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Bill Gates Celebrates Good News of 2014 in World Health

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In his year-end newsletter Bill Gates wants to celebrate some of the good news hidden in this turbulent year. Millions of dollars in grants from the Gates Foundation helped to bend the curb on deadly diseases and child deaths around the world.

“More children are surviving than ever before and we’re making progress against some of the world’s deadliest diseases,” he wrote. “These are some of the most fundamental ways to measure the world’s progress—and by that measure, 2014 was definitely another good year.”

The highlights:

– This year we saw a four-decade trend continue, with child mortality rates falling for those under age five. And it’s falling faster than anyone expected.

– The fight against AIDS hit a big milestone with data this month showing that for the first time more people began receiving treatment for the disease than people becoming infected with HIV. This trend will dramatically reduce the numbers of people that will become infected in the future.

– Tuberculosis is one of the world’s leading causes of death, but earlier this year, scientists announced the successful trials of a new TB treatment — the first in decades. Gates says, “If this new treatment regimen pans out, it could dramatically reduce the time it takes to cure drug-resistant TB and save poor countries billions of dollars in health-care costs.”

– Nigeria is one of only three countries that have never been free from polio (Pakistan and Afghanistan are the other two), but Gates doesn’t think it will be on that list for long. Nigeria has reported only six cases of polio this year, compared to more than 50 last year. The fact that Nigeria is now Ebola free is a great example of its health infrastructure at work.

(READ the more from GatesNotes.com)

Story tip from Aileen Jong LAc

Jazz Greats Converge on Hospital to Play Happy Birthday for 94-yo ‘Maestro’

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trumpet section visits Clark Terry-PhotobyFrankStewart

In December, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra trekked for four hours from Fayetteville, Arkansas to surprise the great trumpet player Clark Terry. An emergency had landed Terry, who is blind and ailing, in the hospital. The trip was originally planned for visiting his home to celebrate his 94th birthday on December 14, but the band was determined to pay homage under any circumstance.

“Moving a big band around on a scheduled day off can be very complicated (but)…with literally no lead-time, the hospital was able to source and set up a classroom so we could come in and play for him,” wrote Marsalis on Facebook. “As we pulled up to the everyday world of the hospital, with two tour buses and an equipment truck, we knew it would be special. From the security guards at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, who set aside parking spaces for us, to the administrators, aides and the assistants working specifically with Clark, to his wife Gwen and some of their friends, everyone and everything was soaked in hospitality, human feeling and soul.”

“CT has been such a positive influence on so many of us in the orchestra; we were of one mind about the way we wanted to play for him. Swing! Even before we started playing, many of us were full of emotion.”

”I reflected on the depth of Clark’s impact on me and was overcome. At 14-15, he was the first great jazz trumpeter I had ever heard actually playing live. His spectacular playing made me want to practice (of course) but his warmth and optimism made me to want to be a part of the world of Jazz. I would try to stand like him, play like him, announce tunes like him and treat people the way he did. And each of us in the band had personal stories like that about Clark. For our trumpet section, he is a Great Immortal.”

“As Clark’s bed was wheeled in we launched into Duke and Strayhorn’s “Peanut Brittle Brigade” from their version of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker'”

JAzzBand-plays-in-hospital-by-FrankStewartAfter playing, they each went over to his bed and expressed their pure veneration for the man Marsalis called “one of the world’s great Maestros.” Other arrangements were played, ending with Happy Birthday, New Orleans-style. When they brought in the cake and Terry blew out the two candles, “everyone broke down.”

Afterward the band all went back to the Clark home where Gwen had laid out a welcoming spread of fried chicken and catfish, coleslaw, succotash. “You know, pure southern soul,” Marsalis said.

(WATCH them play Happy Birthday below – READ the full details on Marsalis’s Facebook Page)

Photos by Frank Stewart via Wynton Marsalis FB page / Story tip from Jerry White

After Decades Homeless, 11 Veterans Given Homes in Time for Holidays

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A historic building in New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina is being renovated and is now housing eleven formerly homeless veterans.

On the Friday before Christmas, Darren Dalpiaz, a 48-year-old Army veteran, was one of the chronically homeless vets who moved into what’s being called their “forever home,” in the 1908 Sacred Heart convent and school.

When completed, the building will house 109 low-income families in apartments, with 54 of them set aside for formerly homeless individuals.

