All News - Page 786 of 1727 - Good News Network
Home Blog Page 786

Teens Mount Rescue Operation For Helpless Kangaroo Stuck in Neck-Deep Mud

By
Good News Network
-

Two teenagers are being praised for their resourceful rescue of a distressed kangaroo that had gotten stuck in neck-deep mud.

Nick Heath and Jack Donnelly were riding their motorbikes near the Nepean River on the outskirts of Sydney over the weekend when Jack spotted a tiny animal head poking out from the surface of a mud quarry.

The head belonged to a little kangaroo that had gotten stuck in the muck 100 feet (30 meters) away from solid land.

The critter could be heard growling and grunting in anguish as it struggled against the thick terrain.

LOOK: When Goats Get Themselves Stuck on Narrow Ledge of Bridge, Humans Come to Their Rescue

Unable to reach the roo on their own, the 19-year-olds rushed home and collected a length of rope.

After returning to the quarry, Nick tied the rope around his waist and crawled through the mud towards the kangaroo. Once he had the animal in his arms, Jack helped to pull them both back to solid land.

“The roo’s life was important to us so we went out on an arm and leg and got it,” Nick told TODAY. “We think he went searching for water there and it was really muddy so he got himself really stuck.

“It’s a pretty patriotic thing to do and we’re proud of what we did. If we saw something like that again, we’ll do it all over again,” he added.

The teens then called the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), which is Australia’s largest rescue organization.

Due to dry weather in the region, wildlife specialists say that the roo had most likely been searching for water when it got stuck. Judging by the state of its kidneys, the rescuers also say that it must have been stuck for some time.

CHECK OUT: Student Saves Drowning Squirrel By Doing CPR She Learned From Watching ‘The Office’

Though the hapless animal was suffering from dehydration, the rescuers say that it will most likely pull through once it is given proper treatment.

Meanwhile, the boys were happy to see the roo receive a well-deserved bath – and they decided to name it Lucas.

“We just agreed on the name. We liked it; it’s cute,” says Nick.

Don’t Get Caught Up In Negativity: Click To Share The News With Your Friends – OR, Watch The Full Rescue Video At 9 News

Major League Baseball Team Hits Home Run for the Earth: Stops Serving Plastic Straws

By
Good News Network
-
Minorfreak, CC license

The Chicago White Sox will officially become the first Major League Baseball team to stop serving single-use plastic straws at their representative stadium.

Last week, the team announced that they would no longer be automatically giving out straws with their stadium food at Guaranteed Rate Field – although biodegradable straws will be available upon request.

Th initiative, which kicked off on Earth Day, is expected to prevent more than 215,000 plastic straws from ending up in the landfill over the course of the season.

The project was also made in collaboration with the Shedd Aquarium’s “Shedd the Straw” campaign to get Chicago businesses and individuals to stop using plastic straws.

RELATED: World’s Second Largest Fast Food Chain Begins Phase-Out of Plastic Straws

Brooks Boyer, vice president of sales and marketing, said in a White Sox press release: “We are honored to be the first ballpark to take the step of reducing our single-use plastic straws for nearly a full season…”

“The entire Guaranteed Rate Field family – the White Sox, Delaware North and Levy (concession partners) – is proud to collaborate with Shedd to share this important message with our fans and hope it will inspire others to do what they can in their own lives.”

Pitch This Story To Your Friends: Click To Share – Photo by Minorfreak, CC

“Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.” – Marsha Petrie Sue

By
Good News Network
-

Quote of the Day: “Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.” – Marsha Petrie Sue

Photo: by Anoop Kumar, CC

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?

When Student Could Not Find His Calling, He Used Architecture to Build Some Stability for Refugees

By
Good News Network
-

GNN.org is the exclusive media partner for the 2018 ‘Global Good Fund’ Fellows—12 extraordinary young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place. Chosen annually, the 12 Fellows are each matched with an executive mentor, leadership coach, and $10,000. Hand-selected from 2,400 applicants in 100 countries, these visionaries are being celebrated—one each day on GNN—leading up to the 6th Annual Global Good Fund Gala, on April 26.

Millions of refugees across the globe are forced to out of their homes due to natural disasters; but thankfully, there are plenty of people who are ready to help – like Scott Key.

