in developing countries where access to health care services may limit access to long-acting contraceptives such as injectables, implants and IUDs. However, Prausnitz says the technology may be attractive beyond that initial audience. “We think contraceptive jewelry could be appealing and helpful to women all around the world,” said Prausnitz.

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Earring backs and watches may be most useful for administering drugs because they remain in close contact with the skin to allow drug transfer. The dose delivered by a patch is generally proportional to the area of skin contact.

“The advantage of incorporating contraceptive hormone into a universal earring back is that it can be paired with many different earrings,” Prausnitz noted. “A woman could acquire these drug-loaded earring backs and then use them with various earrings she might want to wear.”

Though transdermal drug-delivery patches have been available since 1979, testing would be required to determine whether the earring patch is safe and effective. In addition, research would be required to determine whether the concept would be attractive to women in different cultures.

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“We need to understand not only the effectiveness and economics of contraceptive jewelry, but also the social and personal factors that come into play for women all around the world,” Prausnitz said. “We would have to make sure that this contraceptive jewelry concept is something that women would actually want and use.”

The technique could potentially be used to deliver other pharmaceuticals, though it would only be suitable for skin-permeable drugs that require administration of quantities small enough to fit into the patches.

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“We think there are uses beyond contraceptive hormones, but there will always be a limitation that the drug has to be effective with a low enough dose to fit into the limited space in the patch,” Prausnitz said. “It also should be a drug that would benefit from continuous delivery from a patch and that is administered to a patient population interested in using pharmaceutical jewelry.”

The earring patch is designed to add another contraceptive option for women. “Pharmaceutical jewelry introduces a novel delivery method that may make taking contraceptives more appealing,” he added. “Making it more appealing should make it easier to remember to use it.”

(Source: Georgia Institute of Technology)

Be Sure And Share This Gem Of Good News With Your Friends On Social Media…

Homeless Man Gets Housing and Work Thanks to Teen Girl Who Saw His Plea for a Job at a Bus Stop

By
McKinley Corbley
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A homeless man has been given a job and a roof over his head thanks to a teenager who saw his impassioned plea.

In a bid to find himself a job, 37-year-old Anthony Johnson posted a “Work Wanted” sign at a Hastings bus stop in Sussex, England.

The sign read: “I will do a trial for free to show how I work. I don’t take drugs or drink. I will also do dog walking/minding, window cleaning, shopping, gardening, car valeting/washing, housework, cooking.”

“Anything to earn a living and make life seem worth living,” he added.

RELATED: Simple Mistake in the Kitchen Turns into Sweet Success for a Homeless Veteran

Luckily, the note was spotted by 16-year-old Charlotte Howard. After she snapped some photos of Johnson’s sign and tent, she posted them to social media and started a GoFundMe page in hopes of drumming up enough cash to buy him a used caravan.

Over the course of the next 10 days, the campaign surged past its original goal and raised over $3,100 (£2,300).

Since a local charity was inspired to donate a caravan to Johnson, the money is being used to provide him with supplies, food, and additional resources to make up for the last nine years of living on the streets.

CHECK OUT: Good Samaritans Pay for Hotel Rooms to House 70 Homeless People During Polar Vortex

Not only that, a local landscaper contacted Johnson about starting a home repair business.

Johnson says that the outpouring of support and compassion has left him overwhelmed with gratitude – especially towards Charlotte.

“It’s not like I haven’t previously been asking for help but all it takes is an open-minded person like Charlotte to come along and help,” Johnson told the Hastings Observer. “She saw me and recognized my position and decided she wanted to do something to help.

“I wouldn’t have got anywhere looking for a job if it wasn’t for her,” he added. “She really is incredible.”

Be Sure And Share This Inspiring Story Of Kindness With Your Friends On Social Media…

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thought. With our thoughts, we make our world.” – Gautama Buddha

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thought. With our thoughts, we make our world.” – Gautama Buddha

Photo: by Mark Rowland, CC license via Flickr

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

‘Projects For Good’ – This Ingenious Website Makes it Easier to Change the World!

