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How One Family Was Blessed By “Shop With a Hero”

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Dec 11, 2013

ShopWithAHeroProgram

Michigan’s beloved “Shop with a Hero” program allows police officers and firefighters to volunteer to take children Christmas shopping and pays for the tab.

In Ingham County, 55 children were able to be “shoppers” this year, strolling the aisles of a department store and picking out items totaling $100. With donations from the retailer Meijer, and money donated to the Sheriff’s Office for the program, not only was the child able to shop with a $100 Meijer gift card, each family received a ham, turkey, milk, and other food items, and an extra $25 gift card to the store.

One woman whose daughter participated in the program sent a touching letter to WILX, describing what it meant for her family.

Generous and unexpected donations boosted the benefits this year for families. Some of the children were able to also purchase toys for their parents or siblings, buy winter clothing items, and for one family, $50 worth of gas was pumped for their car.

”With my family, due to recent events, we no longer have any money at all coming into the home, and this was to me, a gift from above. When I called in to verify that we would be there, I had to ask if we might be able to use maybe $15.00 of that $100.00 to pay for gas so we could not only get there, but be able to get home, and let me tell you, I felt bad for asking, but I had to, otherwise she would not have been able to go. The lady told me that they would give me a Meijer gas card, and not to worry, Elizabeth will still be able to get her 100.00 worth of gifts. Needless to say, I cried on the phone to the woman, for the kindness they had bestowed upon us.”

(READ the rest of the letter from WILX.com)

Seal Cuddles With Woman on a Beach

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Dec 11, 2013

seal nuzzles woman

A woman who was touring South Georgia Island was befriended by a seal.

The animal appears to be a young female elephant seal, according to YouTube.

The seal affectionately slides up to her while she’s sitting on the beach, but still wants to get closer.

This unusual encounter was filmed in Gold Harbour on South Georgia Island, in the sub-Antarctic.

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One Millionth Care Package by Operation Gratitude Now In Route With Keys to New Truck

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Dec 10, 2013

Operation Gratitude box

Volunteers at Operation Gratitude, the non-profit military and veteran support organization, assembled its milestone One Millionth Care Package to the cheers of thousands of supporters assembled for the celebration Sunday. To heighten the excitement, corporate sponsors donated huge prizes that will be part of the hand-packed delivery. The package, in route overseas, will bring to the lucky recipient the keys to a brand new Ford F-150 truck.

Holiday Travelers Arrive to Find Airline Has Bought Gifts Off Their Wish Lists

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Dec 10, 2013

Holiday Surprise for passengers from WestJet

Thanks to a team of merry WestJet employees and the power of technology, a group of airline passengers was treated to a Christmas miracle that turned an airport into Santa’s workshop.

In early August, the company sat down and started brainstorming about what ‘giving’ looked like. “We wanted to do something big, exciting and fresh,” they wrote on their blog.

Fast forward three months and, with the help of 175 WestJet volunteers, three airports and Santa himself, they made a seeming miracle happen for more than 250 guests on two Calgary-bound flights.

With the help of technology, the airline learned what the passengers had on their Christmas wishlists.

Once everyone boarded their planes, according to Mashable, the WestJet team also took off — on shopping sprees, that is.

They are also giving away two free airfares to a lucky winner who has tweeted their video.

(WATCH the video below and READ the story in Mashable)

RELATED: Airline Wraps Gifts to Send Through the Baggage Chute for Christmas Eve Travelers

Also: Airline Plays April Fools Joke on Traveling Canadian Families

New Jersey High School Hero Club Making Wishes Come True

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Dec 10, 2013

Hero Club-LenapeHS

A South Jersey high school sophomore Taylor Kane entered this school year with the goal of simply granting wishes.

Kane founded the Lenape High School Hero Club, an organization dedicated to helping people — and he started by helping a student at his own school, a senior who has bone cancer.

But it has spread a lot farther.

“I just feel like it’s so important because it shows students that anyone can be a hero.”

The club from Lenape High School posts updates on wishes and fundraisers on their Facebook page and Twitter account.

(READ the story in South Jersey Sun News)

UK Wage Growth at 6-year High as Economy Recovers

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Dec 9, 2013

london-ws-Diliff-CC

Wages in Britain grew at their fastest rate in six years during November, a labour market survey indicated on Monday, providing a rare signal that a long-term decline in real incomes is being checked by a return to economic growth.

Last month starting salaries for permanent staff rose at their highest rate since November 2007, according to survey data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and consultancy KPMG.

(READ the story from Reuters)

Most Influential Adult at Trinity High School? The Janitor.

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Dec 8, 2013

custodian Clark wins Lifechanger Award

Perhaps no adult employed at Trinity High School has had more influence over students or changed more young lives than Charles Clark, the school’s custodian. Clark has mentored countless kids in need of a father figure at the Texas high school, even housing several of them in his home over the years. In the beginning, he took the custodial position thinking he would keep it until he found something better, but 24 years later, he still hasn’t found it.

Now Clark, 63, has bested more than 400 teachers, administrators and school district employees from 33 states to become the “LifeChanger of the Year” Grand Prize Winner. The national award honors outstanding educators and school district employees who make a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.

