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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.

LOOK: California is Finally Drought-Free After 7 Years and They’re Being Rewarded With a Butterfly Boom

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.

LOOK: Family Was Filling Up Swimming Pool Using Only Pots and Pans Until These Firemen Came Along

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.

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

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)

Don’t Chicken Out Of Sharing This The Cute Clip With Your Friends On Social Media…

“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.”

Share the Story Of Transformation With Your Friends On Social Media…

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

Make Your Move to Share This Amazing Story To Social Media…

When Dog Saves Owner From Suicide, the Army Veteran Starts Chain of ‘Pawing’ It Forward

By
McKinley Corbley
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Dogs are typically described as “man’s best friend,” but Moxie the golden retriever is so much more than that to her owner.

Christy Gardner is a retired Army Sergeant who lost both of her legs in an attack while she was serving overseas. When she returned home to her home in Lewiston, Maine, she got Moxie to help with her daily tasks.

What Gardner did not anticipate, however, is how the retriever would help pull her out of deep depressions and keep her from turning to suicide.

“She’s absolutely been a life saver. Quite literally,” Gardener told CBS News. “That dog saved my life.”

RELATED: Watch George H. W. Bush’s Service Dog Take the Most Adorable Vow of Service to Bring Joy to Veterans

The 36-year-old veteran has felt so grateful to her canine companion, she wanted to somehow repay the debt to Moxie, which is why she has now turned into the caregiver for a puppy named “Tiny Tim”.

Disabled with leg that doesn’t work, just like his new trainer, the puppy is being trained by Gardner to become a therapy dog at a local elementary school. She believes the physically-challenged pup, now named Lucky, can make students feel good about being different.

However, the puppy’s misshapen paw needed to be amputated, and Gardner picked up several new jobs so she could pay for the surgery.

MORE: 7-Year-old Boy Has Helped Thousands of Veterans After Watching a Video About Homelessness

She won’t need to work so hard anymore, because Gardner’s compassionate labor of love inspired pet food company Vetriscience to lend a helping hand—and donate $10,000.

If you want to follow Lucky’s journey, you can check out his Facebook page or the company’s Twitter feed.

(WATCH the news coverage below *For our international viewers, watch the video on the CBS News website) – Photo by Vetriscience

Be Sure And Paw This Inspiring Story Forward To Your Friends On Social Media…

“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go higher than you THINK.” – Benjamin Disraeli

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go higher than you THINK.” – Benjamin Disraeli

Photo: by Marketa, 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?

 

8-Year-old Homeless Immigrant Was Taught to Play Chess – Now Breaks Record as State Champion, Internet Sends Flood of Support (GNN Podcast)

By
Good News Network
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This third grade homeless student has only played chess for a little more a year, since fleeing Africa as a refuge, but he is already breaking tournament records—and winning hearts and support on the internet. Hear The Good News Guru tell the heartwarming tale on the radio in Los Angeles—during the March 22, 2019 Ellen K. Morning Show on KOST-103.5.

WATCH the video and read more at GNN…

Subscribe to our Good News podcast on iTunes, or for Android devices on Podbean.

Also, Check Out Our Little Paperback Book of Good News—Buy on Amazon or White Cloud Press! 

Advocacy of Stunning Lands Pays Off: New Zealand Approves Largest National Park Expansion in History

By
Kayla Hickman
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The borders of this beautiful New Zealand park have been expanded by 158,000 acres (64,000 hectares), making it the largest addition of land to a national park in the nation’s history.

Kahurangi National Park is located on the northwestern coast of New Zealand and is known for its diverse landscapes of high plateaus, freshwater swamps, and coastal forests.

The news of the national park’s expansion, which now includes an area known as the Mōkihinui lands, was praised by national conservation groups who have been advocating for the national park to include the Mōkikinui River catchment.

The fight for the protection of the Mōkihinui River began in 2008 when Merdian Energy proposed a hydroelectric dam that would have completely fragmented and flooded part of the river and forest. Due to a large opposition campaign led by the conservation organization Forest & Bird, the development project was cancelled in 2012.

SEE MORE GOOD NEWS FROM NEW ZEALAND on GNN Here

The cancellation of the dam was a huge win for the organization, but they knew that their fight to protect the river was not over; the organization felt it was essential to advocate for the reclassification of the Mōkihinui River to conserve land as part of the Kahurangi national park.