Dalpiaz’s holiday gift came courtesy of the non-profit UNITY of Greater New Orleans, which teamed with Catholic Charities and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to move some of the city’s most vulnerable homeless veterans into the new apartments at 3222 Canal St. in the Mid-City district where there is no affordable housing. Unity has housed 197 veterans permanently since July, many in a 60-unit complex they opened in 2012, with on-site caseworkers for the half of its tenants who used to be homeless.

Because homelessness is so often linked to mental or physical disability, residents like Dalpiaz will be assigned on-site case managers to assist them with things like medical appointments and reconnecting with family.

SacredHeartApartments-videoBest of all the Sacred Heart Apartments are several blocks from the new VA Medical Center and right next to public transportation.

Evidence shows the hands-on approach works, according to UNITY: All of the previously homeless tenants, even those with challenging disabilities, have remained stably housed since the building opened two years ago.

Dalpiaz’s daughter cried when he called last week to say he was no longer homeless. He is thrilled that his new grandchildren can come to visit their granddaddy.

(WATCH the video below from WGNO  or READ the full story from the New Orleans Advocate)

Obama Wears Tiara on His Head for Girl Scouts

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obama-wears-tiara-PeteSouza-WH

Presidential photographer Pete Souza says he is considering this adorable photo as one of his Top White House Pictures of 2014.

Obama agreed to don a tiara and pose with Girl Scouts from Tulsa, Oklahoma during the annual White House Science Fair. The girls were exhibiting a flood-proof Lego bridge project.

The president, who is the father of two girls, is not afraid to bend gender stereotypes — at least when it comes to toys and sports. He was hailed this week while sorting gifts at a Toys for Tots event. In a video, he started putting sports gifts like a basketball and a t-ball set into the bin marked for girls, saying he was sure there were girls who wanted to play ball. He also placed a toy tool kit in the girls bin.

Photo credit: Pete Souza, White House (Instagram)

Another Reason to Love Jennifer Lawrence – What She Did on Christmas Eve

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Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence made her second annual visit to Kosair Children’s Hospital while in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky for Christmas.

She delighted dozens of families with bedside visits with the children and by posing for photos.

(Story and more photos from E Online)

Tavern Serves 700 lbs of Turkey as Soup Kitchen Closes for Christmas

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Greensboro-serves-Christmas-meal-for-poor

A Bender’s Tavern tradition started by the Jewish Freiberg family has for decades served Christmas dinner to Christians in need on the one day that the local mission is closed.

Volunteers helping the Greensboro, North Carolina restaurant began their Christmas morning at 2 AM preparing the 700 pounds of turkey, potatoes, and side dishes.

Owner Anna Freiberg continues the tradition started by her parents in the early 1980s, an event that today draws more than 3,000 people.

(READ the story from the News-Record)

Photo from the Community Foundation, which feeds the poor year-round – Story tip from Kelly Harrington

Boxer on Mean Streets of DC Hands Out Christmas Cheer (WATCH)

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SE DC poor folks on stree RedEyeFilmsYouTube

Home and family mean everything to Buddy L. Harrison, but his Southeast Washington, DC neighborhood does not always look like a valued part of the nation’s capitol.

A shooting on Christmas Eve after a robbery at a bus stop was just another moment of contrast for residents on these mean streets.

But Harrison is a community hero and he spread some Christmas cheer among the poor and homeless in the neighborhood where he grew up and raised his family.

Harrison, 54, runs Old School Boxing in nearby Fort Washington, and hopes he can instill pride and morals in the youngsters he coaches so that one day they have the chance to move on to a safer community.

Red Eye Films produced these videos sharing the good feelings of both his Christmas Day charity and a food giveaway on Thanksgiving.

(WATCH the inspiring videos below)

 

UPDATE: Man Who Wanted a Family for Thanksgiving Helps Fellow Homeless Men at Christmas

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Neal Shytles buys goodies for Homeless friends-WTKRvideo

All Neal Shytles wanted for Thanksgiving was a family.

After he posted his ad on a Norfolk, Virginia Facebook page, offers came in from across the country from families wanting to take him for the Thanksgiving holiday.

In fact, so many offers of gifts, –and even jobs– flooded in for Neal causing him to want to help his fellow homeless men at the Union Mission shelter where he lives.

So, for Christmas, he came up with the idea of making goodie bags for the hundreds of men who always assemble for dinner at the mission.

