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Mom Determined to Show Daughter the Importance of Education Crosses the Stage for Diploma While in Active Labor

By
McKinley Corbley
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If you think graduating from college is difficult, imagine graduating from college while enduring birth contractions—because that’s exactly what happened to Anshonarial Greenhouse last week.

She was all set to walk across the stage and receive her diploma from Louisiana State University of Alexandria, when the 31-year-old mother went into labor.

Despite being in pain from the contractions, Greenhouse insisted she wanted to walk across the stage. Not only did she want to complete the symbolic ceremony for her own satisfaction, she also wanted to show her daughter the power of determination and education.

“She understands how important education is,” Greenhouse told USA Today. “If she sees me doing my work, she does hers. It’s showing her versus telling her.”

RELATED: Autistic Teen Stuns Crowd as He Breaks His Silence and Gives Awe-Inspiring Commencement Speech

The short journey across the stage was not an easy one. Though the university had a wheelchair and ambulance at the ready, and doctors were under advisement, Greenhouse walked across the stage helped only by a school staffer. Immediately after crossing the stage, however, she gratefully got into the wheelchair and was taken to the hospital where she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

This was not the first time that her son had interfered with her school work. Since Greenhouse had prematurely gone into labor during the final weeks of the semester, she had to complete her exams from the hospital. She even used a web cam to live-stream herself doing her visual presentations while she was in a hospital gown.

MORE: After Happy Dad Holds Door Open for Stranger, She Slips His Son a Graduation Gift in Return

But after everything she went through, she says that she was glad to be able to have two of her dreams come true on the same day.

“It was rough walking across that stage,” said Greenhouse. “I knew it was a possibility I couldn’t walk, but I really pushed to be able to go.”

(WATCH the video below or our international viewers can watch the footage on the CBS News website) – Photo by LSUA

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In One Week, Two US States Become First in Nation to Ban Wild Animal Use in Circus Acts

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Good News Network
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Earlier this month, New Jersey became the first American state to ban the use of any wild animals from being used in circus performances. Just a week later, Hawaiians passed a similar piece of legislation, making them the second.

While there is already legislation in 145 US localities that offer certain limitations and restrictions on animal performances, New Jersey and Hawaii’s trail-blazing measures ban the use of any wild animal species, including elephants, tigers, lions, bears, and primates, in circuses and traveling shows.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed “Nosey’s Law” into effect in mid-December after it was unanimously approved by the Senate in June.

Hawaii Governor David Ige approved his state’s groundbreaking piece of reform after he signed a proposal to amend Chapter 4-71, Hawaii Administrative Rules, entitled “Plant and Non-Domestic Animal Quarantine Non-Domestic Animal Import Rules.”

WATCH: Instead of Elephants, This Family Circus Features Happy Rescue Dogs as the Stars

The proposal was previously approved in September by the Executive Board of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture with a vote of 6 to 3 in response to a legal petition that was filed by the Humane Society of the United States in 2014.

“These reforms in Hawaii and New Jersey have been a long time coming,” said Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society. “Thank you to Hawaii Governor Ige and New Jersey Governor Murphy for ending the year with these sweeping measures.”

SHARE The Good News With Fellow Animal Lovers On Social Media – File Photo by DirkJan Ranzijn, CC

“How we appraise our life from our deathbed will be predicated not only by what came to us in life but how we lived with it, and how it lived within us.” – Stephen Levine

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “How we appraise our life from our deathbed will be predicated not only by what came to us in life but how we lived with it, and how it lived within us.” – Stephen Levine

Photo: by Gregory “Slobirdr” Smith, CC license on 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?

Watch the Badass Footage of Africa’s First All-Female Anti-Poaching Team in Action

By
Ryan Morris
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Being an African park ranger is typically a profession dominated by men, but an all-female team of wildlife rangers is now challenging both the stereotypes and the hunters who threaten endangered species.