During Scott’s senior year at Auburn College, he recalls flipping through a book on Rural Studio, a humanitarian focused design/build program housed within the school’s architecture department. The synthesis of professional skills and impact resonated with Scott as he grappled that year with what his life would look like post-college. Scott then decided to enroll in a graduate architecture program at Rice University a few years later so he could search for a way to fuse his passion and his vocation.

It was around this time that he learned about the deplorable conditions experienced by millions of refugees around the globe. In 2014, 38 million refugees fled conflict and natural phenomena. Upon further research, Scott learned that between 15-20 million of them still live in tents, essentially camping in terrible conditions for 12 to 17 years on average. Between that, and the general lack of innovation as it relates to shelters, Scott quickly realized he’d found his calling.

LOOK: Gym Gives Free Lifetime Pass to Refugee Boy Staring Longingly Through the Window

To relive unnecessary suffering for refugees living in shelters, Scott and classmate, Sam Brisendine created Emergency Floor: a flooring system that can be interlocked and combined in different ways to fit any kind of shelter.

The Emergency Floor, specifically, re-purposes shipping pallets, one of the most common materials to be found in temporary camps for refugees. This process ensures that people won’t have to sleep on the ground and be exposed to cold soil and parasitic infections.

The Emergency Floor initiative, which received $2,500 from the Initiative for Houston grant program of the Rice Design Alliance, is the first project under Good Works studio, the social enterprise that Scott founded in Houston, Texas.

RELATED: Clooney’s Foundation to Open 7 Schools for 3,000 Syrian Refugee Children

Good Works studio seeks to harness the power of good design and the economies of scale of mass production to introduce life-saving, dignity-bearing goods that have significant and measurable impact.

“No one should have to sleep in the dirt. We believe in the power of design to innovate, we believe we should be actively working to make the world a better place,” Scott says.

Through its Fellowship program launched in 2012, The Global Good Fund invests in high potential leaders committed to social impact worldwide. It also created the 360 MIRROR – the first evidence-based leadership assessment for social entrepreneurs and CEOs.

Build Some Positivity: Click To Share The News With Your Friends

JetBlue Offsets Over 2 Billion Pounds of CO2 Emissions

By
Good News Network
-
JetBlue Plane-CC Eric Salard

JetBlue airlines has just flown past a major milestone in sustainability.

By signing one of the biggest renewable jet fuel agreements in aviation history, JetBlue committed to purchasing 330 million gallons of renewable fuel in 2008.

10 year later, the company has prevented over 2 billion pounds of CO2 emissions from being released into the atmosphere.

JetBlue’s partnering organization, Carbonfund.org, is celebrating their successful campaign with the airline by giving them the “For Planet and People” Award of 2018.

LOOK: World’s First Mass-Produced, 3D-Printed Car is Electric and Costs Under $10K

“We commend JetBlue for reaching the 2 billion pound milestone,” said Eric Carlson, president of Carbonfund.org. “It is a significant accomplishment demonstrating their continued leadership in climate change mitigation.”

In addition to reducing their carbon footprint, JetBlue is being hailed for a dozen other sustainability initiatives around the world.

RELATED: After 399 Rejections, Woman is Saving the Earth With BBQ Chips Made From Bugs

According to a statement, JetBlue is currently helping to preserve nearly 500,000 acres of the Brazilian rainforest. In 2013, the company sponsored the planting of 25,000 saplings to replace the trees that burned down from the wildfires in Angeles National Forest. The planting, which was completed in August 2015, restored a vital watershed area that was in danger of post-fire erosion, and it helped maintain pre-fire levels of native biodiversity.

A few other highlights of the JetBlue Sustainability Program include creating a partnership with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to tackle the issue of illegal wildlife trade; implementing extensive inflight recycling programs in all domestic cities, which recycle an estimated 30 million bottles and cans annually; implementing a composting program at several airports; and transitioning wholly-owned ground services equipment to electric where it is safe for airport operations.

Fly This News To Your Friends: Click To Share – Photo by Eric Salard, CC

Waffle House Hero Sees Outpouring of Support After Raising Money For Victims He Defended

By
McKinley Corbley
-

A 29-year-old hero is being hailed for his bravery and kindness after he stopped a shooting in its tracks early on Sunday morning.