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Good News Network
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Unlike Kickstarter which funds creative startups, or GoFundMe which addresses personal needs, Projects for Good was designed for people who want to support the greater good, not just with money, but with their talent and energy—and don’t know where to start.

Patrick Furlotti is giving them that opportunity. Growing up in Santa Monica, California, Patrick learned at an early age that society could create a better world if people just worked together.

As a teen he volunteered with Heal the Bay, which was trying to clean up water pollution in 1980s Los Angeles. He folded, sealed, and mailed thousands of letters. The group scored a huge victory when a billion-dollar sewage treatment facility was erected right next to LAX airport.

“I realized how valuable a campaign could be to the world, and that politicians weren’t all bad—they just didn’t know what to do. We provided momentum and direction.”

Beyond studying business at college, Furlotti began captaining ships for researchers who were studying human impact on coral and water quality around the Hawaiian islands.

At age 20, he was one of the youngest ever to captain a sailboat from California to Tahiti, gaining a deep respect for the natural forces that connect us to the planet. Now 37, he enjoys big wave surfing whenever he’s not launching or investing in social impact technology and environmental protection.

He also has attended many green tech conferences: “I saw all these people with great ideas—so many half-baked projects, but the world needs all these ideas.”

“I had seen firsthand how hard it is to get projects started, funded, and completed, and wanted to create a whole new model to help people with their ‘Projects for Good’.”

It took a year to design the web platform, and today they are adding new features all the time to make it “a complete project success ecosystem”.

‘Currently with Kickstarter and Gofundme, you can just give money. That’s cool, but what about if you’re really inspired and want to join the project? A lot of people don’t have any money, but they think, ‘I would really love to work for this cause.’”

Patrick Furlotti, center, launched Projects for Good in 2017

“Our commitment is not to make money, but to build a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about changing the world—not by featuring someone who is trying to build a robot that makes coffee and smoothies (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), but by focusing on projects that help the greater good,” Patrick told GNN.

“It’s about humans working together, and educating each other on what’s possible, that’s why I love partnering with Good News Network.”

PFG is trying to give project owners the tools they need—to make it cheaper to become a nonprofit, easier to find grants, and even make it free to crowdfund, so fees aren’t diverted from the money that is being donated. Patrick also believes there should be more transparency about where the money is going on these fundraising platforms.

The Community Center is where jobs can be posted, milestones recorded, and new members welcomed. These are some early success stories on the PFG platform:

  • Peter Gottesman is passionate about animal rights and has championed projects from saving cheetahs in Africa to rescuing bears in Laos through his non-profit Endangered Species Revenge. For him, Projects for Good offers exposure to caring people who want to support him. To date, he has raised over $6500 on PFG to help fund his animal causes.
  • Andrew Malais saw how badly Joshua Tree National Park needed a trash cleanup. He used PFG partially as a fundraising tool but mainly to list jobs and hire the perfect candidate or find volunteers. His project was a success, raising over 80% of its fundraising goal to purchase the supplies he needed and hire workers to cover the vast acreage.
  • Peter Fiekowsky raised money on Projects for Good to help develop patented technology that will capture excess CO2 in the atmosphere—and convert it into building materials. They are literally turning ‘air into concrete’. The founder of Foundation for Climate Restoration and partner in Blue Planet Ltd. praised Projects for Good for “helping the foundation raise the crucial seed funding needed to design our first Blue Planet prototype direct air capture machine.”
“PFG is the first crowdfunding platform where jobs can be posted and bid on.”

“It’s not always about money, it’s about love, and about passion, and being dedicated to a cause. Maybe I can volunteer; maybe you can pay me–maybe I can message that guy saving the dolphins and go there to help him save those dolphins.’’

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“It’s like when I was working at Heal the Bay, and I was facilitating the envelopes. Those mailings made things happen. That project never would have happened without the little people, and the big people all working together.”

Whether you can help with social media, or donate time as a pro-bono attorney, or stuff envelopes, join Projects For Good, and get involved in the community to make real change in your world.