The groundbreaking group is Africa’s first armed anti-poaching team made up entirely of women. They protect the animals of Phundundu Wildlife Park in Zimbabwe, watching over 115 square miles of habitat which had been prime trophy hunting ground, home to over 11,000 elephants.

The opportunity also offers local women a chance to overcome adversity and find a new calling.

RELATED: She Prevents Gender-based Violence in India by Using a Powerful Law

Kelly Lyee Chigumbura, a young mother who lost custody of her child due to her inability to find work, has now regained that custody, along with a newfound confidence through her participation as a wildlife ranger—and her unit, known as Akashinga, which means “the brave ones” in English, is full of young women who have similar stories.

“When I manage to stop poachers, I feel accomplished,” Chigumbura told BBC. “I want to spend my whole life here on this job, arresting poachers and protecting animals.”

This feeling of accomplishment carries over into their social lives and the manner with which they approach challenges. A filmmaker documenting the rangers told BBC: “The change in them, the shift, is unbelievable … whereas before they were ashamed in a way, now they have a spirit to them. They’re walking on air.”

MORE: This Simple Self-Defense Program is Halting Sexual Assault Rates in Their Tracks

Even though some people have challenged the rationale behind facilitating an all-women group of rangers, the beneficial side effects of the project have already proven invaluable.

“With this model we have twice as many people to choose from for employing as rangers,” said the former Special Forces sniper who founded the unit. “I think women will change conservation forever.”

(WATCH the video below) – Photo by BBC

Lead the Charge Against Poachers — On Social Media…

Wholesome 8-Year-old Boy Becomes Top YouTube Earner, Rakes in $22 Million Simply by Rating Toys

By
McKinley Corbley
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The term “YouTube star” conjures the idea of rambunctious hosts doing anything they can for clicks and views. Well, this youngster has become one of the platform’s top earners simply by offering wholesome toy reviews.

According to a report from Forbes, an 8-year-old boy named Ryan has become the number one royalty-earning channel on YouTube, having garnered an astounding $22 million in annual income.

Ryan’s channel, “Ryan Toys Reviews”, has attracted over 17 million subscribers since his parents created the account for him in March 2015. Collectively, his amusing videos have racked up over 26 billion views.

When asked in an NBC interview about why he believes he has become so popular on YouTube, Ryan simply exclaimed: “I’m entertaining and I’m funny.”

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

The report goes on to say that even though the financial figure does not account for taxes, fees, or expenses, the overwhelming majority of Ryan’s income is earned solely through sponsored posts. Some of the toys that have been featured on his channel have been known to sell out almost immediately after the review is published.

Much of the revenue flowing to the pint-sized Youtuber and his entrepreneurial mother who obviously has a big hand in his productions, is reportedly being stashed in a bank account, waiting for the day he becomes a legal adult (taking advantage of the ‘miracle of compounding’, we assume).

Tell Your Friends About This Tiny Entrepreneur By Sharing The Story To Social Media

M&M Parent Company Commits $1 Billion to Stopping Child Labor and Other Injustices

By
McKinley Corbley
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Mars, the massive candy company responsible for producing such chocolate treats as M&Ms, Milky Way, and Snickers is committing over $1 billion towards ensuring that all their cocoa supplies are from sustainable and ethical sources.

The US-based confectionary conglomerate will be investing the money with the intention of achieving their responsible sourcing goals by 2025.

According to Reuters, about 50% of the company’s supplies is currently certified by various conservationist and ethics organizations, but with certification being criticized for its lack of efficiency, Mars plans on working with independent authorities to ensure that all of their products are sourced without causing or contributing to deforestation, child labor, environmental degradation, or worker exploitation.

“The cocoa supply chain as it works today is broken,” John Ament, the company’s global vice president of cocoa, told Reuters. “It’s time to recognize this and to build a new model and a new approach that focuses on putting the smallholder at the center.”

RELATED: Massive Company That Sells Your Favorite Cookies and Crackers Cuts Ties With Palm Oil Firms That Destroy Forests

“Certification isn’t enough,” he added. “Our belief is that we need to set more demanding standards than certification sets today.”

