Consumer Reports unveiled its third annual Naughty & Nice List featuring companies whose policies attracted either nasty stares or gleeful praise. The companies were picked based on specific practices that the magazine’s editors and subscribers found particularly worthy of either a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”. Facebook fans also joined in voicing their complaints and compliments.
Companies That Were ‘Naughty And Nice’ In 2012
Tenants in Posh Building Help Concierge Raise Money for his Village
Jean Kabre is the concierge and event planner at 101 Constitution — a place full of people focused on power, influence, and Congressional lobbying.
But when word got out that Kabre was helping support dozens of family members in his home village in Burkina Faso, the people whom Kabre had come to know as his friends, pitched in at astounding levels.
It started several years ago with small individual efforts such as writing a check to buy a goat. Then employees banded together to raise enough money to build a well to provide safe drinking water for the village.
Recently, Kabre was offered the use of a luxurious space and veranda across from the U.S. Capitol for a fundraiser that will create even more progress for his village this fall.
(READ the story w/ great photos in the Washington Post)
Thanks to Craig Withers for submitting the link!
Young Girl Inspires Kids To Send 10,000 Letters To Troops
It all started when 11-year-old Savannah Ogden’s friend learned she would lose the daily contact with her father that most kids take for granted. He was being deployed to Afghanistan for a year. Savannah wanted to help ease the pain of military families who are separated from their loved ones.
The girlfriends decided to write letters to soldiers thanking them for their service. Mailing personal letters from home — around thirty a week — led to a campaign to rally school children in every part of the country.
“Savannah’s Soldiers” has already encouraged kids to send thousands of letters to the troops in Afghanistan.
Workers Find $300,000 in Gold Dust Beneath Floor, Give it to Homeowners
A Sacramento homeowner is now $300,000 richer thanks to workers who unearthed a dozen jars of gold dust while installing heating and air conditioning under the floor.
Steve Ottley and his colleague at Clark & Rush stumbled upon the valuable stash sealed in twelve baby food jars.
The workers turned over the gold dust to the homeowners, who had no idea it was beneath their feet all these years.
Retailers Keep Deals Flowing on 13% Holiday-Sales Jump
U.S. retailers are extending deals into Cyber Monday and beyond to try to sustain a 13 percent gain in Thanksgiving weekend sales.
“Year over year, Black Friday sales were strong and margins should have also been strong,” said a Bloomberg Industries analyst.
The National Retail Federation said yesterday it predicts holiday sales, including online, will rise 4.1 percent to about $586.1 billion this year, compared with a 5.6 percent gain in 2011.
Zoo Sells Elephant’s “Trunk Art” on eBay
A large painting by a 14-year-old Asian elephant has sold on eBay for £360.
A buyer from Northamptonshire purchased the “abstract style” picture, which took about 20 minutes to create, and was sold to raise money for conservation projects.
Karishma started painting at the Bedfordshire zoo in England 2011.
A Peace Corps for Geeks? Nonprofit Donates Apps to Cities
Code for America is a new kind of public service. Volunteer teams have developed apps that have trimmed Boston’s costs for digging out fire hydrants after snowstorms and have made Philadelphia city services more accessible.
The ‘Peace Corps for geeks’ is on the leading edge of nonprofits looking to make government more efficient. Technologists and app designers can dedicate a year, a few months, or just a few minutes — time well-spent for the good of society.
A Grateful Grocer Passes on Business to His 400 Employees
For the past 46 years, Joe Lueken has been a successful Minnesota grocer and come January 1st, staying true to his philosophy of giving back to the community, he is transferring ownership of his three supermarkets to his employees.
The 71-year-old could have sold the business to the highest bidder, but instead he leaves a lasting legacy.
Pile of Leaves Sends Dog into Orbit
Jumping in a huge pile of leaves is the BEST DAY EVER for this Siberian husky.
New Foster Families Adopt Elderly U.S. Veterans, Call it a Privilege
A program run by the Veterans Administration has successfully placed elderly U.S. vets with families who receive stipends for providing room and board.