He created a Facebook page to collect Walmart gift cards to buy socks, gloves, hand warmers and candy. He raised more than a thousand dollars and the local TV station that first ran his story, matched that, giving another thousand.

WTKR took Neal to Walmart, where he filled four carts, and also helped him to assemble the gifts back at the station into dozens of brown paper bags.

(WATCH the video below and READ the story from WTKR)

Homeless Woman Gets New Home, Reunites with Dogs After Outpouring of Support

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homeless woman given home for her and dogs-WGNvid

After a local Chicago woman was featured on the news sleeping in a tent in the woods, having given up her dogs to a local animal hospital, the community has rallied around her — and her pets — in a big way.

After losing her home a year ago, Linda Anderson found she couldn’t use the homeless shelter because she has a part-time job working in the middle of the night. She also was heart-broken that she had to give up her two dogs, because she couldn’t take care of them.

To the rescue were people at the Roselle, Illinois Animal Hospital, who have been caring for and boarding the dogs for last six months. Donations came flowing into the hospital after WGN-TV featured their good deed.

But to solve the problem, Linda would still need a home.

In steps the CEO of Zeman Homes, which owns and operates mobile home communities, who decided to give Linda a home.

CEO Jeff Fannon had the residence painted and refurbished and his employees got into the holiday spirit collecting household items, like pots, pans, linens and toiletries, to fill it.

“I am very proud of my team,” said Ed Zeman, Chairman of Zeman Homes. “A lot of our employees are not that well off themselves and they were the ones that, it seems, gave the most.”

(WATCH the video below [a larger version from YouTube is at the bottom] – or  READ the story from the WGN)

 

High School Teen Donates 1,200 Toys for Tots

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A high school senior in Paris, Texas personally donated 1200 toys to Toys for Tots this month. She purchased toys at reduced prices throughout the year, just as she has done for the past four years, helping to make Christmas really special for hundreds of other children.

Mariah Burton-selfieIt all began with five scooters purchased on Black Friday four years ago with money that she had saved for Christmas. Last year Mariah Burton bought 240 toys using money she earned while babysitting and doing odd chores.

This year she worked part time at a local department store and started shopping during after-Christmas sales in January, to amass an incredible 1211 quality toys for donation throughout Lamar County.

The pile of toys grew throughout the year to fill a spare bedroom at Burton’s home, and when it was time to move them to the collection site, two trucks were required to carry the haul.

Her mother Amy said, “Her passion for donating toys is contagious and, although I am her biggest fan, I cannot claim any credit for her actions.”

Mariah disagrees. Her father runs the Downtown Food Pantry in Paris and she told Good News Network that both her parents taught her to think of others before herself and to give back whenever possible.

For her dedication, Mariah served as the 2014 Toys for Tots ambassador for Delta and Lamar County, Texas.

Empty Stockings Prompt Outpouring of Kindness for Many Families

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stockings-hung-CC-brentflanders

For the past month, the Charlotte Observer has run a series of stories on particular struggling families that signed up to get toys from the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas program. And dozens of readers responded to the stories with offers of cash, toys, furniture and groceries.

“In one case, a couple accepted an invitation to lunch at Wendy’s, where a reader presented them with a check for $15,000 on behalf of an anonymous philanthropist.”

In another, a little boy and his sister received a delivery of 100 books, after the Observer article shared that he loved his Charlie Brown book that he got last Christmas through the Empty Stockings program.

One of the biggest responses from readers followed the story featuring a 58-year-old disabled woman raising two small grandchildren.

The three, living in public housing and surviving on food stamps, wanted three beds, since the family had none.

“After reading the story, one Huntersville man arranged to have new beds delivered to Ross’ home, along with bed linens he collected through his bridge club,” reports the Observer.

He and other donors filled their home with toys on the children’s’ Christmas wish lists and a much-needed clothes dryer.

(READ the story from the Observer)

Photo credit: brent flanders (CC license) / Story tip from Kelly Harrington

Jewish, Muslim Volunteers Do Good Christmas Day Deeds

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Across Detroit, organizers said nearly 1,000 Jewish volunteers did good deeds on Thursday’s Mitzvah Day — an annual rite of community service on Dec. 25, when Christians typically want to be home celebrating Christmas, rather than doling servings at a soup kitchen.