Part of the company’s strategy will involve using GPS to trace the origins of their products so they can avoid sourcing products that have been illegally planted on protected land.

Additionally, they will be working with national governments, local communities, and intervention programs to combat child labor through school enrollment and alternative financial assistance.

Give Your Friends A Taste Of Good News By Sharing This To Social Media – Photo by Christopher Michel, CC

Good Samaritan Couple Reunites Frantic Father With Diaper Bag Containing Passports and $5,000 in Cash

By
McKinley Corbley
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A young Californian couple was stunned to find a lost diaper bag filled with cash and important documents – but instead of keeping the money for themselves or just giving the bag to city officials, they insisted on tracking down the frantic owner immediately.

The bag belonged to a Vietnamese man who had spent the evening looking at Christmas lights with his wife and baby daughter in Long Beach, California. He originally set the bag down on the sidewalk so they could take a picture together in front of a holiday display – but after they snapped the photo, he forgot to pick it back up again.

Later the same evening, 24-year-old Gabriel Ruiz and his girlfriend Gabriela Jauregui had just finished taking a picture in front of the very same display when they turned around and saw the bag on the sidewalk.

They spent some time watching over the bag in hopes that someone would come to claim it, but when no one showed up, they went through the contents to try and discern the owner’s identity.

LOOK: When Stranger Finds Lost Wallet on Airplane, He Returns It to Owner With Even More Cash Inside

Inside the bag, they found the family’s passports, but the names were written in Vietnamese. The couple then opened up one of the wallets only to find $5,000 in cash.

Even the thought of having that much money made Jauregui and Ruiz determined to track down the owners—so they brought the bag back to their apartment and stayed up all night trying to find some way to contact the family.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese father, who asked not to be identified, realized his mistake and went back to search for the bag. He returned to the holiday display and spent hours searching the neighborhood and hanging posters, but to no avail.

RELATED: Guy Transforms Man He Thought Was Online Scammer into Village Saint by Sending Him $30 Camera

“I thought how can I get back to my country?” the man recalled to CBSLA. “How can I pay my tuition? My rent? I already have a baby.”

The next morning, Jauregui and Ruiz found a small compartment inside of the bag that contained the anxious man’s contact details. Upon calling the number and having him describe the bag, they happily reunited the bag with the family.

Needless to say, the father was overwhelmed with gratitude and relief.

“All I can say is thank you, thank you,” the man told the couple. “You just saved my life.”

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by CBSLA

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“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting.” – The Buddha

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting.” – The Buddha

Photo: by Ines Hegedus-Garcia, CC license on 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?

Jump into Your Fear: The Act of Conquering It Releases a Rush of Joy and Reinvention

By
Ryan Morris
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The Lesson: We typically think that those who overcome fear, or participate in fear-inducing activities, must be naturally courageous – but the very act of participating in an activity that induces fear is what makes us courageous, and while we may have trained ourselves to avoid jumping into fear, there is a very tangible process of ecstasy and reinvention that comes from diving into the things that scare you.

Notable Excerpt: “All courageous people have fear. They just do things anyway, hollering with a combination of joy and fear, like Butch and Sundance jumping off the high cliff into the water below. You will find, as you descend toward the water, there is a joyful rush. You’re feeling your fear while you are in the action of conquering it. And as you continue in action, the fear dissolves, like a fist full of salt in the river. What remains for you is pure joy. It’s the joy of being someone you were not.”

The Speaker: Brian Johnson is a philosopher and founder of Optimize.me, a website, app, and free video series that help people to optimize their lives so they can be their best selves. He studies self-improvement books, then breaks them down into bite-sized chunks and “Philosopher‘s Notes” for busy people who want “more wisdom in less time”. He also offers Optimal Living classes and online training for your Hero’s Journey.

Podcast: Brian’s podcast, OPTIMIZE with Brian Johnson, features the best big ideas from the best optimal living books. More wisdom in less time (between 4-19 minutes each) to help you live your greatest life. Subscribe: Stitcher — iTunes — Podbean.