“Keeping our wild rivers free from major development is important to New Zealanders,” says Forest & Bird regional manager Debs Martin. “The Mōkihinui, in particular, struck a chord because the area is such a stunning landscape, and ecologically important.”

According to Martin, development on the river would endanger several threatened bird species, long-tailed bats and a large population of native great spotted kiwi. The reclassification of the area will prevent another company from applying for permits for other projects.

LOOK: 700 Acres of Massive 1,000-Year-old Redwoods Are Being Turned into a Public Park

The inclusion of Mōkihinui lands to Kahurangi National Park will be made official on April 11th, 2019, and will increase the size of the park by 14%. The addition of the river catchment will further diversify the national park, as it includes a grouping of geology, riverine habitat, vegetation, animal and plant life not seen elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of Forest & Bird

Conservation Minster Eugenie Sage announced the addition to Kahurangi National Park and stressed the importance of advocacy.

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

“A big thanks to the many New Zealanders and the Department of Conservation who spoke up for the river,” said Sage. “Today’s announcement is only possible because of that work and advocacy.”

“It is why our Government can now give the Mokihinui Gorge, and the surrounding lands, forests, and mountains the strong protection that comes with being part of a national park.”

(WATCH the video below)

Plant Some Positivity By Sharing The Good News With Your Friends On Social Media…

Living With Nature: A Four-Course Meal of Natural Audio Wonders Recorded by the BBC

By
Andy Corbley
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Throughout our daily lives, we probably don’t pay much attention to the sounds around us—the dripping of the coffee maker, the steady turnover of the car engine, the clicking of our colleagues’ keyboard strokes.

But what is viscerally explained in Living With Nature, which is a 4-part series from a BBC World Service podcast called “The Compass”, there are some environments where the things you can hear are more important than what you can see.

As well as capturing the beautiful tones of running water and wind, Living With Nature offers some incredible soundscapes that most of us have never heard. What’s it like to hear for 1,000 square miles? What’s it like to hear the intimate sounds of a tiger, or listen to ancient Norwegian chanting—ghostly and wolf-like—bellowed from the top of an arctic mountain?

Grab your best pair of headphones, kill the lights, close your eyes, and find out.

The breathtaking audio-technical work of host Chris Watson, a wildlife sound recordist, puts your ears squarely within some of the most far-flung regions of the world. This sonic journey explores the relationship between people as varied as the Masai of Kenya, and the San Bushmen of Namibia, and the beautifully complex natural environments they inhabit; serving to increase the understanding of the interactions available to us with sound and the soundscapes we traverse.

You can choose from four ‘courses’ of the global landscape: the plains, the desert, the mountain, and the forest with tiger sounds (chosen below).

(Listen to the four episodes of this Podcast at the BBC) – Photo by Ovidiu Tudor, CC license

Police Officer Praised for Answering 911 Call to Save Missing Teddy Bear for Boy With Autism

By
McKinley Corbley
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Losing a teddy bear may not be the kind of emergency that is typically handled by the police – but when an anxious boy with autism dialed 911 for help finding his missing stuffed animal, this compassionate police officer didn’t hesitate to respond.

Earlier this week, 12-year-old Ryan Paul was frantically searching through his home in Woodbridge, New Jersey in hopes of finding his teddy bear.

When he couldn’t find the toy, he remembered how his parents had told him that he should dial 911 in case of emergencies. Ryan then called the police dispatcher and said: “The teddy bear fell down again. Don’t worry, I’ll rescue you. Goodbye again, see you again.”

WATCH: Officer Becomes Hero to Neighborhood Kids After Sitting Down to Play With Girls Who ‘Were Afraid of Cops’

Ryan hung up before the dispatcher could respond, and since protocol demands they send an officer for terminated phone calls, Officer Khari Manzini arrived at the boy’s house shortly afterwards.

As it turns out, Manzini was just the man for the job. Using the specialized training that he received from the POAC Autism Services on dealing with special needs citizens, he was able to work with Ryan and figure out the motivation behind his call.

RELATED: Watch the Sweet Moment When a Police Officer Soothes Frightened Student With Muppet Song

Manzini then joined the search for the teddy bear until he finally managed to uncover the missing teddy bear – and Ryan was delighted.