Increasingly for the last six Christmases, Muslims have joined the horde of Jewish volunteers, according to the Michigan Muslim Community Council.

“We all have the day off and we’re not doing anything, so this is a great time for us to volunteer,”

(READ the story from the Detroit Free Press)

Photo credit: Etty Rahmawati and friends, CC license by greendoula-UrbanAcademy /  Story tip from Joel Arellano

Anonymous Angel Mails a Christmas Package Left on Bus

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christmas-wooden-angels-CC-danna(curious tangles)

A 79-year-old retired social-services worker wants to thank the kind-hearted person who mailed a package he mistakenly left on a South Philadelphia bus.

His sister called on Christmas Day to say she received the gift — the only one Cliff Hunter was going to be able to afford to give.

The sweater was used, but lovingly cleaned and placed in a box with her address, before he left it, rushing to get off the bus at 20th and Locust Street.

Someone must have taken it to the post office and paid the $8.00 in postage to ship it to Florida.

(READ the story from the Philadelphia Inquirer)

Photo credit: danna (curious tangles) CC license / Story tip from Wendy Thorn

Boston Teacher Donates $150,000 Prize To Her School

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teacher-dorchester-with-students-CapOnevideo

The mayor of Boston this week honored a Dorchester third grade teacher who won a $150,000 online contest and donated the money to her school.

26-year-old Nikki Bollerman entered an online contest called the #WishForOthers campaign.

She said she wished for her “vivacious, loving third-grade scholars” to all get new books for the holiday this year.

Contest sponsor Capitol One funded three books per student, and then went further, awarding Bollerman one of the contest’s grand prizes of $150,000, reports WBUR.

Nikki then promptly donated the prize to her school.

(WATCH the video below and READ the story from WBUR)


Story tip from Kelly Harrington

Scottish Sandwich Shop Smashes Homeless Christmas Meals Target

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Josh Littlejohn sandwich shop givers

“A sandwich shop owner has been “blown away” by people’s generosity after thousands bought Christmas meals for the homeless.”

Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, hoped to raise enough to pay for 800 meals.

But they have massively surpassed their target, raising enough for 35,000 plates of turkey.

(READ the story from the BBC)

Story tip from Ganga

Transforming Lion Killers into ‘Lion Guardians’ in Africa

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“Armed with a doctorate in environmental studies, a young woman has found one solution to help the lion population in Africa grow. Her nonprofit turns Maasai warriors — who have a tradition of killing lions — into lion protectors,” reports CNN.

Hazzah realized that Maasai warriors, the leaders and protectors in their community, would be the best ambassadors for lions. She began teaching them the benefits of protecting lions, with an emphasis on preserving their culture. In turn, the lessons began rippling through the entire tribe.

(READ the story from CNN)

Photo credit: WhiteLions.org / Story tip from Mike McGinley

Soldier’s Letter Details WWI Christmas Day Truce 100 Yrs Ago

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First world war soldiers playing football

“Dearest mother, I have seen one of the most extraordinary sights…”

So begins a letter from a Scottish soldier in 1914 — a letter just published that confirms the Christmas Day football match between warring sides as seen through the eyes of a soldier for the first time, according to the Independent.

The Christmas Day Truce happened 100 years ago today, between England and Germany, when both sides laid down their weapons in a 2-day respite from World War I to wish each other Happy Christmas, exchange items — and play football.

“About 10 o’clock this morning I was peeping over the parapet when I saw a German, waving his arms, and presently two of them got out of their trench and came towards ours,” wrote Captain A D Chater in the letter.

“We were just going to fire on them when we saw they had no rifles, so one of our men went to meet them and in about two minutes the ground between the two lines of trenches was swarming with men and officers of both sides, shaking hands and wishing each other a happy Christmas.“

“I went out myself and shook hands with several of their officers and men,” Captain Chater wrote.

“From what I gathered most of them would be glad to get home again as we should – we have had our pipes playing all day and everyone has been walking about in the open unmolested.”

“We exchanged cigarettes and autographs, and some more people took photos.

WWI Christmas AD Sainsburys YoutubeGrab“I don’t know how long it will go on for – I believe it was supposed to stop yesterday, but we can hear no firing going on along the front today except a little distant shelling.

“We are, at any rate, having another truce on New Year’s Day, as the Germans want to see how the photos come out!”

(READ about the letter from The Independent – WATCH a beautiful reenactment on GNN)

Thanks to Sarah for the story tip!

