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Woman Invites Officer Who Arrested Her to Her College Graduation

By
McKinley Corbley
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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’

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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

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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
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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

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Good News Network
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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

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Good News Network
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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

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Good News Network
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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
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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

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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?

10-Year-old is Traveling 620 Miles to Clean-up Coastlines, After Whale Dies With 30 Plastic Bags Ingested

By
Benjamin Steele
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Photo by Nestlé - CC-NC 2.0 license
Photo by Nestlé – CC-NC 2.0 license (NOTE: Previous photo of Lilly Platt was removed after photographer Ruud Voest sued GNN.org for copyright infringement and demanded money, after a misunderstanding when his photo was submitted along with the news story by a blog writer.) 

As we celebrate Earth Day, one of the most hopeful signs for our planet’s future is the knowledge that environmental activists are still showing up—and, these days, as young as 10 years old.

Lilly Platt, for instance, is traveling more than 600 miles (1,000km) from Holland to the Norwegian coast so she can play a key role in a massive beach clean‑up and plastic waste conference.

The 10‑year‑old, together with her mother and grandfather, will be joining volunteers at the ‘Plastic Whale Coastal Clean‑Up and Conference’ on April 25th on the Norwegian island of Sotra.

The event is taking place in memory of the ‘plastic whale’, a Cuvier’s beaked whale that died on the Norwegian coast last year, its stomach full of more than 30 plastic bags.

CHECK OUT: Heartfelt Letter From 5-Year-old Causes Restaurant Chain to Swap Plastic Straws for Paper

“I started picking up rubbish after seeing the effect that it had on wildlife,” says Lilly. “I knew that every piece I picked up, was one less piece that could harm a living creature.”

As well as helping to clean up the island’s coastline, the youngster will be attending a high‑profile conference on plastic waste, along with key figures in the environmental movement from around the world discussing the growing problem, and how to protect coastlines from further pollution. (See more about the conference and how the ‘plastic whale’ spurred the founder below…)

Having been involved in many plastic pick‑ups in recent years, Lilly has been chosen as a Youth Ambassador for the Plastic Pollution Coalition, and a Child Ambassador for HOW Global.

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

The beach clean-up and conference were initiated by environmentalist Kenneth Bruvik, whose passion for the Earth’s coastlines spurred this collaboration of 28 organizations.

Kenneth, who will be acting as a mentor for the group, recalls his reaction last year when he first heard about the ‘Plastic Whale’.

“It hit me hard. I was crying, I was angry, and I said, ‘This is going to stop.’

He is excited about the conference, and sees it as part of groundswell of support across the globe for tackling single‑use plastics and the pollution they cause.

“I hope the Plastic Whale conference will act as a catalyst. When people from across the globe come together and speak in the same voice, it sends a powerful message.

MORE: McDonald’s is Finally Ditching One of the Worst Offenders of the Environment

“It says to politicians, to governments and to countries around the world that we have had enough, and we want plastic pollution to stop.”

The beach clean this week will restore what was once a pristine part of Norway’s coastline. The Norwegian government will be supporting the effort by providing cranes and other equipment to remove the heaviest waste items.

Lilly reminds us of the importance of everyone—businesses, governments, and citizens—coming together: “The natural world is the only one we have.”

Clean Up Negativity: Click To Share The News With Your Friends – Benjamin Steele was a contributing writer 

Woman’s Rescue of Blind Hawk Results in Return of its Eyesight—and Return to Flight

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When I first found this large red-shouldered hawk, it was sitting under a tree as I was leaving my office. It was clearly blind, with a milky film covering its eyes.

It was just sitting and not moving, even as I cautiously approached it with my camera phone. I was concerned over its condition, but I had also never had any experience dealing with something like this, so I called the folks at Animal Control.

They picked up the bird and transported it to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, in Maitland, Florida. I didn’t know this amazing facility even existed.

Over the next six weeks, I found myself observing and interacting with some extremely dedicated technicians and volunteers. The first night, the hawk was placed in an incubator in guarded condition. The staff took turns testing its blood, and giving it antibiotics. Its health progressed until it could stand – and see.

WATCH: Owl Flies Into Moving Car Window and Breaks Wings, But a Heartwarming Rescue Saved it for Good

According to the staff, the exact cause of the bird’s blindness was not identified, but they believe that it may have been a means for the hawk to protect itself from a bodily infection.

Finally, I received a phone call from the staff asking if I would like to witness the hawk’s release. I quickly agreed, saying: “Yes, I’ll be right up there to Maitland, tell me when.”

They replied, “No, no, the bird lived right near your Orlando office. That’s its home, and we want to return it to its own environment. These birds are territorial and have long relationships.”

