How to Give $2 Million in Free Dental Care to Veterans Without Insurance (WATCH)

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Jul 8, 2016

A nationwide network of dental offices is putting smiles on the faces of thousands of veterans who don’t have dental insurance.

Allen Williams is one of the vets welcomed at 400 Aspen Dental clinics recently. He served four years in the Marine Corps, worked hard all his life, and is now a caregiver for his mother and a friend with Parkinson’s.

He says a Marine is supposed to be able to smile and face himself in the mirror, but his missing teeth caused him too much embarrassment.

He was one of 4,000 vets Aspen Dental helped on June 25th with its “Day of Service.” The network provided more than two million dollars in free dental care for veterans, all in one day.

AMAZING: North Carolina Judge Sentences Veteran To A Night In Jail And Then Joins Him

Their “Healthy Mouth Movement” is also back on the road again this summer, sending its MouthMobile — a 42-foot dentist office on wheels (pictured below) — on a 33 city tour to provide dental care for vets. The van comes complete with a lab for making dentures, it’s own X-ray equipment, and two fully functioning exam and treatment rooms.

WATCH: Disabled Veteran Converts Wheelchair into Snow Plow to Help Town

Since starting in 2014, the Healthy Mouth Movement has provided nearly $6.3 million in free dental care to more than 11,000 veterans. Fewer than half of veterans receive federal VA dental benefits because they are not 100% disabled or have dental conditions related to their time in the service.

After his visit, Allen Williams was able to look into a mirror and see his smile restored.

“This thing,” he said, “It’s a Godsend.”

(WATCH Allen’s moving video below)

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Inmates Break Out Of Jail To Save Life Of Officer Guarding Them (WATCH)

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Terry Turner

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Jul 8, 2016

When their armed guard suffered a heart attack, a group of prisoners broke the lock on their holding cell to rescue him — putting their own lives in danger.

The inmates were awaiting court appearances in Parker County, Texas when the lone armed guard fell over, unconscious, in his chair. They tried calling for help, but no one came.

The men realized if they broke out to help the guard, their actions might be mistaken for a jail break, and police could come rushing in with guns drawn—but their instinct to help was stronger.

CHECK OUT: Former Students Raise $185,000 for Retiring Beloved School Security Guard

Throwing their combined weight against the cell door, they forced it open. Still handcuffed and shackled, they continued yelling for help and this time officers in the courtroom upstairs could hear them.

As one of them reached for the guard’s radio to call for help, police rushed into the holding room and corralled the inmates before realizing there was a medical emergency.

WATCH: Give a Prisoner an Abused Dog and See What Happens – Karmic Connection

Officers say the inmates’ action likely saved the guard’s life — without their help it might have been another 15 minutes before anyone found found him.

“It never crossed my mind not to help whether he’s got a gun or a badge,” inmate Nick Kelton told WFAA News. “If he falls down, I’m gonna help him.”

Police performed CPR until paramedics arrived with a defibrillator, got his heart beating again and took him to a hospital.

This is not the first time inmates have come to the aid of their jailer. Several prisoners at the Orient Road Jail in Tampa, Florida rushed to rescue a guard, as seen on this video, during an attack by another inmate who had him in a choke hold.

(WATCH the video below from KFAA News)

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What One Retired Woman Can Do With a Ghost Town Neighborhood in Detroit (WATCH)

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Good News Network

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Jul 7, 2016

Shamayim Harris is a one-time school administrator who’s now leading a group of mostly volunteers in the redevelopment of her Detroit-area neighborhood.

If she has her way, the whole town of Highland Park, Michigan—much of which now looks like a ghost town—will be reborn.

She’s doing it for her son, Jakobi, who was only two years old when he was killed by a hit and run driver, and she’s doing it for her community.

“I want it to be something infectious,” she tells CBS’s Steve Hartman. “I want other people to know what they can do to their neighborhoods… You can do it!”

(WATCH the video above, from CBS)

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This Rescued Cockatoo is a ‘FUN’ Dancing Machine (WATCH)

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Terry Turner

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Jul 7, 2016

This bald bird loves to boogie to “Some Nights” by FUN.