HEAR Patrick below, in his own words…

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Passengers Delighted to Discover Their Co-Pilots Were This Mother-Daughter Duo

By
McKinley Corbley
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A lot of people never get a chance to look inside of an airplane cockpit before their flight – but when this passenger asked to get a glimpse of his pilots at work, he was delighted by what they found.

This picture of a mother-daughter duo preparing for takeoff has been going viral on social media since it was published by Dr. John R. Watret on Twitter last week.

Watret had been settling in for a Delta airlines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta when a woman asked the attendants if her two kids could meet the pilots.

“The flight attendant said they could – and that they would be surprised,” Watret said in a press release.

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As the family was returning to their seats, Watret overheard them talking excitedly about the “mother and daughter” flying the plane.

“I thought that was amazing. I was in awe,” he said. “I asked if I could visit them, too.”

Watret then paid his own visit to the cockpit so he could meet the familial flight crew: Captain Wendy Rexon and her daughter, First Officer Kelly.

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Upon chatting with the Rexons, he was even more delighted to discover that Wendy’s husband is a pilot for American Airlines; her father is a retired pilot; and her other daughter is also a pilot.

Watret was particularly heartened by the team because he is the chancellor of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s worldwide campus. He is also an enthusiastic advocate for recruiting more female pilots since only 7% of currently licensed American pilots are women.

“There has to be more diversification in the industry,” he said. “It’s crucial and one of the key factors we focus on. When there are more opportunities, everyone wins.”

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“The first officer had a great role model for becoming a pilot – her mother,” he added. “It’s good for aviation and inspiring for all of us.”

Though Watret said that he rarely posts to social media, his phone has apparently been “blowing up” with messages and reactions from social media users sharing in his delight over the photo.

Fly This Story Over To Your Friends By Sharing It To Social Media…

This Entire Mountain Now Has Guaranteed Protection After It Was Put Up for Sale By Private Owner

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Good News Network
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Steve Carter / SWNS
Steve Carter / SWNS

This entire mountain will now be guaranteed protection in the future thanks to a charity that managed to collect £1.6 million in just eight weeks.

Last week, the Woodland Trust Scotland announced their successful purchase of the 1,752-foot-tall Ben Shieldaig after it was put up for sale by a private landowner.

The organization now plans to “begin the process of planting, protecting and regenerating” the mountain which stands next to Loch Torridon in the northwest highlands.

The stunning peak is home to an ancient pinewood forest that can be traced back to the end of the last ice age, as well as a temperate rainforest of native birchwood.

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The huge mound is teeming with Scottish wildlife including sea eagles, golden eagles, red squirrel, pine marten, otter and the UK’s smallest dragonfly.

“The public reaction to our appeal has been absolutely fantastic,” said Woodland Trust Scotland director Carol Evans. “A huge thank you is due to everyone who contributed.

“This is a rare chance for us to bring a whole mountain under our care. It already supports a magnificent area of ancient Caledonian pinewood and a Scottish rainforest of native birchwood.

Steve Carter / SWNS

“Perhaps even more exciting is the potential to manage these within a mosaic of their natural neighbors. Our aim is to see native woodland, montane scrub and open moorland habitats meshing naturally with each other from sea to sky.

“That would encapsulate all that a restored landscape can be, not just in Torridon but across the Highlands,” she added.

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The mountain covers about 3,800 acres, set in the Torridon landscape in the Wester Ross National Scenic Area.

It has views and walking routes from the summit towards Skye and the Outer Hebrides.

Steve Carter / SWNS

It also contains some of the world’s rarest lichens, bryophytes and liverworts, and is home to the UK’s smallest dragonfly – the black darter.

The Woodland Trust Scotland said it is now looking to raise £3.4 million ($4.5 million) to spend on management.

“With your help we can use our expertise to manage the woodland, combining careful woodland creation with natural regeneration and effective deer management,” said the organization.

Plant Some Positivity By Sharing The Good News To Social Media…

Jimmy Carter Has Now Lived Longer Than Any US President – and At 94, He is Still Making a Difference

By
McKinley Corbley
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Jimmy Carter has just become America’s longest-living president in history – and he is still making sure that the country is on its way to a brighter future.