Books: In this talk, Johnson refers to a book by Steve Chandler called “Reinventing Yourself.”

(LISTEN to the intriguing talk below) – Photo by Steve Hall

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Child With ‘Nothing to Give’ Sacrifices the ‘Best Part of Her Breakfast’ as Gift for Her Teacher

By
McKinley Corbley
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This elementary school teacher received several gifts and trinkets from her adoring students before winter break – but there was one gift in particular that melted her heart.

Rachel Uretsky-Pratt works as a teacher for the Kennewick School District in Washington. Before her students left for their holiday vacation, they showered her with little gifts of chocolates, jewelry, and handwritten notes.

The 24-year-old teacher’s most notable gift, however, was a small package of Lucky Charms marshmallows wrapped in plastic.

While repackaged cereal treats might seem like an unusual Christmas present, Uretsky-Pratt posted a photo of the marshmallows to Facebook in order to explain their significance.

LOOK: Sixth Grader Leaves a Note for Vehicle Owner After Seeing School Bus Driver Pull a Hit and Run

“You see, 100% of my school is on free/reduced lunch,” wrote Uretsky-Pratt. “They also get free breakfast at school every day of the school week.”

If you haven’t guessed already, the free breakfast that was served on the last day of school was Lucky Charms.

“This kiddo wanted to get me something so badly, but had nothing to give,” Uretsky-Pratt continued. “So rather than give me nothing, this student opened up her free breakfast cereal this morning, took the packaging of her spork, straw, and napkin, and finally took the time to take every marshmallow out of her cereal to put in a bag—for me.”

LOOK: When Teacher Asks Students to Share Supplies, Boy Offers Up Pencils With Sweet, Personal Messages

The school teacher hoped that the sweet story would help her social media followers gain some perspective and appreciation for the abundance that they may have in their lives – because even when this youngster had nothing to offer her teacher, she was still willing to sacrifice “the best part of her breakfast”.

“No one likes Lucky Charms without the marshmallows,” Uretsky-Pratt mused to USA Today.

The post ended up being shared over 100,000 times, which spurred hundreds of readers to offer up gifts and donations for the school teacher. Uretsky-Pratt later published a Facebook response in which she encouraged her followers to contact the school principal about making donations.

MORE: Watch Deaf Janitor’s Emotional Reaction to Children’s Birthday Surprise

“It makes me so proud of my kiddos that they have touched your hearts along with mine,” she wrote. “Your generosity in offering gifts for both the student and I, donations to our school, and our classroom have not gone unnoticed.”

“My wish for all of you is to remember this kind and simple gesture of love from one of my school babies and carry it with you and continue to spread love and kindness to everyone you meet – not just during this holiday season. ”

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

Nigerian ‘Angel’ Has Secretly Been Paying for the Hospital Bills of Poor and Uninsured Patients

By
Ryan Morris
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In Nigeria, a nation in which only 5% of the population has health insurance, an “angel” has taken it upon himself to cover the costs of patient treatments.

In most countries, hospital patients who cannot immediately pay for their treatment or have their insurance cover the cost will generally just be billed at a later date. Nigerians, on the other hand, are required to stay at the hospital until the payment is received, which results in hundreds of patients being forced to stay in the hospital for weeks.

Fortunately for these patients, Zeal Akaraiwai, a Nigerian financial consultant, has focused his attention and income on anonymously paying for the release of the poor and uninsured.

RELATED: Instead of Paying for Advertising, Church Abolishes $10M in Medical Debt For Local Families

Whenever Akaraiwai arrives at the hospital, he is greeted by a team of social workers who detail the conditions and stories of patients in need of Akaraiwai’s help. After being handed a list of the individuals who are unable to leave the hospital due to financial difficulties, Akaraiwai visits the patients to assess their condition and confirm their stories with the nursing staff.