LOOK: Watch ‘One in a Million’ Yellow Cardinal Visit Feeder in Alabama Backyard

A wonderful woman named Janice Buczkowski then arrived near my office with the hawk. Next is the footage of the healed bird-of-prey that was once blind — but now can see and fly.

(WATCH the montage of the rescue below – edited by Charmaine Gilbreath)

– Written by Jill Haire

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Cameroon Girl Shatters Engineering Gender Gap, Now Employs Thousands of Women to Erect Healthier Buildings

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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.

Many women would be discouraged from pursuing work in the labor industry, let alone starting their own construction company – but not this woman.

Tim Immaculate Bih grew up in Bamenda, Cameroon, a community where technical education is regarded as “for men only” — a seemingly impassable wall for a young girl who dreams of becoming a civil engineer.

But, during her secondary school days, Immaculate became inspired by a woman who was studying construction. They never spoke, but Immaculate watched in astonishment as she drew up her building plans.

WATCH: Octavia Spencer Says Jessica Chastain Helped Her Make Five Times Her Asking Salary

Following in the footsteps of her silent role model, Immaculate started designing architectural plans for people in her community in exchange for monetary payment so she could enroll in university.

After overcoming many challenges, she graduated with a degree in civil engineering, and in 2010, she founded ICON: a company that works to build sustainable infrastructures in Cameroon while bringing women into the engineering workforce. This made Immaculate the first ever construction-focused female entrepreneur in the region.

MORE: Male Birth Control Pill Offers ‘Unprecedented’ Results

Through ICON, she designs and constructs private residential buildings, school buildings and ventilated improved pit latrines in schools, and currently controls all construction of Bamenda University and the Bamenda Referral Hospital. The social enterprise also offers tutoring and mentoring services for women interested in civil engineering careers.

Immaculate, center, inspects construction site (courtesy of Global Good Fund)

“With the passion I have for gender issues, during the realization of these projects in the different villages, I always find ways of empowering girls through advocacy and mentorship, and I am currently advocating for women’s economic empowerment”, Immaculate explains.

Immaculate has built over 40 classrooms and 50 Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines in Boyo and Ngohketunia, divisions of the northwest region of Cameroon where students are privileged to study in decent classrooms and use these improved gender-sensitive toilets. The toilets have helped minimize the rate of disease outbreaks related to cholera, dysentery and malaria.

Immaculate, who won a 2017 award for Africa’s Most Influential Woman in Business in Building and Construction, is also working to address the GAP between demand and supply of affordable homes in Africa through her innovative Butterfly Housing concept.

CHECK OUT: Defying Stereotypes, Female Mechanic Fixes Worries of Women Drivers in the Middle East

Over the course of executing these projects as a female engineer, Immaculate has inspired parents to send their young girls to study technical education – and she is delighted to watch the stereotypical links between masculinity and engineering slowly fade away.

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 Inspiring Story With Your Friends

‘Angel’ Dad is the Only Foster Parent Willing to Take in Terminally-ill Children (Podcast)

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Mohamed may seem like an average family man, but he is a hero in Los Angeles—where he is the only father willing to be a foster dad to terminally-ill children. Hear the heartwarming tale told by The Good News Guru. (From the April 20, 2018 Ellen K. Morning Show on KOST 103-5 radio in L.A.)

READ more and see the video on GNN….

‘Angel’ Dad is the Only Foster Parent Willing to Take in Terminally-ill Children

By
McKinley Corbley
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LISTEN to this Good News Guru story from the radio broadcast with Ellen K. and Geri on KOST-103.5 (Subscribe to our new podcast on iTunes – or for Androids, on Podbean) — or Read the story below…

On the surface, Mohamed may seem like a normal family man, but in actuality, he is the only man in Los Angeles County who is willing to take on one difficult task—to be a foster dad to terminally-ill children.

Over the course of almost three decades, the Libyan-born immigrant has cared for 80 children at his home in Azusa, and ten of them passed away from their illnesses while in his care.

Usually, when a foster child is diagnosed with a complex medical condition, they are either raised in hospitals or fostered by nurses. And when a child has a terminal illness? It’s even more difficult to find a home.

RELATED: Dying Grandma Was Too Sick to Attend, So College Baseball Team Took the Game to Her

Mohamed’s own child, was born with brittle bone disease and dwarfism—and is now studying computer sciences at college. The Muslim man decided to continue dedicating his life to children using his compassionate parenting, and made headlines last year while he was fostering a 6-year-old girl with a rare brain defect that required around-the-clock care.