The title used to be held by the late George H.W. Bush before he passed away in November at 94 years and 171 days old.

Even though Carter made headlines this week for surpassing Bush’s record at 94 years and 172 days old, this is not his first news appearance in the last few years.

It has been 38 years since Carter was in office, but the former president has only recently been responsible for creating a new health clinic in a small town that had been without a physician for four months; he leased out a portion of his own property in order to launch a solar farm powering half of his hometown; and his charity has been a major contributor in making guinea worm the second disease to ever be eradicated.

RELATED: Jimmy Carter Delivers a New Clinic to Small Town That Has Been Without a Physician

Additionally, Carter was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in 2016 – and even though he was undergoing treatment, he still spent his time building homes for the needy in Tennessee. Thankfully, his immunotherapy treatments proved to be successful and he was declared cancer-free several months later.

Carter, who is also still happily married to his wife of 70 years in a house that is worth only $167,000, is now one of only five other US presidents who have lived past the age of 90.

“Both President and Mrs. Carter are determined to use their influence for as long as they can to make the world a better place. Their tireless resolve and heart have helped to improve life for millions of the world’s poorest people,” said a Carter Center spokesperson in a statement.

Be Sure And Share The Good News With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by The Jimmy Carter Library

Instead of Depressing News, Here Are 5 Big, BIG Reasons to Applaud Humanity

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Good News Network
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Though our world’s current state of affairs may seem bleak, we’re here to remind you of why you should believe in humanity.

From saving the planet to developing cures for cancer, these are five great reasons why you should have hope for the future.

Learn more about the stories listed in the video on GNN: the coral reef removal; breast cancer cure; Swiss businessman’s donation; diabetes reversal; and the Pacific Ocean garbage cleanup.

Want to keep good news on your coffee table? Get a copy of our good news book right now, for the office, home, or gifts for friends.

Share This to Restore Your Friends’ Faith in Humanity…

“Uncertainty is the very condition that impels man to unfold his powers.” Erich Fromm

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Uncertainty is the very condition that impels man to unfold his powers.” Erich Fromm

Photo: by David Fulmer, CC license via Flickr (Potato Chip Rock, San Diego)

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

World Bank is Giving $22 Billion in Funding to Help All of Africa Stave Off Climate Change

By
Kayla Hickman
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Africa is set to receive a massive financial windfall courtesy of the world’s largest developmental banking organization.

In addition to the $200 billion that it has already pledged towards fighting climate change, the World Bank Group is stepping up its support for Africa by committing $22.5 billion between 2021 to 2025.

The funding, which more than doubles their commitment to climate-related projects over the last five years, is part of the group’s 2025 Targets to Step Up Climate Action which they launched in December 2018.

This announcement comes in tandem to the United Nations’ third One Planet Summit (OPS) earlier this month. The summit brought together international government leaders and representatives from the private sector, including entrepreneurs, donors, organizations and other global stakeholders to discuss collaboration on climate action.

RELATED: Swiss Businessman is Contributing $1 Billion Towards Protecting 30% of the Planet

In the wake of the most recent climate report from the IPCC, the World Bank, along with the rest of the international summit leaders, view 2019 as a pivotal year to plan accelerated climate action – and this year’s summit narrowed its focus on ways to accelerate and step-up climate action in Africa.

The additional funding from the bank builds upon its ongoing African Climate Business Plan (ACBP), which has financed over 176 conservational projects across the continent and become a critical support mechanism for countries to institutionalize climate action that meet their contributions submitted under the historic Paris Climate Agreement.

The bank is now collaborating directly with eight countries – Rwanda, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Namibia, Uganda, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Kenya – on climate adaptation and mitigation.

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Since the creation of the ACBP, the partnership has delivered stunning results across the continent. In 2018, for example, the World Bank Group approved an investment package of $794.5 million for hydropower projects in Cameroon. It is estimated that once this project is completed, it will increase the nation’s electricity-generating capacity by 30% and provide clean energy; economic opportunities; and agricultural stability to disadvantaged communities.