According to an interview with BBC, the Christian businessman calls his labor of love “The Angel Project” because he wants to be an example for how we should all strive “be the angel you hope to meet.”

LOOK: Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins Pay $2 Million to Bring Hundreds of Therapy Dogs into Children’s Hospitals

Although the citizens of Nigeria must deal with the tumultuous conditions of their socio-economic landscape, hundreds of ex-patients have already found comfort in the compassion of those like Akaraiwai, who are willing to show kindness when it is needed most.

In the meantime, Akaraiwai hopes to rally awareness for the desperate need for healthcare reform in his country.

“There’s no reason why we cannot have proper health insurance. We have clever people who can think of schemes that can work,” he told BBC.

Pass On The Positive Story Of Compassion To Your Friends On Social Media – Representative photo by Staff Sergeant Stephen Lynch / U.S. Air Force

The Joy of Holding a Book Will Never Go Out of Style: Sales Improve for Fifth Year in a Row

By
McKinley Corbley
-

While some zealous literary fans may have been worried about the declining popularity of printed books in the face of e-readers entering the market, these reports say that you have nothing to fear.

Research from the NDP Bookscan, a system that records over 80% of American book purchases, shows that printed book sales rose by 1.9% last year, followed by a further increase of 2% during the first half of 2018.

The data continues the 5-year trend of improving book sales, with a collective increase of 10.8% more books being sold since 2013.

LOOK: School Installs Vending Machine That Dispenses Free Books to Kids Who Read

Additionally, book sales are projected to continue improving every year. In 2022, consumers around the world are expected to spend roughly $50.3 billion on printed and audiobooks – which is $2.5 billion more than what was spent in 2017.

Some studies show that people are maintaining their love of printed books because they don’t contribute to excessive screen exposure; people prefer having physical ownership of something they value; and readers are also more likely to remember information from printed sources, rather than screens.

Other consumers also feel that it sets a good example for kids, as growing up surrounded by books has been shown to have positive lasting effects on the mind.

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This Inspiring Couple Made It Their New Year’s Resolution to Go On 52 Dates – and They Are About to Succeed

By
McKinley Corbley
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This married couple is about to complete their New Year’s resolution – and they are going to do it simply by having dinner together at a restaurant.

That’s because Justin and Sarah Breen’s resolution was to go out to dinner with each other once a week without their two kids.

Sarah was a 22-year-old medical student when she started dating Justin, a 27-year-old assistant sports editor, in 2004. With his long hours and her rigorous coursework, their “date nights” mostly consisted of studying on the couch with the TV volume turned down.

They eventually got married and settled down – and while the couple from Chicago, Illinois is quick to emphasize that they love being parents and spending time with their sons, raising the youngsters can often be quite stressful, and the Breens wanted to ensure that they were paying enough attention to each other.

RELATED: Customers Keep Buying Up All of Donut Shop’s Pastries So He Can Go Home Early to Be With Ailing Wife

Justin then suggested that they use their 2018 New Years resolution as a commitment to having at least one date night every week for a year.

They also used the opportunity to go to a different restaurant every week, although it was definitely not required of their resolution.

“It was never about the food for us. Even if the service was slow, great. We got more time to spend with each other,” Sarah told the Chicago Tribune, with Justin adding that they “never get bored of talking to each other.”

After a few months, they started posting their date night photos to social media. Other couples expressed their admiration and encouragement for the Breens, hoping that they would be able to complete their resolution. Though there were some weeks that were harder than other, due to babysitter cancelations, sickness, and sudden plan changes, Justin and Sarah have successfully gone on 51 wonderful dinner dates.

LOOK: Stranger Helps Lonely Widower Celebrate After Seeing Flowers and Cake in Shopping Cart

Now, after 51 dates, they will be finishing their New Year’s resolution tonight.

“We are very excited for our last dinner of 2018,” Justin told Good News Network. “Not only [are we going to] one of the best restaurants in Chicago, but it marks a really neat accomplishment in our lives to finish this resolution. And we have inspired many other couples to begin their own date nights.”

