While enrolled at Cornell University, Andrew Grauer felt the frustration of many undergraduates: Too much knowledge is bottled up in private hard drives and individual brains. “Course Hero is about democratizing access to quality learning materials and services,” he says. So he took a semester off from school and founded the company, which quickly reached 1 million visitors a month.
“Course Hero” Shares Study Material Online From 2 Million Students
Christian Bale Turns Hero for Young Cancer Patient
Christian Bale answered the Bat-signal this week for a 4-year-old cancer patient who wished to meet his hero.
Jayden Barber wanted to meet the real “Batman,” so friends and family organized a Facebook page in hopes of attracting Bale’s attention. The 38-year-old actor answered the call and earlier this week flew Jayden and his entire family out to Disneyland for an intimate lunch.
Britain Hails Hero Andy Murray’s Historic US Open Victory
“Hail, Murray!” called leaders, tennis pros and fans on Tuesday after the gritty Scot Andy Murray became the first British man to win a Grand Slam since 1936.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said his five-set defeat of Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the US Open final was continuing Britain’s “golden summer of sport” following the Olympics and Paralympics.
Dog Stands Guard Over Deceased Owner’s Grave for Six Years
An extremely dedicated dog has continued to show its loyalty, keeping watch on its owner’s grave six years after he passed away.
Capitan, a German shepherd, reportedly ran away from home after its owner, Miguel Guzman, died in 2006. A week later, the Guzman family found the dog sitting by his grave in central Argentina, even though they had never brought the dog to the site before.
Libyans Rally in Support of U.S. in Benghazi With Signs Saying ‘We’re Sorry’
Libyans held a pro-America rally last night expressing regret and shame for the attacks on the American embassy that resulted in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 others.
A CBS reporter on the scene said there is a sense of shock and anger toward those responsible for the crimes.
“When you talk to Libyans here you hear the same thing: Everybody is heartbroken. They’re saddened, they’re shocked by what’s happened,” D’Agata told Norah O’Donnell and Charlie Rose. “They say the ambassador is a personal friend to the Libyans.”
Libyans Rally in Support of U.S. in Benghazi With Signs Saying ‘We’re Sorry’
Libyans held a pro-America rally last night expressing regret and shame for the attacks on the American embassy that resulted in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 others.
A CBS reporter on the scene said there is a sense of shock and anger toward those responsible for the crimes.
“When you talk to Libyans here you hear the same thing: Everybody is heartbroken. They’re saddened, they’re shocked by what’s happened,” D’Agata told Norah O’Donnell and Charlie Rose. “They say the ambassador is a personal friend to the Libyans.”
London Marathon Breaks All-Time Charity Fund-raising Record
The London Marathon’s claim to fame is not the speed of the runners, but the generosity of their record-breaking charity pledges.
As the world’s greatest fundraising event, the Marathon this week exceeded even last year’s haul, breaking the single day fundraising world record for the sixth straight year, organizers said on Wednesday.
Marathon runners raised 52.8 million pounds, one million more than last year ($84 million dollars).
Woman Buys Renoir Masterpiece for $7 In West Virginia Flea Market
A Maryland woman didn’t recognize the priceless painting when she bought it in a box of knick knacks for seven dollars in a West Virginia flea market.
She only hoped the gold frame might be worth something. But her mother urged her to take the small landscape to an appraiser.
It turned out to be a 1879 Renoir, the French impressionist masterpiece that’s been missing since the 1920s, entitled “Paysage Bords de Seine”.
Yahoo News reports the woman plans to take her mother to France after the auction and will make an effort to take some flowers to Renoir’s grave.
(WATCH the video below – or READ the story from CBS-Baltimore)
Triple-amputee Marine Gets Keys to ‘Smart Home’ — and New Life
Afghanistan war veteran Cpl. Juan Dominguez has a new “smart home” adapted to his combat injuries, thanks to money raised by actor Gary Sinise and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The home, which contains an elevator, self-flushing toilets, lighting controlled with an iPad, and easy-open cabinets and doors, will give him and his wife a “second chance at life.”
By year’s end, the Siller foundation, with Sinise’s help, will have funded 20 homes for U.S. military personnel grievously wounded in war.
(READ the story, w/ new photo, in the LA Times)
Alaska Fisherman Survives 26 Hours Floating in Fish Crate
The Coast Guard rescued an Alaska fisherman who survived on frigid ocean waters floating in a four-foot-square plastic fish crate after his boat sank.
Ryan Harris, 19, told the local newspaper in Sitka, Alaska, that he sang songs like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to keep himself awake through the night.
(READ the story from Time.com)
Photo taken by boater Joel Brady-Power
College Student Given Cadillac by Stranger After He is Struck by Car While Walking to School
A Georgia college student who walked 15 miles each way to attend classes was seriously injured while on his way to school by a hit and run driver.