He was first introduced to foster parenting after he met his wife Dawn in the 1980s. She had already been a foster mom before her marriage to Bzeek, and her unconditional love for the kids was contagious. In 1989, he signed up, as well, and when one of their charges died two years later, he decided to exclusively care for terminally ill children- treating them as if they’re his very own.

WATCH: Man Takes Mom on Bucket List Adventure as Redemption for Unappreciative Younger Years

“I know they are sick. I know they are going to die,” Bzeek told the Los Angeles Times. “I do my best as a human being and leave the rest to God.”

After his wife died in 2015, Bzeek dedicated all of his time to the children. Apart from visiting his Libyan family, he has not been on a vacation in 17 years.

Then last year, a woman named Margaret Cotts read the article about Bzeek. The Oakland woman was so moved by the story, she created a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of raising money to help with his mission.

MORE: Dying Man Pleads With Facebook to Find Home For His Dog and the Response is Overwhelming

“It was healing to read about someone who is so genuinely good. I was touched by his faith, his gentleness, and his dedication and love for his children,” says Cotts.

“In these times when there is so much hate, it is reassuring to read about someone who is so good and full of love. ”

WATCH: Bus Driver Has Been Braiding Girl’s Hair Every Morning Since Mother Passed Away

Thousands upon thousands of dollars were donated when it was launched 8 months ago. And, with a total today of more than a half million dollars, people are still contributing money almost every day.

On a phone call, Mohamad told Margaret, “I’m not an angel. I’m just an ordinary person. We are all part of a team, social services, foster parents, you… We are all part of a team.”

Last month, he was honored by the Turkish department of religious affairs with the prestigious International Benevolence Award given to people for great acts of kindness. The country’s president, in attendance for the ceremony, became the latest in a long line of people to admire this man of action and unconditional love.

(WATCH the 2017 interview below)

Click To Share The Incredible Story With Your Friends – Photo by PBS

Watch the Sweet Moment a Herd of Cows Charge Up a Hill to Listen to Little Girl’s Concertina

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Who knew that cows would mooooove so quickly for music?

Last year, a young Irish girl named Grace began serenading her father’s herd of cows.

The youngster can be seen perched on a stool overlooking one of the fields on her father’s farm in Kilmichael Cork, Ireland.

Thanks to a little encouragement from her dad Denis Lehane, Grace begins playing a tune on her concertina.

RELATED: Watch Orphan Elephant Conquer His Fear of Water With Help From His Loving Human

The song, which is by Irish musician Sharon Shannon, is apparently popular with the bovine – because as Grace continues playing the song, a herd of cows can be seen eagerly charging up a hill towards the music.

Once the attentive cattle arrive at the fence, they line up in front of the young musician and quietly delight in the twinkly tune.

And the little girl’s reaction to her adoring audience says it all.

(WATCH the video below)

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“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. For going out… is really going in.” –John Muir

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By Jeff Krause Photography on Flickr – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Quote of the Day: “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. For going out… is really going in.” –John Muir

Photo: by Jeff Krause Photography on Flickr – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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?

By Jeff Krause Photography on Flickr – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

When She Saw People Sleeping on the Dirt, She Delivered a Healthier Alternative

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Good News Network
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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.

In Rwanda, nearly 80% of the population live in mud huts with dirt floors.

A 2013 business school design class at Stanford sent Gayatri Datar to Rwanda on a mission to improve health outcomes in the developing world.

While staying at local homes, cooking with residents and taking care of their children, Gayatri was struck by the challenges presented by dirt floors, as they were breading grounds for pathogens, parasites and bacteria. The floors caused many people to fall ill with infectious diseases and respiratory illness – not to mention, they were extremely uncomfortable.

Replacing dirt floors with concrete has been shown to drastically reduce the risk of sickness and infestations, but the high cost of materials and distribution challenges leave Rwandans at a loss.

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

Determined to find a solution, Gayatri returned to Stanford and created EarthEnable.

The company sells and installs earthen floors across Rwanda. A niche design trend in the US, earthen floors are made from compacted earth-based materials that are locally sourced and sealed with a layer of proprietary oil. Unlike concrete, these floors are environmentally sustainable, impermeable, sleek, easy to clean, and 10% the price of concrete.

EarthEnable also hires and trains underemployed local masons in Rwanda, providing job opportunities for those who need consistent employment and income.

CHECK OUT: Teen Invents Rain, Fire-proof Sleeping Bag for Homeless, and Offers Jobs

“There are dirt floors all over the world causing people to get sick, so we see this as a way to address a major health concern while also providing economic stimulation to local communities”, Gayatri explains.