Kurter Barnett of Ontario, Canada rescued the Goffin Cockatoo six years ago, after it had been abused by his owners and the stress led to the loss of all his feathers.

But “Gucci” hasn’t lost his beat.

WATCH: Determined Dachshund Tries to Pull His Teddy Bear Into a Small Carrier

Happy in his current home, Gucci turns Barnett’s shoulders into a disco floor as he shows off his dance steps in this “FUN.” video.

(WATCH him bust a move in the video above) — Kurter Barnett, Facebook

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Deaf Girl Teaches Deaf Puppy Sign Language in Cutest Video Ever

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Terry Turner

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Jul 7, 2016

Julia and her best friend Walter share something in common — both the puppy and the little girl were born deaf.

A Good Samaritan found Walter and his litter mates in December when the pups were only six weeks old and brought them to the Pasadena Humane Society shelter.

Julia and her mother fell in love with the little dog the first time they saw him. Mom remembered when Julia was a baby and couldn’t hear her voice, she would recognize her mom by smelling her neck. The first time she picked up Walter he sniffed her neck — the same way Julia had done as an infant.

LOOK: Guy Gives Shelter Dogs Free Haircuts to Help Them Get Adopted

“I think they were both meant to find each other,” Julia’s mother, Chrissy, says in the video above.

Julia is even teaching Walter sign language for words like “sit” and “food.”

WATCH: Give a Prisoner an Abused Dog and See What Happens – Karmic Connection

Commenters on the shelter’s Facebook page have included pictures of deaf dogs they’ve adopted.

“So happy you all have each other!” Andreana Koutoudis posted. “Thank you for sharing your story. It deeply touched my heart!”

(WATCH the video above from the Pasadena Humane Society)

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Pasta, Please! In Moderation it Can Help Keep Weight Down Says Large Study

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Terry Turner

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Jul 7, 2016

If you’re cutting carbs to lose weight, you may want to weigh new research on pasta. Scientists have found that pasta in moderation may actually help you lose extra pounds.

You will have to cut back on the creamy sauces, though.

Pairing pasta with vegetables, nuts, olive oil and other staples of a healthy Mediterranean diet kept waistlines slim for participants in a large Italian study.

Researchers at IRCCS Neuromed in Pozzilli studied more than 23,000 people living across Italy and found those who ate moderate amounts of pasta had a lower body mass index (BMI).

“We have seen that consumption of pasta, contrary to what many think, is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite,” study author George Pounis said. “Our data show that enjoying pasta according to individuals’ needs contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio.”

The researchers found that people who eat pasta tend to adhere more closely to a Mediterranean diet — which is frequently credited with other health benefits. Previous studies have shown the diet can lower the risk of breast cancer and could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by half.

The Italian research stresses moderation — they did find people who ate larger portions of pasta did gain weight. A proper serving should be limited to a half cup, about the size of your fist.

CHECK OUT: Vitamin Slows the Aging Process of Organs (Study)

Though their research was partially funded by pasta company Barilla, the study’s authors showed no conflict of interest in their findings, which were published in the journal Nutrition & Diabetes.

Serve This Up To Your Friends, Share It… (Photo: Mammela, CC)

Paraplegic Inspires Everyone After Learning to Swim, Setting Records

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CindyKolbe

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Jul 6, 2016

“When I began water therapy,” said Beth. “No one expected me to ever move in the water without someone holding me up.”

After my youngest daughter’s C6-7 spinal cord injury, we became a team. Beth, fourteen years old, tried again and again to stay afloat in the rehab pool on her own. Weeks later, she floated in the water with her arms gently waving under the surface–at a time when moving on land and pushing her new wheelchair was difficult.

“I immediately loved the water and the freedom I had in it,” she recalls.

Two years after her injury, a therapy student helped Beth learn how to do the backstroke without sinking. It was the week before our first wheelchair games, and a coach at the games encouraged us to attend a national meet to “see the possibilities.”

WATCH: Gymnast Falling on Her Head Saved By Coach With Ninja Moves

Swimmers in my daughter’s S3 classification were rare, so she decided to work with a coach so she could swim all of the strokes.