“This investment in clean energy is key to lowering the cost of electricity and ensuring that Cameroon’s economy is competitive,” said Elisabeth Huybens, World Bank Country Director for Cameroon. “[This project] is one of the very few public-private partnership hydropower projects in Sub-Saharan Africa that will accelerate Cameroon’s realization of its development goals, including poverty reduction.”

Additionally, the campaign has helped to create agricultural plans to improve food security for rural poor people; natural disaster management systems for catastrophes in Kenya; and one of the most successful electrification programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Plant Some Positivity By Sharing The Good News To Social Media – Photo by Arne Hoel / World Bank

Finding Out Boyhood Heist Hero Was His Own Dad Brings Gift of Knowing What Makes a Man (MOTH Monday)

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Good News Network
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Today is MOTH Monday on Good News Network: In partnership with The Moth, a nonprofit dedicated to the art of storytelling, we bring you the most uplifting speakers from live stages across the world.

When Liel Leibowitz was just a boy, he was stunned to hear that his father was actually the notorious bank robber who he and his friends had always idolized.

Needless to say, the revelation ended up posing some bizarre personal challenges for Leibowitz as he grew up.

But now over the course of raising two children of his own, Leibowitz has come to realize that his father’s alter-ego gave him an invaluable lesson which has greatly benefitted both himself and his children.

Listen to his story below…

The Moth gives people an opportunity to tell a true story in front of a live audience, and sometimes their stories are chosen to air on the radio show, now celebrating its tenth year, and broadcasting on 485+ public radio stations—and on The Moth podcast, which is downloaded over 52 million times a year.

The Moth’s third book, Occasional Magic: True Stories About Defying the Impossible will be published in March 2019 and is available for pre-order from your favorite bookseller now.

Be Sure And Share This Uplifting Tale With Your Friends And Fellow Moms On Social Media…

Picture of Man Carrying an Older Woman Up Some Arena Stairs is Capturing Hearts

By
McKinley Corbley
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This photo of a compassionate firefighter lifting an older woman up some stadium steps is also lifting spirits across social media.

Shayla and Thomas Harwell were attending a Brad Paisley concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last week when she noticed the woman struggling to get to her seat.

Since her husband is a firefighter for the Hardin Volunteer Fire Department north of Houston, Texas, Shayla pointed the woman out to Thomas and suggested he lend a hand.

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Thomas immediately leapt to his feet and helped the woman to her seat.

After the show was over, Thomas saw the woman was too tired to get back up the stadium steps once more – so he simply scooped her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way.

“I’m almost shocked, I really honestly didn’t think it would go that far,” Shayla told CNN. “She was very appreciative. When he placed her down at the top of the stairs, she was grinning ear to ear. It really touched her to have him help her.”

Since Shayla posted a photo of her husband’s good deed to Facebook, it has been shared thousands of times. People have even offered to give the couple additional concert tickets as a thank you for their kindness.

MORE: Instead of Buying New Car, Retired Paramedic Spends $40K on Overdose Prevention Kits and Already Saved 94 Lives

Thomas, on the other hand, has shrugged off the media attention and said he was simply doing his duty as a human being.

“If you’re alive and breathing, you shouldn’t need an excuse to help someone else,” Thomas told the news outlet. “If they need help, help them.”

Use This Sweet Story To Lift Up Your Friends By Sharing It To Social Media…

When Fire Leaves 500 Muslims Without Place of Worship, Synagogue Opens Their Doors

By
McKinley Corbley
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When their religious neighbors found themselves without a place of worship due to a fire last week, their Jewish counterparts did not hesitate to open their doors.

Hundreds of Muslims were welcomed into a New York City synagogue after a fire destroyed part of their Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan mosque.

The Jewish representatives of the Central Synagogue said that over 500 Muslims were welcomed to their Lindenbaum Pavilion location so they could safely use the space for their afternoon prayer.

Since Rabbi Angela Buchdahl published a photo of the event to Facebook on Friday, her post has been shared thousands of times.