The Breens don’t plan on stopping their romantic resolutions in 2019, either. Justin says his 2019 resolution is to surprise his wife once a month with an extra special date night, and he and Sarah are both open to further suggestions from other couples.

When asked whether he had any tips for couples wanting to complete similar New Years resolutions, he told GNN: “Marriage is not magic. It’s about commitment to each other. Much like becoming a doctor or building a successful business or keeping a resolution, it takes time, patience and commitment.”

Share This Sweet Story Of Romance With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Justin Breen

“Life is mostly froth and bubble; Two things stand like stone; Kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.” – Adam Lindsay Gordon

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Life is mostly froth and bubble; Two things stand like stone; Kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.” – Adam Lindsay Gordon

Photo: by Barry Thomas, CC license on 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?

Animal Activists and Staff From Slaughterhouse Eat Vegan Christmas Meal Together: ‘Good things are happening’

By
Good News Network
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As a means of reaching out to each other across idealogical barriers, animal rights activists joined together with slaughterhouse workers to sit down and share a vegan Christmas feast earlier this week.

Photos of the dinner were posted to the Friendsnotfood Facebook page, where the activists explained the unlikely event by saying that “only light can dispel darkness” and “only love can dispel hate.”

“We are not there to have a fight with slaughterhouse workers or drivers,” they added. “We are there for the animals and the planet. If the demand stops, the slaughterhouse will stop.”

The activists regularly visit the Tulip Slaughterhouse in Bristol, England on Mondays and Tuesdays to “show love, kindness, comfort and compassion to the pigs” before the animals are led to the butcher’s block.

RELATED: Animal Activist Makes Historic Deal With Meat Market to Close All Slaughterhouses

The group members hope that by raising awareness for vegan lifestyles and animal rights through their visits, more people will opt for plant-based diets.

Though their post about the meal received some controversy, the advocates simply said that they would rather enforce change through compassionate outreach and kindness.

“As always, there are various people trolling and criticizing,” the page wrote in a comment. “My advice to them is to focus their energies on positivity rather than negativity. Good things are happening.”

Be Sure And Share The Inspiring News With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Friendsnotfood

After Cheerful Young Walmart Cashier Pays for Stranger’s $110 Grocery Bill, Community Repays Him Ten-Fold

By
McKinley Corbley
-

A 19-year-old Walmart cashier was more than happy to pick up the tab for a distressed woman who was unable to pay for her groceries – so his community decided to thank him for his kindness.

The young man’s good deed was captured by Laci Simms, another shopper who was waiting to check out from the store in Princeton, Texas.

A woman ahead of Simms became frantic when she realized that she did not have enough money to pay for her $110 grocery bill – but her cashier, John Lopez Jr. volunteered to pick up the tab.

Simms was so impressed by his kindness, she snapped a picture of the youth and posted it to Facebook – although this is apparently not the first time that John has inspired his customers.

RELATED: Homeless Veteran Asks for Nothing, But Town Insists On Helping Him Anyway

“I just witnessed this ‘kid’ pay for a cart of merchandise for a woman in obvious distress about her inability to pay,” wrote Simms. “She was a few people ahead of us and when she had trouble paying her bill, he stepped in and told her if she’d wait, he would pay her total. Ya’ll, it was $110 dollars!”

“If you have never had the pleasure of going through John’s checkout line at the Princeton Walmart, please seek him out on your next visit,” added Simms. “He is always singing, upbeat, courteous, joyful and efficient.

“He just renewed my faith in humanity and the generation we are raising! Everyone share this so the world knows what a blessing John is to our community!”

As more and more people shared the photo, fellow shoppers contributed their own stories of praise for the young cashier. One local user, Brandon Weddle, recognized John in the photo and was particularly touched by the story.

“I’ve been through his line a couple of times, my wife has too, and we’ve spoken about him, how he touches people on a daily basis,” Weddle told Inside Edition.