After enjoying a night out on the town, James Shaw Jr. was getting a bite to eat with a friend at a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee when they heard a heart-stopping crash. According to The New York Times, it took them a moment to realize that the sound was being caused by a man who was firing an assault rifle into the restaurant.

When the shooter stopped to reload, Shaw seized his chance, charged at the man, wrestled the AR-15 out of his hands, and thew it behind the counter.

“I acted in a blink of a second,” Shaw told The Times. “When he reloaded his clip, that felt like 30 minutes. I looked at him, and he wasn’t looking at me. He just had the barrel down. It was like, ‘Do it now. Go now.’ I just took off.”

LOOK: Doctors on a Plane Save Woman’s Life by Constructing Makeshift Ventilator Out of Nearby Parts

The man fled the scene of the crime and Shaw, whose arm had been grazed by a bullet, stayed behind with the other wounded patrons.

In the aftermath of the event, Shaw has been hailed as a hero by celebrities, strangers, and politicians alike – but the humble electrician says that everything was happening too quickly to contemplate heroism. He emphasized in an interview that he would rather people just regard him as “a regular person” because he says: “I feel like everybody can do pretty much what I did.”

The GoFundMe page that he set up for the victims and their families on Monday has already raised over $98,000 in roughly 24 hours. As he healed from his injuries at the hospital, he was able to meet with some of the other survivors and their families and tell them about the outpouring of financial support.

WATCH: When Man Suddenly Collapses, People Line Up For 96-Minute CPR Marathon to Save Him

Meanwhile, a New Yorker named Yashar Ali was moved by all of the news stories about Shaw’s “level of humility”.

Upon hearing that Shaw was the father to a 4-year-old daughter, Ali created a GoFundMe page to raise money for her future education – and the campaign has already reached its $60,000 goal in 12 hours.

“I normally don’t get involved directly in these matters, but James’ grace has inspired me to start this page to give him the support I feel he deserves,” Ali wrote on the page. “Perhaps this money can be used for her college fund or some other education related expense.

“But I’d be just as happy if James used some of this money to take his family on a nice vacation,” he added.

Click To Share The Inspiring Story With Your Friends – Photos by James Shaw Jr.

More Than 70 Volunteers Fix Up Childhood Home So Homeless Veteran Can Move Back in

By
Good News Network
-

Due to the amount of repairs and renovations that were needed on Michael Malone’s childhood home, the 60-year-old veteran has been living in a facility for the homeless.

But thanks to over 70 Indianapolis volunteers, he can finally move back into his rightful home.

Malone, who served in the Air Force from 1976 to 1980 and the Air Reserves from 1981 to 1996, has been trying to recover from the recent deaths of his mother and daughter. Though he was bequeathed his childhood home after his mom’s passing, he did not have the money to finance the extensive repairs, which led to his homelessness.

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, dozens of workers from Home Depot and Volunteers of America offered to conduct renovations on Malone’s house during their days off.

CHECK OUT: After Denver Hired Homeless People to Perform Day Labor For the City, More Than 100 Landed Regular Jobs

Within a matter of days, the team remodeled the bathroom, repainted the interior of the house, and installed new flooring. Not only that, but Malone was especially emotional over the American flag that they installed in front of the building.

“If I turn the corner and see a flag flying, I know I’ll be home then,” said Michael as he stared up at the red, white and blue. “My daughter was born on the 4th of July, so each time I see the flag, I think of her.”

MORE: Instead of Trashing Groceries During Cooler Malfunction, Store Donates 35,000 Pounds of Food

The renovations were a part of Home Depot’s commitment to spending a quarter of a billion dollars on ending veteran homelessness by 2020. Malone was just one of a dozen veterans who were helped by the company’s team of volunteer workers last week.

“I’m kind of overwhelmed. I’m happy, I’m sad in a sense that my mother won’t be here to experience this – this was her home,” Malone told WXIN. “[But] this just blows me away that there are people that are really truly that kind. It absolutely restores my view of humanity.”

Click To Share The Inspiring Story With Your Friends – Photos by Home Depot

Elderly Dog Stays With Lost 3-Year-old Through the Night Before Leading Rescuers Right to Her

By
Good News Network
-

You might not expect much grit out of a 17-year-old dog who is deaf and partially blind, but Max has just proven that his disabilities are not going to keep him from being a hero.