She could do the backstroke but learning to swim on her stomach—and still breathe—was the biggest challenge.

It took weeks of failing before Beth figured out how to move forward on her stomach just a meter or two. Over months, she gradually extended the distance. Eventually, she learned the actual modified strokes.

INSPIRING: She Swam for Her Life to the Greek Coast, Now Syrian Refugee is Olympic Hopeful

“I basically swim with my upper body and pull my entire body with my arms. Since my hands can’t cup the water, my arms do all the work. It would be something like an able-bodied swimmer with their legs tied together and their hands in fists.”

Venturing out of our small town of Tiffin, Ohio, Beth and I shared adventures across the country and around the world. A Paralympian, she set fourteen American Records for the U.S. Paralympic National Swim Team and the Harvard Women’s Swimming and Diving Team—the first member to have a visible disability. Eleven records still stand.

“Many people were surprised that I compete in swimming since I use a wheelchair. It has been fun for me to show how people with disabilities can be competitive in sports just as much as others.”

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Cindy Kolbe is a lifelong disability advocate who managed group homes in Ohio and ran a nonprofit in Massachusetts. She currently lives in Summerville, South Carolina. Her daughter Beth is employed as a health policy lawyer in Washington, DC. Cindy’s blog shares their adventures at Struggling With Serendipity.

Boston Cab Driver Turns in $187,000 He Finds in Taxi (WATCH)

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Good News Network

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Jul 6, 2016

Shortly after cashing a check for $187,000, a man who had been homeless and living in a shelter for six months left his entire inheritance in the back of a taxi cab.

The Boston cab driver was faced with a choice after searching for the man unsuccessfully back at the hotel where he picked him up. In the end, he decided to take the cash—stacks of 100s and 50s —directly to the police.

STAR HERO: Bill Murray Drives Taxi So Cabbie Can Practice Saxophone

Raymond MacCausland, known as “Buzzy” was given a $100 tip for his honesty and praised by the city’s police commissioner.

(WATCH the video below, from NECN)

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Pills Made Especially for Girl’s Rare Cancer Completely Eliminate Tumors

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Terry Turner

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Jul 6, 2016

When this little girl was diagnosed with a cancer so rare that there was no specific treatment for it, doctors created a “precision medicine” designed just for her condition.

Allison Schablein was only four-years-old when doctors found multiple tumors in her brain and spine. After four months of treatment, her cancer — a type called anaplastic astrocytoma — became resistant to chemotherapy and started spreading.

Her doctor at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center knew the research hospital was testing a cancer drug that targeted a specific mutation in melanoma. The doctor knew Allison’s cancer had the same mutation and wondered if a variation of the drug could work for her.

This type of treatment is called “precision medicine” because it uses the patient’s genetic information to help target a precise molecule in cancer cells. Chemo takes a much broader approach — trying to kill of lot of cancer cells quickly.

The more targeted therapy of precision medicine can have stunning results.

Allison took two pills each day for two months and when she went back for a brain scan, doctors there couldn’t find any trace of the cancer.

CHECK OUT: Colorado Doctor Discovered Natural Way To Treat Common Vertigo

“I stood up and screamed,” her father, Dan Schablein told ABC News. “It was just shocking and the most incredible feeling.”

Though technically not “cured,” the New Hampshire girl has led a normal life for years, and continues to take the drug to prevent a return of her cancer.

MORE: Bold Trials to Kill Vicious Cancer Type is So Successful, FDA Will Fast Track to Patients

The Dana-Farber Center hopes to help other children with the same kind of rare cancer as Allison who feel they are out of options.

SHARE This Dose Of Good News… (Photo: Boston Children’s Hospital)

Aussie Farm Dogs Take Penguin Colony Under Their Wing, Saving Hundreds of Birds

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Terry Turner

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Jul 6, 2016

These two dogs are an Australian penguin’s best friend — with skills that have saved as many as a two thousand birds in the last ten years.

Foxes had nearly decimated the population of ‘little penguins’ on Middle Island — killing nearly 200 a year.