After reading all of the other testimonials to John’s characters, Weddle says that he could not stop thinking about how he finally wanted to do something to thank John for his kindness. “It just resonated with me the whole next day,” he said. “I’d asked on Facebook if anyone had set up a [crowdfunding] page for him, but there wasn’t one. With it only just being a few days before Christmas, I decided to set up a page for him.”

MORE: Mom Brought to Tears When Airline Stranger Gives Up First Class Seat for Her Sick Daughter

Within a few hours, the GoFundMe page reached its goal of $1,000. Over the course of the last nine days, it has raised over $34,000.

In addition to being honored by his manager and the town mayor, John also had the bulk of the crowdfunding donations transferred into his bank account this week – and the emotional youngster says that he plans on using the money for college.

“He was very excited and you could tell it meant a lot to him and his family. You know it’s going to a good family,” Weddle told Inside Edition. “I’m just glad that he got recognized this year, and I’m glad the community stepped up to help him.”

Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story Of Kindness With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Laci Simms

Wrinkles May Soon Be a Thing of the Past Thanks to New Skin Cell Discovery

By
Good News Network
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This new scientific study may lead to wrinkled skin becoming a thing of the past – and it might also spell the end of a common skin infection.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine identified a specialized kind of cell located deep in the skin which generates connective tissue and helps the skin recover from injury.

The cells, which are called dermal fibroblasts, have the ability to convert into fat cells residing under the dermis, giving the skin a plump, youthful look and producing a peptide that plays a critical role in fighting infections.

In a study published in Immunity earlier this week, the researchers show how fibroblasts develop into fat cells and identify the pathway that causes this process to cease as people age.

RELATED: Want to Stop Eating Junk Food? New Research Says You Should Get More Sleep

“We have discovered how the skin loses the ability to form fat during aging,” said Richard Gallo, chair of the Department of Dermatology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and senior author on study. “Loss of the ability of fibroblasts to convert into fat affects how the skin fights infections and will influence how the skin looks during aging.”

But that doesn’t mean that you should reach for the donuts – since obesity also interferes with the ability to fight infections, gaining weight isn’t the path to converting dermal fibroblasts into fat cells. Instead, a protein that controls many cellular functions, called transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), stops dermal fibroblasts from converting into fat cells and prevents the cells from producing an antimicrobial peptide which helps protect against bacterial infections.

“Babies have a lot of this type of fat under the skin, making their skin inherently good at fighting some types of infections. Aged dermal fibroblasts lose this ability and the capacity to form fat under the skin,” said Gallo. “Skin with a layer of fat under it looks more youthful. When we age, the appearance of the skin has a lot to do with the loss of fat.”

MORE: Scientists Develop Molecule That Can Finally Help Stop Arthritis From Wearing Down Joints

In mouse models, researchers used chemical blockers to inhibit the TGF-β pathway, causing the skin to revert back to a younger function and allowing dermal fibroblasts to convert into fat cells. Turning off the pathway in mice by genetic techniques had the same result.

Understanding the biological process that leads to an age-dependent loss of these specialized fat cells could be used to help fight off skin infections like Staphylococcus aureus – a pathogenic bacteria that is the leading cause of infections of the skin and heart and a major factor in worsening diseases, like eczema.

When staph infections becomes antibiotic resistant, it is known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, which is a leading cause of death resulting from infection in the United States.

The long term goals and benefits of this research are to understand the infant immune system, said Gallo. The results may also help understand what goes wrong in other diseases like obesity, diabetes and autoimmune diseases.

(Source: UC San Diego)

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Body Cam Footage Shows Police Officer Saving Clucking Chicken From a Burning Shed

By
McKinley Corbley
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Stereotypes say that “chicks dig a guy in uniform” – and based on this police body cam footage, there might actually be some truth to that.

The Ossining Police Department of New York recently published a video from a dispatch call in which their officers were responding to a local shed fire.

As Officer McGovern was assessing the interior of the burning shed, he smartly took action by first removing several tanks of propane in order to avoid exacerbating the fire.