WATCH: See How Generations of Muslims Have Taken Care of a Jewish Synagogue in India

“Their Imam said this was the holiest moment he has experienced in New York,” wrote Buchdahl. “It is certainly one of ours as well.”

The Central Synagogue went on to say that they also felt inspired to share their place of worship with their Islamic neighbors after experiencing their own sanctuary fire 20 years ago.

“It was without hesitation that we offered our space today to the Islamic Society to use for prayer,” wrote the synagogue Facebook page. “As we approach Shabbat, we are thinking of our neighbors overcoming the difficult road ahead, but know they will rebuild.”

Though fire marshals say that the blaze – which originated from a downstairs restaurant – did not have suspicious causes, the congregants are confidant that the mosque will soon reopen.

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This Turkey’s Got Authority! Holds Up Traffic So His Fellow Fowl Can Cross the Road (WATCH)

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Good News Network
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This is one fearless fowl that you don’t want to cross.

In an amusing video that was shot in Litchfield, New Hampshire last week, a brazen turkey can be seen acting as a crossing guard in the middle of a two-lane road so it can stop traffic for a dozen of its feathered friends.

After an entire minute of standing defiantly between the two lanes of traffic, the turkey then follows his bird brethren into the woods.

The video was captured by Donald Pomerleau as he was sitting in his car, and it has since become a viral sensation.

(WATCH the video below)

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“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems only to be one of the instruments, not the composer.” – Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems only to be one of the instruments, not the composer.” – Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

Photo: by Briget Murphy, CC license via Flickr

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Once Living On the Streets, the Love and Support of 250 Seniors Made Her Sober—and an Award-Winning Caregiver

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Good News Network
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There are many paths people take to find their purpose – and as fate would have it, Patricia Murray’s path started on the streets of Washington D.C.

How she came to be there is its own story, like those of millions of others who end up homeless in the US every year. Some are rescued by family and friends, government programs or nonprofit groups, while others have the fortune to find special people who reach out to help—and for Murray, those people included a judge, a nun, and hundreds of nursing home residents.

Murray had been homeless for a very long time. “When you’re in the streets, a lot of things happen,” she explained. “I’m talking about drugs, alcohol and all that. And I got into some trouble. I went before a judge who said ‘you got a problem.’ And I said, no I don’t, and he said, ‘I’m telling you, you got a problem!’ And he put me in treatment.”

When she came out of treatment, Murray went to live in Hannah House, a residential facility for young women who find themselves pregnant, abused, or in other crisis situations. There she learned practical life skills such as parenting, handling money, cleaning, and cooking as a means of stabilizing her life so she could prepare for a better future.

LOOK: Instead of Cleaning the Fridge as Requested, Home Nurse Finds it Empty –and Fills it

During her stay at the shelter, she met Sister Carol, President of Providence Hospital, who was raising funds to keep the facility open. A compelling ambassador, Sister Carol invited Murray to join her fundraising mission and asked what she planned to do when she came out of the shelter.

“I just want to work somewhere,” Murray replied – and that got the ball rolling. Sister Carol insisted that divine intervention would put Murray to work, and it ended up putting her to work at Carroll Manor, the shelter’s nursing home and rehabilitation center.

Patricia wanted to be a cook, but they didn’t have any open positions, so she just did “whatever needed doing” and started working three and a half hours per day, making $5.25 an hour.

“I still have that paystub,” Murray notes proudly. “I got it framed.”

CHECK OUT: This Doctor Broke The Law To Engineer a Better Nursing Home, And the Death Rate Plummeted

But, Murray worried she would never get out of the shelter if she were only earning $5.25 an hour. Thankfully, one of her friends cautioned her not to “leave before the miracle happens.”

“So I stayed,” Murray remarked, “and continued to live in the shelter. They let me out early in the morning, and when I returned at night, dinner was already over.

“One of the supervisors at Carroll Manor knew I was missing meals and told me to eat something there. I’d stay and have dinner, and a fifth-floor resident, Mrs. Sutherland, would come down every evening to eat dinner and talk to me.