But, since 2006 when Eudy and Tula started guarding the species, which is the smallest type of penguin in the world, there hasn’t been any evidence of a predator attack.

After the dogs started patrolling the island, the flock grew from a low of just 10 birds to more than 150 today.

WATCH: Knitters Stitch Sweaters to Save Oiled Penguins

It was a local chicken farmer, Swampy Marsh, who first suggested using the large, white Maremma sheep dogs as penguin guardians because they were so good at protecting his free range hens.

The community of Warrnambool sponsored the dogs’ training and still provides homes for them through the winter.

During the penguins’ mating season, the dogs patrol the island five days a week, spending their days off at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, where they meet visitors and help educate people about conservation.

(WATCH the video below from Bondi Vet) — Photo: Peter Abbott

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Affectionate Elk Shows Up At Wildfire To Nuzzle Firefighters

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Terry Turner

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Jul 6, 2016

An elk showed up to personally thank firefighters with kisses for stopping the wildfire that was threatening her pasture over the weekend.

Buttons gained local fame in Cle Elum, Washington when she took up with a herd of cattle after being orphaned when she was a calf.

WATCH: Sharpshooter Veteran Frees Trapped Bald Eagle in Time for Independence Day

When firefighters set up a command post nearby to battle a pair of wildfires in the area, Buttons wandered over and personally introduced herself to every firefighter she saw, letting them pet her, and placing her head on their shoulders.

Share This Story With Your Herd Of Friends... (Photos by Kittitas County Fire Dist. #7 )

Watch Obama Mark July 4th, Singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Malia Who Turned 18

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Good News Network

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Jul 5, 2016

The Guests, including many military families, who were enjoying July 4th festivities at the While House Monday, got to watch pop music celebrities perform on stage, but also an impromptu sing-along led by President Obama himself.

After celebrating the nation’s birthday, the crowd got to join in singing ”Happy Birthday” to the Obamas’ oldest daughter, Malia, who turned 18 the same day.

WATCH: Obama’s Comedy Routine ‘Kills’ at White House Correspondents’ Dinner (Full Monologue)

Before launching the song in a loud but hoarse voice, the president quipped, ”It’s the job of a father to embarrass his daughter.”

(WATCH the video below)

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British Kids Perform Random Acts of Kindness With Record Levels of Cuteness (WATCH)

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Terry Turner

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Jul 5, 2016

Fifth graders fanned out across Bristol, England handing out flowers and hiding inspiring messages in library books to uplift as many people as they could.

The project was part of “Brilliant Bristol,” an effort to “make Bristol the UK’s happiest city” and set a world record for the most random acts of kindness in a single day.

The jury’s still out on the world record, but responses on the BBC Points West Facebook page are hailing the project as a success.

CHECK OUT: Help Wanted: Professional Panda Cuddler (We’re Not Joking)

“These are the Life Skills we should be teaching our children,” Chris Gould wrote.

“That’s such a lovely thing for children to do,” Shazia Sheikh added, “More schools should do this. It makes the children feel good as well as others. Brilliant.”

(WATCH the video above from BBC Points West) — Photo: BBC

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This Wristband Will Tell You When to Stop Drinking

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Terry Turner

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Jul 5, 2016

Soon you can strap this on to keep yourself from ‘tying one on’.

This monitor worn like a wrist watch let’s you know how much alcohol you’ve had.

The prototype Skyn from BACtrack won the National Institutes of Health’s “Wearable Alcohol Biosensor Challenge” in May. The U.S. government sponsored the contest to create a small and accurate way of measuring how alcohol is affecting a drinker in as close to real time as possible.

CHECK OUT: Moderate Drinking Helps Middle-Aged People Live Longer, Study Shows

The Skyn detects ethanol molecules escaping through the skin and sends constant reports — as many as one per second — to your phone using a Bluetooth connection (pictured below).

You’ll be able to see when you’ve had enough — or too much.

BACtrack gets its name from Blood Alcohol Content — or BAC, the measurement used to determine how intoxicated a drinker is based on the amount of alcohol in their system.