Wreaths Across America Begins Trek to Arlington National Cemetery

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Dec 8, 2013

flagged cars in Wreaths across America-WCSHvid

It’s a Maine tradition that continues to grow every year. Today, Wreaths Across America embarked on its annual trek to Arlington National Cemetery. More than 100,000 wreaths will be placed at the grave sites of U.S. fallen soldiers.

Dozens of trucks, motorcycles and cars rolled through Belfast on Sunday, stopping for their first lunch break of the six-day journey.

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‘Tips for Jesus’ Shocks Servers With Massive Restaurant Tips

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Dec 7, 2013

Tips for Jesus-Instagram

An anonymous patron is leaving a trail of generous gratuities on bar and restaurant tabs across the country, signing each credit-card receipt with the same name as the Instagram account he uses to document his giveaways: @TipsForJesus.

Micah Olson learned about the man Tuesday night only after he left the Phoenix restaurant he co-owns. The mysterious man arrived with a woman and asked Olson, who was working behind the bar, whether he had ever heard of Tips for Jesus.

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Coffee Shop Holds Food Drive for Man Who Stole from Tip Jar

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Dec 7, 2013

Feed the hungry sign-WKYCvid

A man, who can clearly be identified on surveillance video, was caught stealing from a tip jar in a Cleveland, Ohio coffee shop.

But instead of pressing charges, the Nervous Dog, is choosing to host a food drive for the obviously desperate customer.

“In the spirit of the season, instead of getting steamed, these baristas are offering up an olive branch, a warm cup of coffee, and a lesson in compassion,” reported WKYC.

So far they’ve raised three boxes of food for the man, should he want to come in and pick it up.

(READ the story from WKYC)

Famed Electric Guitar Sells for $965,000

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Dec 7, 2013

guitar Dylan used to go electric-HistoryDetectives

The electric guitar Bob Dylan was playing at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, when he got booed for playing rock ‘n’ roll, sold for $965,000 on Friday, which is a world auction record for a guitar.

The 1964 Fender Stratocaster had been accidentally left on a private aircraft by the songwriter and his band in the months after the Rhode Island festival.

“Today’s result justifies the mythic status of this guitar in the annals of music history,” said Tom Lecky, a specialist at the auction house, Christie’s.

The original case and leather strap were also included in the sale, which was won by an anonymous bidder.

(READ the story from Reuters – WATCH the moment the crowd booed on the video below)

World Honors Mandela (1918-2013) as Champion of Freedom and Reconciliation

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Dec 6, 2013

Nelson Mandela-public-domain

Former South African President Nelson Mandela was hailed on Thursday as a champion of reconciliation who ‘achieved more than could be expected of any man,’ as people the world over mourned his death and celebrated his triumphant fight against apartheid in South Africa.

Mandela endured life in prison for 27 years until his release in 1990 following an international campaign that lobbied for his release. Amid escalating civil strife, he published his autobiography and opened negotiations with President F.W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid.

For American Workers, A Week Stuffed With Good News

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Dec 6, 2013

Made in America factory workers ABCNews report

As we reported Tuesday, the U.S. economy is continuing to gain steam. Housing, manufacturing, auto sales rates have all been rising.

This week has also been a great one for workers: The Labor Department said Friday that employers created 203,000 jobs last month, sending the unemployment rate tumbling by three-tenths of a point to 7 percent — the lowest level since 2008.

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500 Dogs Are Being Rescued and Flown to New Homes Today

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Dec 6, 2013

doggie airlift-Wings of Rescue-400px

One day. 500 animals. 14 private planes. 120 rescue organizations. 100’s of volunteers. 30,000 air miles. 11 destinations. And many, many happy tails.

Today is the big day for Wings of Rescue, the non-profit that is making holiday dreams come true for hundreds of dogs in high kill shelters, bringing them to live in new “fur-ever” homes.

Funded by Subaru of America, Wings of Rescue will conduct its 3rd Annual Holiday Airlift, saving dogs in Southern California – many literally on the day they are to be euthanized. A fleet of volunteer pilots in private planes will fly these bundles of love to rescue organizations and new homes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, in the largest one-day animal rescue on the West Coast.

A Minister’s Challenge: ‘Use This Gift For Good’

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Dec 5, 2013

money photo by cohdra, via morgeufile

Reverend Nathan Detering, a minister at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn, Massachusetts, tried an experiment last year with his congregation. Instead of members donating money to the church, they were given money as a “reverse offering,” and charged to do some good with it.

Each was given between $5.00 and $20.00 in an envelope.

“That small amount of money was given a large meaning. And I really wanted people to appreciate that. It’s not the number on the bill that can make the difference, often it’s the intention behind it.”

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Woman Celebrates 30th Birthday in 2 Countries – Buys Cake, Gifts for African Kids

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Dec 5, 2013

birthday check Marina Andric-party

Marina Andric of Frankfurt, Germany, was about to turn the big 3-0 when she read the Good News Network story about the 22 year old girl who did 22 acts of kindness on her birthday.

“When I read it I felt inspired to do something great for my birthday and after a few evenings of brainstorming I had an idea,” she said.

She threw a birthday party in Germany and Africa at the same time!

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