How Does A Homeless Man Spend $100? You Won’t Believe It

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homeless-hands-out-treats-to-strangers-JoshPalerLin

Once again, the internet is proving to a YouTube prankster that they will get a lot more Shares and Views if the video can inspire a nation.

This video, from Josh Paler Lin, is a fine example and puts a beautiful exclamation point on the reminder, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Watch what happens when Josh gives a homeless man $100. The man is so kind and humble and surprised — and articulate.

We were uncomfortable when Josh’s cameraman followed him around in secret to see what he would spend his cash on, because he went into a liquor store right away. But stick with the camera as it tracked what this fellow, Thomas, did next.

Click on the link near the end to see that Josh, after high viewer demand, set up a fundraising page for Thomas. It has raised $20,000 (which is double the $10K goal that was set) — and in just 24 hours. [UPDATE: By December 25, the fund has raised $85,000 to help him get his mother’s condominium back, if he wants to.]

And, by the way, as I’m posting this, his YouTube clip has racked up 3.1 million views in a day, and it probably will double by tomorrow.

(WATCH the video below)

Ohio Man’s Bucket List Grants Christmas Wish

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Last January 1, Gregg Dodd of Columbus, Ohio woke up and decided he was going to do 52 things for the new year. Number seventeen on the list was ‘making a wish come true’.

“Around the holidays you start hearing about all these families in need, so I started keeping an eye open on what sort of ways I could help,” he said.

Dodd heard about a local single mom with three teens and decided they would be the family whose wish he would grant this year.

With 200 people buying gift cards and sending cash donations, with totals reaching an estimated $5,000, he said, “I’m not sure if they know that magnitude of what’s going to happen.”

Let’s hope there is an update after the family gets their surprise.

(READ the story from ABC-8)

Story tip from Kelly Harrington / Photo from Gregg Dodd

There was a Cockroach in my Bed + Other Surprises

By
Michelle Ploog
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Shocked-surprised-lego-face-CC-Pascal-pasukaru76

When I moved in with my boyfriend, about 2 months ago, I decided to play a little “I love you” prank on him. I put a rubber cockroach on the corner of the box spring just underneath the bed skirt on his side of the bed.

I figured that over time the cockroach would fall out while he was adjusting the bed skirt or changing the sheets. He would jump in shock and I would giggle in pranking victory.

Problem is… I forgot it was there.

Then today, while putting fresh sheets on the bed, I had to adjust the bed skirt for the first time since I moved in. I lifted the fabric and there it was…

A two-inch long cockroach!

I screamed. My heart raced. I dropped the mattress and ran out of the room. Then I realized it was the rubber cockroach I had put there to scare my hunni…

I had pranked myself!

I went back and looked just to make sure it was the rubber one. It was, and I could wipe the sweat off my forehead. After the jolt of surprise, I couldn’t stop laughing. The adrenalin and humor made my day.

I think it’s important to acknowledge that sometimes we literally surprise ourselves. Not just with pranks meant for someone else, but also with what we are capable of.

There is more potential inside of each of us than we realize.

As we get closer to a New Year, open yourself up to new challenges. You may discover that you have completely untapped happiness, purpose and enthusiasm for life.

Try new things. Take the road less traveled. Make up new rules for your life that align with joy. Open yourself up to new people. Take the risk of being emotionally vulnerable. Climb a tree. Sing at the top of your lungs in your car. Make your neighbor cookies. Write a love letter. Hug everyone a little bit longer than usual.

All of these serve to get you out of your comfort zone and add some extra zest (post cockroach rolling laughter) to your life. There are always ways to challenge yourself to live more, give more, and love more. And here is a way to challenge yourself to give more and love more of YOU today…

Do something today that may shock future you. Sit down and write out all of the talents, gifts, skills, and attributes that you possess that make you miraculous and unique. Add a few sentences of pure motivation and love. Fold it up, perhaps put it into an envelope, and hide it somewhere. Forget about it. You’ll find it when you least expect it and maybe need it most.

michelle-ploog-authorphoto[EDITOR’S Note: Great idea, Michelle! Especially for the New Year.]

Thank you for reading!!
Much Love and BIG smiles,

Michelle Ploog
[email protected]
www.michelleploog.com
twitter.com/michelleploog
facebook.com/michelleploog

Photo (top) by Pascal pasukaru76 (CC license)

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