The courageous canine spent 15 hours in the harsh, rainy Australian bushland alongside a 3-year-old girl who had wandered away from home earlier this weekend.

The little girl named Aurora first went missing on Friday afternoon. The next day, over 100 police and emergency response members were searching the family’s rural property in hopes of finding the youngster.

Her grandmother, Leisa Bennett was joining the search efforts on Saturday when she heard the sound of Aurora’s crying coming from the top of the mountain.

RELATED: Student Saves Drowning Squirrel By Doing CPR She Learned From Watching ‘The Office’

As she moved closer to the sound, Max suddenly appeared out of the bush and led Leisa straight to where Aurora was stranded – and the reunion with her family was an emotional one.

“I think [Aurora] was a bit overwhelmed by the tears and the howling, but I explained to her how happy those tears were,” she said. “It could have gone any of 100 ways, but she’s here, she’s alive, she’s well and it’s a great outcome for our family.”

The 3-year-old was located just 1.2 miles away from her family’s house with minor cuts and scrapes.

CHECK OUT: Heroic Neighbor Dog Pulls Exhausted Drowning Man to Shore

“The area around the house is quite mountainous and is very inhospitable terrain to go walking in, so she’d traveled quite a distance with her dog that was quite loyal to her,” SES area controller Ian Phipps told ABC.net.au.

“With the weather last night it’s quite lucky she is well because it was cold, it was cold and raining,” he added.

While it is pretty safe to assume that Max the senior dog was rewarded with a bone for his heroic efforts, he was also named an honorary Queensland police dog for his bravery.

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends – Photo by the Queensland Police

“Being thankful unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough… It brings peace for today.” – Melodie Beattie

By
Good News Network
-

Quote of the Day: “Being thankful unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough… It brings peace for today.” – Melodie Beattie

Photo: Alviso, California sunset by Peter Thoeny, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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?

Why Sleep is More Important Than Diet and How it Reversed Bone Disease

By
Good News Network
-

The Lesson: Everyone knows that diet and exercise are essential for health and recovery – but what about the importance of sleep? In this podcast, one of the country’s most critically-acclaimed nutritionists talks about why sleep may be the missing piece on your health journey; how sleep influences body composition; and what strategies you can use to fall asleep more easily.

Notable Excerpt: “For me, I could barely walk properly. So I started on a stationary bike and then moved to a treadmill, and I started jogging a little bit, and then picked up the weights again. Then, just to quickly jump to the end of the story, I lost 28 pounds [over the course of] the next six weeks. And the pain that I had been experiencing for two and a half years was gone. But I now know that the third and most important part of this [healing], was the rest and recovery. It seemed like I was resting a lot by not doing anything, but I really wasn’t. It was a lot of suffering – and my greatest struggle was at night when I was going to bed because the pain was so bad, it would wake me up. And I was on various medications and I had basically drugged myself to not wake up – so it was more like a pseudo sleep. And it would take several hours before I really felt like I was awake. And the things that I was doing during the day, [when I was] changing my lifestyle, showed up for me on the pillow; because … if you’re not sleeping well, then you’re not healing well, and this is when your body releases the vast majority of human growth hormones, antibiotic hormones, various reparative enzymes. So when my sleep improved, I got better so fast.”

The Guest: When Shawn Stevenson was a youngster, he was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease that crushed his dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Not only did he overcome the disease by adopting a healthier lifestyle, but he went on to become one of the most acclaimed nutritionists in the country. His podcast, “The Model Health Show”, is listed as the #1 Health podcast in America, and his book “Sleep Smarter” holds a wealth of information on the importance of sleep.

The Host: Tom Bilyeu is the American entrepreneur responsible for co-founding Quest Nutrition: a health food brand that has been called the second fastest growing company in North America. Additionally, he is the co-founder and host of Impact Theory: a podcast dedicated towards educating the masses about business and success.

Pocast: Impact Theory is available for free listening and download on iTunes and YouTube.