Gayatri has been passionate about making a difference long before this venture. While visiting relatives in India at 19-years-old, a tsunami struck countries bordering the Indian Ocean, killing thousands. She became interested in the work of relief agencies and sought ways to help. Surprised at how readily her skills made a profound impact on the ground, she was inspired to dedicate her life to helping others.

Prior to founding EarthEnable, Gayatri served as a Senior Consultant at Dalberg Global Development Advisors, where she focused on social entrepreneurship, energy access and agriculture. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard College, a Master’s in Public Administration in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arjay Scholar.

WATCH: Man Builds Tiny House for Homeless Woman Sleeping in the Dirt

She had the opportunity to take several leaves of absences during her college years, volunteering with NGOs and nonprofits in India, Namibia, Nicaragua, Albania, and right here in the United States.

As the saying goes, one must “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes”. Gayatri Datar walked many dirt floors to understand first-hand the way in which Rwandans live – and now, she is creating a better world for the country’s local communities one floor at a time.

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.

Don’t Walk Away! Click To Share The Inspiring Story With Your Friends

How Barbara Bush Was a Pillar of Love and Devotion to Family (1925-2018)

By
McKinley Corbley
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Former First Lady Barbara Bush passed away earlier this week at the age of 92.

Over the course of her career, Barbara was an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and literary education; a formidable political advisor; and a dedicated wife and mother to 6 children and 17 grandchildren.

Barbara’s romance with George H. W. Bush is one for the history books. She first met the handsome young military man at a school dance when she was 16 years old. At the time, George was the youngster fighter pilot in the Navy. Despite WWII interrupting their relationship, the two got married in 1945.

The Bushes then gave birth to six children – one of whom died of leukemia, which Barbara later credited as the reason her red hair turned white.

RELATED: Bushes Pen Touching Letter to Obama Sisters – We’ll be Rooting For You

She remained a devoted wife to George throughout his 30-year career in politics. Before becoming Ronald Reagan’s vice president for two terms and going on to win the presidential election in 1988, George was a US representative for Texas, UN ambassador, Republican Party chairman, ambassador to China, and director of the CIA.

Then, despite her ongoing health problems, Barbara lobbied for her two sons, Jeb and George W. Bush, during their own presidential campaigns.

MORE: Obama Honors First President Bush as “Points of Light” Shine On

In addition to being diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 1988, she also suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure – and still, she and George actively spent their time raising money for charity and staying busy with the public.

She eventually declined treatment for her illnesses which led to her passing at the Bush home in Austin, Texas. According to a statement from the family office, George was holding her hand the entire time – much like how they reportedly held hands every night of their 72-year marriage before going to bed.

(WATCH the video tribute below)

Pass On The Touching Tribute To Your Friends: Click To Share – Photo by CBS News

These Factories Hire Storytellers to Read to Workers So They Can be Educated—and Entertained

By
Good News Network
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Everyone knows about the quality behind Cuban cigars – but what about the loving care that is shown to the factory workers as well?

During the mid-19th century, the owners of a tobacco factory in Havana delegated one of their workers to spend their shift reading to the employees who were rolling the cigars.

Not only did it make work more enjoyable for the cigar rollers, but it also helped to build their education, which was generally not very strong.

The storytelling became such a popular practice, dozens of cigar factories across Cuba started hiring storytellers of their own.

RELATED: Instead of Firing Illiterate Employees, Company Teaches Them How to Read

One of the storyteller’s, Lucio C. Peña, told Great Big Story: “Generally when I finish a book, I run a sort of poll. Last time I ran a poll, they wanted an adventure novel. I suggested a few works and they chose “Last of the Mohicans”, which is what I’m reading now.

“I like my job – I think I serve a very important role, not only from a cultural point of view, but in problems with every day life. Through reading, we can find solutions…”

(WATCH the video below)

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Watch Butcher Politely Show Meat Samples to Feline Customer Before Giving it a Free Sample

By
Good News Network
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While some grocery stores may have a strict “no shirt; no shoes” policy, this supermarket in Turkey is a bit more lax about their customer’s attire – and their species.

In a video that was published by RM Videos earlier this week, an inquiring cat can be seen standing on its hind legs so it can get a good look at the deli meats.

WATCH: Police Identify Missing Husky By Seeing if it Sings Along With its Favorite Tune

Unfazed by his customer’s furry disposition, the butcher spends a full minute pointing out the different meat cuts to the cat.

When he finally settles on a treat that he thinks the feline will like, he cuts off a small piece and drops it into the cats waiting paws on the other end of the counter.

It’s probably pretty safe to say that the cat will be a regular customer from now on.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends – Photo by RM Videos

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