Except as he was moving one of the propane tanks, he was stunned to look down and see a lone chicken hiding inside of the burning shed.

MORE: Rescuers Pull Car From Frigid Water, Find a Driver Who Survived for 5 Hours Using an Air Bubble

The police department later posted the footage to Facebook, saying: “Somewhere around the first day of field training, some salty cop usually hits you with, ‘Kid, you wouldn’t believe what goes on around here if I told you.’ Saturday, Officer McGovern had his ‘aha’ moment.”

McGovern was not about to chicken out of his duties, however – the courageous New York cop gingerly pursued the bird up a set of stairs before he was finally able to get his hands around it and safely pass it on to rescue workers who were on the other side of the homeowner’s fence.

The family who lived on the property was reportedly overwhelmed with relief upon hearing that their fowl was okay – and although the police department praised Ossining for his actions, they also couldn’t help but lovingly ruffle his feathers a little bit.

LOOK: Fearless Uber Driver Stops Mid-Trip to Scoop Up Injured Hawk and Save It From the Highway

“Now, it’s not that we don’t love chickens. They’re just fine and certainly deserve our assistance,” said the department. “It’s just that, if you ever wanted to get a hard time from your coworkers, be a hero… to a chicken.

“Congratulations, Officer McGovern. Since the ‘Lifesaving Award’ doesn’t specifically prohibit the subject of your bravery from being poultry, we will put you in for an award because, well, this is a story that’s too good to let go of.”

Some Facebook readers were quick to scold the department for teasing a cop’s compassion towards an animal, but the department responded by saying: “It’s not really like that. Officer McGovern has a great sense of humor so we’re having a little fun with this, but he’s well respected by his coworkers. He’s a good cop and we’re grateful for his quick thinking and positive attitude.”

(WATCH the police footage below) – Photo by Ossining Police Department

Be Sure And Share This Eggsellent Rescue Story With Your Friends On Social Media

When Flight Attendant Had to Work on Christmas, Her Dad Booked Seats On All 6 of Her Flights to Spend Time With Her

By
McKinley Corbley
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While there is no place like home for the holidays, flight attendant Pierce Vaughan was unfortunately scheduled to work through Christmas Eve and Christmas.

However, her devoted father Hal was not about to miss out on spending the holidays with his daughter – so he booked seats on all six of her flights.

Hal’s sweet Yuletide gesture was first brought into the limelight after he was seated next to fellow passenger Mike Levy on a flight from Fort Myers to Detroit.

When Levy heard about Hal’s flights, he snapped a photo with the dad and posted it to social media, praising the family for their heartwarming adoration for each other.

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“I had the pleasure of sitting next to Hal on my flight back home. His daughter Pierce was our flight attendant who had to work over Christmas,” Levy wrote on Facebook. “Hal decided he would spend the holiday with her. So, he is flying on each of her flights today and tomorrow around the country to spend time with his daughter for Christmas. What a fantastic father! Wish you both a very Merry Christmas!”

The post was shared thousands of times until it was eventually republished by Pierce, who was delighted to see her and her father’s story on social media.

“Dad’s first trip using his benefits was a success!” wrote Pierce. “A special thanks to all of the patient, wonderful gate agents around the country and my perfect crew. He made it on every flight and even got first class RSW-DTW (Christmas miracle).”

Since Pierce works for Delta Airlines, the company later released a statement in response to the story, thanking their flight attendant for her hard work.

LOOK: Internet Falls in Love With Wholesome Dad Who Hides $20 Whenever He Visits Daughter’s Home

“We appreciate all of our employees for working during the holidays to serve Delta customers,” wrote the airline, “and [we] love seeing this awesome Dad having the chance to spend Christmas with his daughter – even while crisscrossing the country at 30,000 feet.”

Be Sure And Fly This Story Over To Your Friends By Sharing It On Social Media – Photo by Mike Levy

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” – Benjamin Franklin

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” – Benjamin Franklin

Photo: by rebecca anne, CC license on 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?

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