(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below)

Good Advice? SHARE It – Or Check Out More On Our Good Talks Page…

Girls Discover New Interest in STEM Thanks to Bracelets That Have Built-in Games

By
Good News Network
-

GNN.org is the exclusive media partner for the 2018 ‘Global Good Fund’ Fellows—12 extraordinary young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place. Chosen annually, the 12 Fellows are each matched with an executive mentor, leadership coach, and $10,000. Hand-selected from 2,400 applicants in 100 countries, these visionaries are being celebrated—one each day on GNN—leading up to the 6th Annual Global Good Fund Gala, on April 26.

When Makeda Ricketts was in high school, she was president of her high school math club. Filled with fascination for engineering and technology, she would spend her spare time building complex structures out of staples.

Her pre-teen sister, on the other hand, is a different type of girl.

Makeda noticed her sister had started losing interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education, and she became determined to find educational toys or products to keep the youngster engaged. For Makeda, this was a way to create common interests between the two of them, and stay connected with her sister despite their age and social differences.

Makeda’s sister is not the only one, either – every day, millions of girls lose interest in STEM, which leads to economic ramifications for society. Only 1 in 4 women work in STEM, and those who do earn 33% more money than women who don’t.

RELATED: NASA Engineer Saves Passenger Jet From Disaster When He Spots Malfunction From Window Seat

“I want young girls to see the opportunities and possibilities STEM offers in terms of career development, economic empowerment, and the creativity that comes from it,” Makeda explains.

In 2013, Makeda realized the lack of fun, incentivizing products on the market and created PinkThink: an educational technology company that sells cStyle bracelets that teach coding skills. PinkThink creates innovative wearables that make STEM powerful, relevant and engaging.

In one game, PinkThink users are make believe product engineers, developing and marketing virtual nail polish. In another, they are programmers that use a drag and drop coding language to program the lights on a bracelet.

MORE: Kenyan Schoolgirls Invent App to Stop Female Genital Mutilation

Makeda’s mission is to encourage girls aged 8-14 to pursue STEM today so that they can increase the number of women with STEM careers in the future. When taught at a young age, this experiential type of learning will carry on with students for a lifetime.

Though Makeda was not a PinkThink girl, she’s grateful for her curious nature and learning abilities that have helped her be successful in building the business.

Makeda has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including the Yale School of Management Business Plan Competition, Maker of the Year by International Alley Awards, and named by Chicago Scholars as one of the 35 under 35 Leaders Making an Impact.

LOOK: Simple Contraption Saves Women From Having to Break Their Necks Just to Carry Water

She has also been featured in Huffington Post and was recognized by Chicago Woman Magazine as a 2016 “Woman to Watch”.

STEM jobs are abundant and growing. Makeda’s sister, once a young girl with little interest in education, now dreams of becoming an engineer, and is enrolled in camp to further explore her passion.

Through its Fellowship program launched in 2012, The Global Good Fund invests in high potential leaders committed to social impact worldwide. It also created the 360 MIRROR – the first evidence-based leadership assessment for social entrepreneurs and CEOs.

Power Up With Positivity: Click To Share The Good News With Your Friends 

Woman Invites Officer Who Arrested Her to Her College Graduation

By
McKinley Corbley
-

 

It has been five years since Tiffany Hall was caught in a cycle of substance abuse and addiction. Now, she is about to become a college grad – and she credits her success to the police officer who arrested her.

Hall first met Lieutenant Jim Foster when he was arresting her on drug charges in Long Beach, California. It was to be the first of many encounters between Hall and the compassionate police officer.

“I became a product of my environment — drug infestation — and I became that,” Hall said during their recent reunion at the police department. “But then somewhere, somehow Lt. Foster became a part of my life. For some reason, he would always take me to jail.”

Hall says that whenever Foster was taking her to the station, he would chat with her about her situation and encourage her to make better choices.

WATCH: Deputy’s Act of Kindness Leads Homeless Man to Family He Never Knew He Had

“She was a unique personality,” said Foster. “Lots of humor. She had a great story to tell and I noticed she had a tough exterior but a soft interior.”

Foster’s kindness had such a positive effect on Hall, she says that it eventually gave her the courage to turn away from drug addiction and turn her life around.

Five years later, the city of Long Beach recently reunited Hall with her old arresting officer – and the meeting was an emotional one.