1500 veterans are now living with families who want to thank the men for their service and keep them in loving homes instead of hospitals or nursing homes.
(WATCH the video below from NBC News)
New Foster Families Adopt Elderly U.S. Veterans, Call it a Privilege
A program run by the Veterans Administration has successfully placed elderly U.S. vets with families who receive stipends for providing room and board.
1500 veterans are now living with families who want to thank the men for their service and keep them in loving homes instead of hospitals or nursing homes.
Healing with Humor: Cancer Patient has Unique Way of Spreading Happiness
He cheers a group of cancer patients running in a race, calling himself the captain of “Team Tumor.”
The 38-year-old father of two small children with stage-4 cancer has logged hundreds of hours of chemotherapy. But instead of living with defeat and humiliation, this Utah dad spends his time trying to give a laugh to others with cancer.
Healing with Humor: Cancer Patient Spreads Happiness to Save Himself
He cheers a group of cancer patients running in a race, calling himself the captain of “Team Tumor.”
The 38-year-old father of two small children with stage-4 cancer has logged hundreds of hours of chemotherapy. But instead of living with defeat and humiliation, this Utah dad spends his time trying to give a laugh to others with cancer.
Blind, Deaf, 3-legged Dog Saves Family From Fire (Video)
A disabled dachshund, adopted by a family when no one else wanted him, alerted the household to the raging fire.
The blind and deaf dog with only three legs earned his family’s gratitude this week after their log home in Oklahoma was destroyed.
The couple escaped in time with their new baby and faithful pet.
Even the Storm Victims Help Others on Thanksgiving (Video)
Even those hit hard financially by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy themselves, were reaching out to help families in Queens, N.Y., who are still in need 17 days later.
One businessman who lost $160,000 in inventory still thought to use his Thanksgiving as a time to serve those worse off.
He was one of many who organized inspiring waves of giving around the city, as warm communal meals were served with love.
(WATCH the NBC Making a Difference video below)
Happy Teens Grow Up to Be Wealthier Too
Which comes first, happiness or money? Much scholarly head tapping has been devoted to examining whether richer people are happier and if so, how much richer? Nobel prize-winners have even looked into it.
But a new study suggests that the question could perhaps be looked at the other way around. Happier teenagers, this study suggests, grow up to be richer adults.
Unemployed Coal Miners Install Solar Panels Now
A group devoted to creating alternative energy jobs in Central Appalachia is building a first for West Virginia’s southern coalfields region this week – a set of rooftop solar panels, assembled by unemployed and underemployed coal miners and contractors.
Breezy Point Teen Raises $80K, Lifting Spirits in Devastated Hometown
Matthew Petronis sat in his dorm room on Oct. 29, watching TV in horror as “my childhood burned down.”
Petronis had spent the first 19 years of his life learning how to walk, read, swim and throw a baseball in the idyllic Queens, N.Y., neighborhood of Breezy Point.
He felt helpless that night — but not for long. Only a few hours later, Petronis set up the first fundraiser to help the neighborhood.
In just hours, he’d raised a few thousand dollars, but that was only the beginning.
Within two weeks he topped $140,000, according to WTOP News.
Friend’s Place in Hollywood is Lifeline for Homeless Youth
Young people who are down on their luck in Los Angeles gave thanks yesterday for My Friend’s Place, a privately funded center that has become a haven where homeless youth can nurture fragile dreams.
It gives them what food it can afford. It gives them clothes, clean underwear and socks, toilet paper, toiletries and hot showers.
If and when they are ready, it gently helps them head toward self-sufficient lives off the street.
(READ the story from the LA Times)
File photo: Haitian student – University of People
Basketball Stars Across the U.S. Give Thanks This Week Helping Families in Need (Watch)
Professional basketball players are out in the neighborhoods this week giving back to the community. From taking families shopping for holiday gifts, to handing out hundreds of grocery bags with everything they need for a Thanksgiving feast, these players enjoy meeting their fans and stepping up.
“We understand that this time of year is difficult for a lot of people,” said David West of the Indiana Pacers. “We want to make sure that we impact their life, giving them an opportunity for joy at the holidays.”