The company makes a range of consumer devices designed to measure alcohol levels in a person’s bloodstream. Most are small enough to fit in a pocket or clip to a keychain, but the Skyn promises to be even more convenient because you wear it.

MORE: City Police Have Brought 109 Addicts to Rehab–Instead of Jail

Rather than having to take breath tests, the Skyn gives users almost real time measurements of their BAC. It causes the phone to vibrate as users near 0.04% BAC — about half the legal limit to operate a vehicle in most states – warning them to slow down on their drinking.

CHECK OUT: Deadly Drinking Game Inspires Kindness Video Craze Across Globe

BACtrack hasn’t announced a final price on their new device, but the company plans to have limited quantities of the Skyn available by the end of 2016 — just in time for the holiday season and the parties that go along with it.

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Firefighters Show Up to Surprise This Widow on Her 100th Birthday (LOOK)

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Terry Turner

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Jul 5, 2016

This Virginia woman got a four-alarm surprise on her 100th birthday — dozens of firefighters in formation stood outside her house to present her with flowers and birthday wishes.

Jeanette Carty has a long family history with the Norfolk Fire-Rescue Department, and a class of recruits showed up to honor the years of family service.

Her late husband, Joe, spent 30 years with the department — starting in 1942. Her nephew, Capt. David Bear, and his father also served.

Carty still lives in the house where she and Joe raised their children. She’s now a great-grandmother of four.

Firefighters escorted the grinning centenarian out to the reception line and presented her with a sunflower bouquet as the recruits applauded her.

LOOK: On Queen’s 90th Birthday, Annie Leibovitz Photos Celebrate Elizabeth’s Family

“I was never more surprised in my life,” Carty told TODAY. “To see the firemen all lined up with their red shirts and black pants, oh my goodness it was amazing.”

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In Tears, Syrian Girl Thanks Her New Nation on Canada Day (WATCH)

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Terry Turner

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Jul 4, 2016

This young Syrian refugee broke down in tears, thanking Canadians on their national holiday for taking her in.

Friday was the first time 11-year-old Aziza Toubeh celebrated Canada Day — marking the day in 1867 when British colonies in North America were first united into the single Dominion of Canada.

CHECK OUT: Karma Comes Back Around for Man who Broke Religious Rule to Help Boy

Surrounded by her family members, draped in the Maple Leaf flag, the little girl used an interview with CBC Canadian Broadcasters to give an emotional thank you to the people of the country that had not only taken them in, but gone to great lengths to welcome refugees.

The Toubeh's meet Justin and Sophie Trudeau. pic.twitter.com/eI2gJ7sfri
— Lisa Laventure (@lisalaventure) July 1, 2016

The Toubehs were celebrating the national holiday on Parliament Hill, and when word of the emotional video tribute reached Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he and First Lady Sophie Trudeau, made their way through the crowd to meet the refugee family personally.

(WATCH the video above from CBC News) — Photo: CBC
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Sharpshooter Veteran Frees Trapped Bald Eagle (Video)

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Terry Turner

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Jul 4, 2016

An Army veteran used his battlefield skills to save the life of America’s national bird—a bald eagle—and, just in time for the most patriotic holiday, July 4th.

Jason Galvin used a rifle to shoot through a rope, freeing the eagle that had been trapped in a treetop for at least two days.

WATCH: Eagle Snatches Camera and Flies Away—While Taking Great Video

Galvin was on a fishing trip when he came upon a group of people watching the eagle, tangled in a rope and dangling from the top of a tree. They had called the local fire department and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), but the eagle — at 75 feet off the ground — was too high to reach.

That’s when Galvin, half-joking, suggested he try to shoot through the rope. After explaining his marksmanship skills, and demonstrating them, DNR Officer Phil Mohs decided it was worth a try.

CHECK OUT: Gorillas Spring into Action to Dismantle Poacher’s Traps

Galvin spent an hour-and-a-half slowly squeezing off shot after shot – each time, waiting for the wind to die down, the branches to stop swaying, and making sure his aim just right to avoid hurting the bird.

Galvin-veteran-FB-small — Photos from Jackie Galvin on Facebook

He fired off 150 rounds, and clipped through three tree branches, but he finally severed the rope.