CHECK OUT: Officer Who Punched Through Ice Reunites With Boy He Rescued, Gives Him Special Memento

During the event, Hall presented Foster with an invitation to her college graduation next month, a ceremony that the lieutenant says he “would not miss for the world”.

Upon accepting the invitation, Foster said: “The biggest joy of my professional career is from time-to-time having contact with people who have found their way out of horrible circumstances and into life’s success, things that a lot of us just take for granted for people who have a much rougher life story.”

Hall reportedly plans on passing the kindness forward by pursuing a career in social work.

(WATCH the video below)

Pass On The Positivity: Click To Share The Story With Your Friends – Photo by Long Beach Mayor

Michael Bloomberg ‘to Write $4.5M Check to Cover US Commitment to Paris Climate Agreement’

By
Good News Network
-
Michael Bloomberg - Released on Flickr

Former New York City mayor and billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg announced on Sunday that he would be donating $4.5 million to cover America’s financial commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement this year.

The donation, which is being issued by his charity Bloomberg Philanthropies, will be given to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The contribution is an appropriate follow-up to a $15 million donation that Bloomberg made last year after America’s withdrawal from the international climate treaty. In addition to the donation, his foundation created the “America’s Pledge” effort to ensure that there is no financial neglect towards the United States’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.

“America made a commitment and as an American, if the government’s not going to do it, we all have responsibility. I’m able to do it. So, yes, I’m going to send them a check for the monies that America had promised to the organization as though they got it from the federal government,” said Bloomberg in a Face the Nation interview.

LOOK: Scientists Create World’s First Zero-Emission Solar Fuel Reactor That Works at Night

“It’s dangerous to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said. “If everybody would do the right thing, yes, it would be better. But if some people or some countries do the right thing we all benefit from that.”

Though a statement from Bloomberg’s Philanthropies said that the foundation would uphold their “promise to cover any cuts to UN climate funding by the federal government,” the billionaire says that he hopes US President Donald Trump will “change his mind” in the future about withdrawing from the treaty.

(WATCH the interview below – or our international readers can watch the video at the CBS News website)

Plant Some Positivity: Click To Share The News With Your Friends

Facial Recognition System Helps Trace 3,000 Missing Children in 4 Days

By
Good News Network
-

Thanks to an innovative new facial recognition system (FRS), almost 3,000 missing children have been identified by city police and efforts are under way to reunite them with their families.

The FRS was employed by the Delhi police department on a trial basis to scan the faces of 45,000 children living in children’s homes.

During its testing phase between April 6 and April 10, 2,930 kids were recognized as missing children.

The technology uses a massive database of photographs and profiles to match the facial features of any child to that of a “missing person”. If city police are given free use of the tech, it could track down thousands more children so they can be reunited with their families.

RELATED: 6,000 Sex Trafficking Victims Rescued Thanks to Ashton Kutcher’s Organization

According to NDTV, children’s rights organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan is working on a proposal that will allow the Delhi police department to use the software free of charge.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is also campaigning for the software’s utilization.

“If such a type of software helps trace missing children and reunite them with their families, nothing can be better than this,” said Yashwant Jain, a member of NCPCR.

Click To Share The Exciting News With Your Friends – Photo by Phillipe Put, CC

Woman Flies Around the World to Adopt 4 Orphans With Same Genetic Disorder As Her

By
McKinley Corbley
-

Kristi Smith did not want to undergo the stress and heartache of trying to have a biological child with her rare genetic condition. Instead, she adopted and saved four other kids who suffer from the same disorder.

Smith was diagnosed at birth with Phenylketonuria (PKU), a condition that can lead to seizures, developmental disabilities, and mental and physical disorders if it is not treated properly.

Her parents discovered that they could keep the condition in check by keeping their daughter on a restrictive low-protein diet. Thanks to a special dietary formula that Smith drank on a regular basis, she was able to finish high school, graduate with two college degrees, and settle down with her husband Matt in Tucson, Arizona.

When they started talking about having kids, however, the odds were not in their favor. Smith’s online research showed that trying to give birth with PKU often ended with fetal abnormalities and miscarriages.