“I told you there were people put in my path to help me get through … she was another one,” added Murray. “She talked to me about all the people at Carroll Manor that touched her life everyday—the nurses, the cooks, the housekeepers—and encouraged me to stay, and keep moving forward.

LISTEN to This Woman’s Incredible Story of How an Accidental Phone Call Pulled Her Out of Drug Addiction

“The visits went on and on and I’ve been here ever since.”

After her fateful series of interventions, Murray now loves her life and the 250 people who live in the elder care facility. “You have to have passion, you have to have heart to work here. The residents need it. They need someone to look out for them and care for them because their families aren’t here.”

“When I put on my uniform and head to work and when I get to that door, I say to myself, ‘you’re on vacation!’ So even when I get ready to retire, I’ll still come back as a volunteer.”

As a means of recognizing her for her hard work, the Ceca Foundation honored Murray with this year’s Caregiver Award. (See Patricia’s reaction in the video below.)

MORE: Policeman Moved by Plea for Parenthood Adopts Baby of Drug-Addicted Homeless Woman

When asked how it felt to win this award, Murray was reflective. “It was an awesome feeling … it took me back to where I started. And I kept thinking…you’ve come a long way to get to this point, and everyone is still rooting for you.

“I’ve been here 22 years, and 21 years clean,” added Murray, “and that means a lot.”

Patricia got her life back by helping other people – and she hopes to encourage other people on the streets or in recovery by saying: “I never thought I could do it. I always thought I was gonna die in an ally somewhere. Yup, I really did; but, I got clean, I got a job, I came here, and I’ve been here ever since.

“People say, ‘Oh the residents love you and are here for you,’ and I’m here for them. But the truth is, they saved my life. Just coming here every day, being a part of their lives … saved me.”

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8-Year-old Immigrant is No Longer Homeless After His Incredible Chess Career Spurs Thousands in Donations

By
McKinley Corbley
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LISTEN to this tale on the radio from The Good News Guru (GNN founder), or READ the FULL story below…

This 8-year-old African immigrant has used his wits to score a checkmate in the game of life.

Despite only being introduced to the game of chess a little more than one year ago, Tanitoluwa Adewumi—more commonly known by his nickname “Tani”—has just been crowned the state chess champion of New York in his age group.

If that isn’t impressive enough, he managed to become a chess champion all while living with his family in a homeless shelter.

Just two years ago, little Tani, his parents, and brother became refugees after fleeing Nigeria to escape violent attacks on Christian families, like theirs. Since then, they’ve resided in a shelter in Manhattan.

WATCH: Blind 6-Year-old ‘Prodigy’ Who Taught Himself to Play Piano Has Become an Internet Star

With the help of a local pastor, Tani started attending a local elementary school. It was there that one of his teachers, Russell Makofsky taught his class how to play chess—and Tani was immediately drawn to the game.

As it so happened, the teacher also taught a chess club at the school. When Tani could not afford to pay the program fees, Makofsky waived the costs and welcomed the youngster into the club.

When he competed in his first chess tournament, he got the lowest score of any student. But this week, just one year later, Tani took home the state championship trophy—after beating 73 of New York’s best players in grades K–3.

RELATED: 7-Year-Old Becomes Certified Barber So She Can Offer Free Haircuts To Kids in Her City

Tani is a prodigy, for sure: he is the first competitor ever to win a state championship on his first try—rated 1,587 and closing, which is roughly half as high as the world’s best player.

“One year to get to this level, to climb a mountain and be the best of the best, without family resources,” Makofsky told The New York Times. “I’ve never seen it.”

CHECK OUT: Girl Who Wanted to ‘Be Closer to Her Dad’ Becomes Youngest Female to Hike Mount Kilimanjaro

For a while, the adorable 8-year old was spending every night on the floor of his homeless shelter, practicing for the national chess championship in May and dreaming of becoming the world’s youngest Grandmaster.

Thankfully, a GoFundMe page that was set up by his teacher last week has now raised over $250,000 – which has helped get Tani and his family out of the shelter and into a home of their own.

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by Kayode Adewumi

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