That unfortunate event caused an Atlanta woman to donate her Cadillac so the young man never again has to risk his life to make the five hour trek to school.
Boy, 8, Donates $1,000 Prize to Toddler With Leukemia
When Wyatt Erber learned about a summer-long scavenger hunt in his town, he went for it. And when he learned the winner would pocket a cool $1,000, he immediately knew what he would do with the money.
“Let’s do this to help Cara!” he announced to his mom.
It turns out that Wyatt did win — and, without hesitation, made good on his promise.
Pizza Man Lifts President Obama Off The Ground in Bear Hug
President Obama got a lift in Fort Pierce, Florida recently by a pizzeria owner who can bench-press 350 pounds and was really happy to see him.
Even though the business owner is a registered Republican, he said he was swept away by Obama’s enthusiasm — and he swept the President off his feet in a huge bear hug.
Young Homeless Mom Fighting Cancer Surprised With New Home
Lunchtime conversations with strangers can sometimes lead to miraculous luck. Such was the outcome for an Alabama woman working at a sandwich shop whose friendship with a compassionate Methodist Pastor led to a fresh start.
Jessica lost her home in the Huntsville tornado last year and during the past year she has been homeless, hopping from her mother’s house to shelters, and motels, all while working two jobs and caring for her two children, according to WHNT.
Compounding her misery, when Pastor Calvin noticed her absence from the Subway shop, he found out she was being hospitalized with cancer.
Hearing the news drove him to galvanize an army of do-gooders at his Ford’s Chapel United Methodist Church.
The congregation renovated the dilapidated trailer home, installing new flooring, plumbing, and electricity. The process took two months and Jessica got her first peek on Sunday.
(READ more of the story from Huffington Post)
SHARE the Generosity and Love…
Young Homeless Mom Fighting Cancer Surprised With New Home
Lunchtime conversations with strangers can sometimes lead to miraculous luck. Such was the outcome for an Alabama woman working at a sandwich shop whose friendship with a compassionate Methodist Pastor led to a fresh start.
Jessica lost her home in the Huntsville tornado last year and during the past year she has been homeless, hopping from her mother’s house to shelters, and motels, all while working two jobs and caring for her two children, according to WHNT.
Citizens Right a Wrong After Bicycle Theft During Cross-Country Charity Ride
The Davis community in California with help from Giant Bicycles has come together to create a heartwarming final chapter for a cross-country bicycle rider in route for her charity.
Earlier in August, Alyssa Chrisman, 21, was near completion of a 4000 mile ride from North Carolina to Santa Cruz to raise funds for the nonprofit Bike & Build. Alyssa and other riders stopped in downtown Davis to visit the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and museum. Even though her bicycle was locked to two others, the $1,500 Giant touring bike was stolen outside while they toured the building.
After hearing about the theft, community members quickly located a replacement bike for Alyssa to use on the final leg of her journey.
The effort to replace her original bicycle prompted its manufacturer, Giant, to agree to donate the same model that was stolen.
Bike & Build organizes cross-country bike trips in support of affordable housing in the United States.
Between 2003-2011, Bike & Build contributed more than three million dollars to fund housing projects, including more than $605,000 donated from the summer of 2011. The group hopes to donate the same amount this year.
58 Cancers Receive 9/11 Fund Coverage
Federal health authorities Monday added 58 types of cancer to the list of covered illnesses for people who were exposed to toxins at the site of the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
The publication of this final rule marks an important step in the effort to provide needed treatment and care to 9/11 responders and survivors through the WTC Health Program.
Stem Cell Jab Restores Feeling in Paralyzed
Patients with broken spines have reported having feeling restored to areas that had previously been paralyzed, after receiving stem cell injections.
Scientists said they were ‘encouraged’ after two of three patients injected with donated embryonic brain tissue responded to treatment at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland.
Five ‘Good News Heroes’ Win Sweet Treats for Their Inspiring Acts
SendFudge.com has partnered with the Good News Network to award free gourmet fudge to five people who are consistently doing nice things to make a difference in other people’s lives.
After we sent out a request for nominations, we received stories lauding inspiring people across the country, but from among them we chose 5 winners to be honorary “Good News Ambassadors”.
The five good news heroes will be able to choose from among 40 tempting flavors from SendFudge.com including diabetic-friendly selections.
Here are the honorary Good News Ambassadors, who always “give a fudge” about others while helping to uplift society.
1) Kengi Carr – You know immediately upon meeting him that this man is someone special.
Homeless in Miami Find New Outlet Working on Organic Farm
As part of an innovative effort to tackle Miami’s problem with homelessness, 400 residents have traded the downtown streets for a live-in community farm project in south Florida that grows produce for an upscale restaurant.
Verde Gardens, a $17.2 million, 145-unit complex built for Miami’s formerly homeless, boasts a 22-acre organic farm that gives many of the residente their first steady job in years.