RELATED: Because She Missed her Flight, a Distraught Pregnant Woman Found the Perfect Mom to Adopt Her Baby Boy

Upon researching the possibility of adoption, Smith found two children in China who also had PKU.

“I didn’t want to potentially go through all that headache and heartache and stress when there are kids who need a family out there,” said Smith, according to TODAY. “We loved the idea of giving a home to a kid with PKU because we know how to take care of it. When I told my husband about [these little boys], he said, ‘Are we going to China?’”

In May 2015, Kristi and Matt brought home their two new adoptive sons, Andrew and Luke.

The boys, both of whom were two years old at the time, had been raised in an orphanage that understood PKU and cared for the condition. Andrew and Luke were smart, curious, and energetic youngsters.

WATCH: He Has What it Takes to Be the Only Man Willing to be a Foster Dad to Terminally-ill Children

Then, Kristi heard about two more kids with PKU in China. A boy named Ben, who had not been as nurtured as Andrew and Luke, was 13 years old at the time. Once he turned 14, he would be considered “unadoptable” and turned out onto the streets. Additionally, the lack of treatment for his PKU caused him to have some developmental delays, among other issues.

The Smiths flew to China once more and adopted Ben and a 9-year-old named Caleb.

Now, the four of them are a happy, thriving family.

LOOK: Thrilled Toddler Yells ‘Dad!’ After Adoption Decree is Announced

“We drink our formula together,” said Smith. “We tell them it helps them to be smart and to learn things. And, we tell them without it, our brains will get sick.”

“They came to us not knowing how to go up stairs or how to run and jump — they were overwhelmed, but now they are just flourishing,” she said. “They’re becoming kind and courteous, and it’s just like a lightbulb went on for everything — from them understanding their PKU to all of their school and academic things.”

Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photos by Kristi Smith

“Look within, for within is the wellspring of virtue, which will not cease flowing, if you cease not from digging.” – Marcus Aurelius

By
Good News Network
-

Quote of the Day: “Look within, for within is the wellspring of virtue, which will not cease flowing, if you cease not from digging.” – Marcus Aurelius

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?

Howard Grad Helps Unknowing Students Secure $35 Million in Funding, Reducing Their College Debt

By
Good News Network
-

GNN.org is the exclusive media partner for the 2018 ‘Global Good Fund’ Fellows—12 extraordinary young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place. Chosen annually, the 12 Fellows are each matched with an executive mentor, leadership coach, and $10,000. Hand-selected from 2,400 applicants in 100 countries, these visionaries are being celebrated—one each day on GNN—leading up to the 6th Annual Global Good Fund Gala, on April 26.

Most college students are all too familiar with loans that quickly turn into debt. $35,000 is the average amount facing recent U.S. graduates.

While in college, Jessica Johnson realized that her story was very different than that of her peers. Many of them were saddled with college debt, while she had received $200,000 in scholarships.

Jessica’s father told her to find a need in the community and address it in a unique way. Those words became inspiration to create something bigger than herself.

RELATED: Man Gives $25Mil to Ease Debt for Students of Social Work: ‘They’re Heroes’

The Scholarship Academy (TSA), started in Jessica’s dorm room at Howard University with the belief that every student deserves an opportunity to pursue a debt-free degree, is a nonprofit organization that helps low income/first-generation families create 4-year college funding plans.

Through a first of its kind curriculum-based approach, TSA students learn how to negotiate financial aid packages, manage financial awards, create scholarship brag projects, and independently navigate the private scholarship market.

Jessica starts by asking students three simple questions: Who are you? What’s great about you? What have you done that’s worth someone’s investment?

From there, TSA helps students build their own brand and position themselves in their own superpowers. Students are shown how to do the work, instead of having the work done for them.

POPULAR: Nicki Minaj Pays Off College Debt for Dozens of Students

In conjunction with this venture, Jessica has also trained black college males to serve as Scholarship Ambassadors, using their own stories of scholarship success to empower black high school males to take ownership of the financial aid process.

Since its inception in 2006, TSA has helped students secure more than $35 million in private funding sources, reducing their debt by $14,000.

Jessica has spent the last decade serving as a family scholarship consultant, and traveling throughout the country conducting workshops for organizations such as The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The U.S. Department of Labor, The New York Urban League and the National Center of Philanthropy.