“Ryan was very happy to see me,” Manzini told News 12 New Jersey. “And I was actually happy to see him happy and that we had gotten the teddy bear back.”

Though Ryan’s parents say that they now plan on teaching their son about which emergencies necessitate calling 911, they expressed their overwhelming appreciation for Manzini’s kindness and professionalism.

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by PIX11 News

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

Adidas Test to Sell Shoes Made of Ocean Plastic Was So Successful, They’re Going Even Further

By
Good News Network
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Adidas has spent the last four years curbing ocean pollution by recycling plastic beach waste into shoes – and because their customers have been so eager for the product, the company is kicking it up a notch.

Adidas produced more than five million pairs of recycled plastic waste shoes in 2018, and they plan to incorporate the waste into at least 11 million this year.

The upcycled plastic waste is made into a yarn which has since become a key component of the upper material of Adidas footwear. In addition to shoes, the company has also used it to make the first ever football jerseys made from recycled materials.

The sporting goods manufacturer first started making the shoes in collaboration with environmental group Parley for the Oceans back in 2015. They developed the slick kicks using plastic waste intercepted on beaches, such as the Maldives, before it can reach the oceans. The Parley shoes (see them on Amazon) are recreated from editions of their UltraBoost shoe, and a new version of their Adidas Originals shoe.

And, in 2016, Adidas stores stopped using plastic bags.

LOOK: These Cool New Shoes Are Made From Recycled Chewing Gum

“We also continue to improve our environmental performance during the manufacturing,” said Gil Steyaert, who is responsible for global operations. “This includes the use of sustainable materials, the reduction of CO2 emissions and waste prevention.

“In 2018 alone, we saved more than 40 tons of plastic waste in our offices, retail stores, warehouses and distribution centers worldwide and replaced it with more sustainable solutions.”

Additionally, Adidas is committed to using only recycled polyester in every product and application where a solution exists by 2024. As a founding member of the Better Cotton Initiative, Adidas meanwhile sources only sustainably produced cotton.

MORE: Historic Pacific Cleanup Vessel Has Been Successful With Trials at Sea And Will Soon Hit the Patch

Recently, Adidas signed the Climate Protection Charter for the Fashion Industry at the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland—and agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% before 2030.

Inform Your Friends for Their Next Shoe Purchase—Share To Social Media – Photo by Adidas

“The glassblower knows: while in the beginning, any shape is possible. Once hardened, the only way to change is to break.” – Mark Nepo

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “The glassblower knows: while in the beginning, any shape is possible. Once hardened, the only way to change is to break.” – Mark Nepo

Photo: by Jennifer Morrow, 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?

 

When 7-Foot-Tall ‘Gentle Giant’ With Autism Outgrows His Swing Set, Handyman Steps in for Free

By
McKinley Corbley
-

When a 23-year-old man with autism was suffering for his love of swingsets, this local handyman did not hesitate to offer up his services for free.

Cobey Thomas may not have been able to graduate from high school or pursue a career due to his autism, but he loves to swing. Every day, rain or shine, he hops on the local park swingset near his mother’s house in Knoxville, Tennessee and swings his cares away.

Even though he is nonverbal, his mother says that he is noticeably more peaceful after spending some time on the swings – which is why he usually uses the swingset anywhere from 5 to 10 times a day.

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That being said, Cobey has grown to be about 7 feet tall and over 200 pounds. His mother, Jenifer Thomas, became distraught when the park’s tiny swingset started to inflict various scrapes and bruises on his legs dragging on the ground. Cobey even started to have trouble sleeping because of his injuries.

Thomas then started to reach out to various local contractors and businesses in hopes of finding someone to build a new swingset for her “gentle giant” – but time and time again, she was rejected.

Finally, she reached out to Allen Ellison from the Neighborly home repair services company Mr. Handyman just before Christmas – and she was stunned by his compassionate response.

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Not only did he recruit the help of an engineer in order to design a specialized swingset for Cobey’s size, Ellison also built it in Thomas’s backyard free of charge.

“Allen came out immediately and brought an engineer with him, and just went to work. I mean… they just made it happen very fast,” Thomas told WBIR.

“[It was] just amazing… he restored my faith. Let’s put it that way.”

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by WBIR

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