The exhausted eagle fell to the ground where Mohs scooped it up and took it to a raptor center for recovery and rehabilitation. A day later, the eagle was eating and on its way to a full recovery.

Galvin named the bird “Freedom” and says he’s glad to have been able to help the animal so close to Independence Day.

“It’s the Fourth of July. That’s our bird. I can’t let it sit there,” Galvin told KARE News. “When it finally came down, it was breathtaking. It was a beautiful moment.”

(WATCH the video below from KARE News) – Photos via Facebook

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When Child Believes Lost Toy is Only Traveling, Strangers Photoshop Animal in Scenes

By

Terry Turner

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Jul 4, 2016

When a little boy lost his favorite plush elephant, a family friend had the idea to ask people on the Internet to help create a magical explanation.

Explaining that the boy’s parents told him the plush elephant wasn’t really lost, but actually traveling around the world, strangers responded to the plea on Reddit with Photoshopped “vacation” pictures showing the toy elephant having a great time.

The elephant hung out with penguins in Antarctica…

…and explored Mayan ruins.

He hiked along China’s Great Wall…

…and even hopped a ride with a kangaroo.

The toy went snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.

and also toured the White House…

And, our favorite, the tiny elephant is pictured visited his cousins in Africa.

With adventures like that, it’s a lot easier for the little boy to understand why his elephant is gone on a very extended leave.

Photos: Imgur

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New Second Chance Pell Grant Program Gives Inmates Federal Aid to Take College Classes

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Good News Network

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Jul 4, 2016

67 colleges and universities will participate in the new Second Chance Pell pilot program that expands access to financial aid for incarcerated individuals, the Department of Education announced last week

Eligible incarcerated Americans will be able to pursue post-secondary education with the goal of helping them get jobs to support their families when they are released, and reduce their recidivism rates.

A 2013 study from the RAND Corporation, funded by the Department of Justice, found that incarcerated individuals who participated in correctional education were 43 percent less likely to return to prison within three years than prisoners who did not participate in any correctional education programs. RAND also estimated that for every dollar invested in correctional education programs, four to five dollars are saved on re-incarceration costs.

“The evidence is clear. Promoting the education and job training for incarcerated individuals makes communities safer by reducing recidivism and saves taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “I applaud the institutions that have partnered to develop high-quality programs that will equip these students with knowledge and skills (to) promote successful reintegration and enable them become active and engaged citizens.”

Selected colleges and universities will partner with more than 100 federal and state penal institutions to enroll roughly 12,000 incarcerated students in college educational and training programs. Through the Second Chance Pell pilot program, these institutions may provide federal Pell Grants to qualified students who are incarcerated and are likely to be released within five years of enrolling in coursework.

WATCH: Give a Prisoner an Abused Dog and See What Happens—Karmic Connection

“Access to high quality education is vital to ensuring that justice-involved individuals have an opportunity to reclaim their lives and restore their futures,” said Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

The vast majority of the selected schools are will offer classroom-based instruction on-site at the corrections facilities. Others will offer online education, or a hybrid of classroom and online instruction. More than 10 percent of participating educational institutions are Minority-Serving Institutions and approximately 37 percent will offer prison-based education for the first time. Selected schools may begin offering education and training as early as July 1.

Recognizing that incarcerated students require additional support, many of the selected sites provide robust academic, career, and social support services to facilitate post-secondary persistence and completion. In some cases, this includes remedial or supplementary instructional services to ensure the incarcerated students served will be able to benefit from the post-secondary education and/or training provided. Many partnerships also work with a variety of community-based organizations and non-profit organizations that support successful reentry. Finally, all of the sites will provide counseling or guidance to potential students to assist them in completing the FAFSA.

MORE: New Detroit Auto Factory Will Help Ex-Convicts Build New Beginnings

Last month, the Department of Education released the Beyond the Box Resource guide for colleges and universities that encourages alternatives to inquiring about criminal histories during college admissions and provides recommendations to support a holistic review of applicants.
(Photo via Equal Justice Initiative)