MORE: Student Wakes From Nap to Find That Stranger Had Overheard Her Financial Difficulties and Left a Gift

The ultimate goal: use education as a means to close the equity gap and eliminate cycles of poverty in our nation’s poorest communities.

(Correction: An earlier headline identified her as a Harvard grad, rather than Howard Grad.)

Through its Fellowship program launched in 2012, The Global Good Fund invests in high potential leaders committed to social impact worldwide. It also created the 360 MIRROR – the first evidence-based leadership assessment for social entrepreneurs and CEOs.

Click To Share The Opportunity With Your Friends and Family…

World-Famous Magician is Asking Students to Make ‘Magic’ Using Science—They’ll Earn a Magical Reward

By
Good News Network
-

After solidifying his stature as one of the world’s most talented magicians, Jason Latimer is now dedicating his time to using magic to motivate children to pursue science careers—and he’s conjured a contest to do it.

The “Impossible Science Student Challenge” is open to any middle or high school students in the U.S. and Canada who can use science-related resources or talents to design projects, displays, or tricks that look like magic.

As a grand prize, Latimer will bring his Impossible Science LIVE stage show to the school of the winning student or team.

Additionally, the student’s project will be displayed on Engineering.com, the organization behind the contest.

WATCH: Magician Born Without Hands Beat The Odds and Fool Penn and Teller

Latimer wrote: “The only thing separating the impossible from the possible is the individual wondering about the right question. Our goal with this contest is to inspire that individual and engage students to use their how’s, why’s, what if’s and why not’s to encourage them to think outside the box using Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.”

Most of Latimer’s illusions are rooted in different field of science. The illusion of bending lasers is physics, shaping water is chemistry, his puzzle illusion is mathematics, and the 360 levitation uses engineering.

“I don’t have any superpowers,” he told GNN. “I’ve just asked a lot of questions in multiple fields of science.

The best advice he has for kids who want to win the contest? “Build something that has never been built before, ‘Dream first, think later.’ You will trick yourself ‘thinking’ you know something might be possible.”

He says the thought process of believing your question might be better than everyone else’s is the same thought process behind finding a new cure or building a new technology.

“Remember all we have ever learned in history is that the right question changes everything—wonder changes the world.”

(WATCH the video below)

SHARE the Opportunity—Click to Spread the Magic…

Designer Tackles Disposable Coffee Cup Dilemma–And Her Solution is Steaming Hot

By
McKinley Corbley
-

These solidly designed hot beverage cups aren’t the disposable kind—yet you don’t have to bring them back after leaving the shop, and you won’t need to pay extra for the privilege.

As a means of preventing millions of single-use paper cups from being thrown into a landfill, architect Safia Qureshi created CupClub: a reusable takeaway coffee cup program.

While the eco-friendly concept may sound strange at first, it works sort of like a bike sharing scheme.

The cups are made of sturdy recycled polypropylene. All the consumer has to do is finish their drink, and drop it off at a designated collection area. The cups are then collected, washed, and used again for the next customer. The program is working brilliantly in offices and university campuses, where masses of people work and buy their drinks in the same area.

CHECK OUT: Adidas Sold 1 Million Shoes Made Out of Ocean Plastic Last Year

The cups can be used up to 132 times before they are recycled once more. Remarkably, the cups only cost about 21 cents each for the retailer, which is a fraction of what single-use cups, lids, and stirrers cost. The cups contain a chip so the container’s life-cycle can be tracked.

The designer told Dezeen: “You just drink and drop. You go to your favorite coffee shop… You order your coffee with the Cupclub product. The barista will remind you to put the cup in one of the collection points when you’re done, and that’s it. Our orders are directly with the retailer; consumers don’t pay any extra.”

“It makes you a bad designer if you make something that can’t be recycled; if you have no idea of what’s going to happen to your product after it’s been used. You’re not completing the picture or showing responsibility. Why are you doing what you’re doing?” says Qureshi.

CONTINUE READING and SEE the VIDEO Below… (or Just Share!)

Today is Earth Day: “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.” – John James Audubon

By
Good News Network
-

Quote of the Day: “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.” – John James Audubon

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?

1...785786787...1,727Page 786 of 1,727
© Copyright 1997–2026 GNN, LLC