Good News in the News

[M. T. Cross]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news...-171620865.html

An officer's simple act of kindness has made him online celebrity, thanks to a snapshot-taking tourist from Arizona.

Jennifer Foster of Florence, Arizona, was visiting Times Square with her husband on November 14 when she noticed a barefoot man asking for change.

Officer Lawrence DePrimo, 25, approached the man with a pair of boots and knelt at his side to help him. Foster captured the touching exchange with her cellphone, then submitted the image to the NYPD's official Facebook page.

By Wednesday, the photo had been viewed more than 1.6 million times.

"Right when I was about to approach, one of your officers came up behind him. The officer said, 'I have these size 12 boots for you, they are all-weather. Let's put them on and take care of you.' The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching," she wrote. "I have been in law enforcement for 17 years. I was never so impressed in my life. I did not get the officer's name. It is important, I think, for all of us to remember the real reason we are in this line of work. The reminder this officer gave to our profession in his presentation of human kindness has not been lost on myself or any of the Arizona law enforcement officials with whom this story has been shared."

DePrimo was shocked by the attention, the New York Times reports, as he was unaware the photo was even taken.

In an interview, he recounted that evening:

"It was freezing out and you could see the blisters on the man's feet," he said. "I had two pairs of socks and I was still cold."

DePrimo then went into a nearby Sketchers shoe store, where the manager offered the officer his employee discount to help bring down the price of a pair of boots to just over $75.

Upon receiving the new boots, DePrimo told the Associated Press that the man "smiled from ear to ear. It was like you gave him a million dollars."

DePrimo still carries that receipt with him, he said, "to remind me that sometimes people have it worse."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/video/nypd-officer-gives-boots-homeless-033239244.html

[M. T. Cross]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/young-friends-missouri-discover-brothers-171420829.html

Isaac Nolting, 12, and Dakotah Zimmer, 13, became fast friends at a Washington, Missouri, swimming pool this summer.

Mutual friends commented that the pair looked like brothers. They soon discovered they were.

Dakotah knew he had a young brother he'd never met. His sibling was adopted as an infant more than 10 years ago to a woman named Dawn.

"That's my mom's name," Isaac told his new friend.

Dakotah told the Missourian he knew his friend, 13 months younger than him, was actually his brother because of one very distinctive feature: "I could tell because of the nose."

Isaac, however, didn't even know he was adopted.

"I just didn't know how to tell him," Issac's adoptive mother, Dawn Nolting, told the Missourian. "I never knew when was the best time. I talked with experts and relatives, but never knew when I should do it."

After his day at the pool with Dakotah, Issac approached his mother with questions about his birth.

"He took my hand and we went back in the bedroom, sat down, and he said, 'Mom, I have something to ask you. Am I adopted?'" Dawn recalled.

"I said, 'What makes you think that?' and he said, 'I think I found my brother.'"

Dawn told her son it was true. They both started crying.

"I just cried and cried and cried," Isaac told TODAY.com. "I was so happy that I had a brother. I always asked for one."

The boys' birth parents are now passed away. Dakotah lives with his grandmother, Debi Bay.

"I knew it was gonna happen sooner or later," said Debi Bay, 56. "It didn't surprise me that much. I'm just surprised the way they ran into each other. I'm glad they got to meet."

Their mother, a teenager overwhelmed by two babies, gave up Isaac when he was just a couple weeks old. At first, Dawn cared for Isaac to give the new mom "a break." Isaac's mom would call and visit often — but she never took him home.

The adoption was finalized when he was 18 months old.

The reunited brothers celebrated their birthdays together this fall. They have weekend sleepovers, hang out after school, and will spend the holidays together, too.

"You can just tell they're brothers," Dawn told TODAY.com. "It's the strongest bond that I've ever seen. It's like they were never separated. For being apart for 10 years and 20 minutes away, they picked up right where they left off."

"A lot of people are happy," Dawn told the Missourian. "We're planning a big celebration at the holidays this year."

[JoeMo]

Thanks for posting these stories MT! It's a refreshing break from the usual bad news that we typically read. There is a Divine Presence that cares about us; and moves on people to love their fellow man! Also, bless the policeman that was so generous.

[Jeannieb43]

[phkrause]

great story, saw this the other day. Was thinking if each of us would do something like that to whomever we see that needs it, what a story that would be.

[Naomi]

[M. T. Cross]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/secret-santa-hands-100-bills-sandy-survivors-164751646.html

A wealthy Kansas City, Missouri, businessman plans to hand out $100,000 this holiday season — anonymously.

The Secret Santa has been spotted giving out $100 bills to residents in Staten Island and New Jersey affected by Superstorm Sandy.

"The money is not the point at all," the anonymous benefactor who refused his face be photographed, surrounded by a security entourage, told the Associated Press. "It's about the random acts of kindness. I'm just setting an example, and if 10 percent of the people who see me emulate what I'm doing, anybody can be a Secret Santa!"

Santa and his team choose their stops carefully so as to avoid being mobbed, and are often received with tearful hugs.

In a Staten Island Salvation Army store, he gave 41-year-old Janice Kennedy, an unemployed woman who lost everything in the storm, four $100 bills to help over Christmas and birthday presents for her 2-year-old daughter.

"This is the start of our holiday cheer. We can go Christmas shopping now. It's nice," Kennedy told CBS New York. "He's a great man."

Secret Santa told the Associated Press that he took up the holiday tradition after a close friend, Larry Stewart, passed away. Stewart had given away more than $1 million to unsuspecting strangers at food banks, shelters and thrift stores.

"And I hope I give all my money away before I die," Secret Santa, wearing an "elf" cap, admitted.

[phkrause]

That's awesome

[M. T. Cross]

Texas police officer issues ticket — and $100 bill — to financially strapped motorist

By Nadine Kalinauskas | Good News – Fri, 14 Dec, 2012

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A Plano, Texas, police officer recently pulled over a driver for an expired registration sticker.

Hayden Carlo, 25, told the officer, who chooses to remain anonymous, that he was struggling financially and couldn't afford to renew his registration.

"I said, "There's no explanation for why I haven't done it, except I don't have the money,'" Carlo told KTVT. "I said, 'It was either feed my kids or get my registration done.'"

The officer wrote a citation and handed it to Carlo. Inside the ticket was a $100 bill.

Carlo burst into tears. With the money he was able to update the registrations on both his car and his wife's car.

The officer told no one of his good deed. The story only made headlines when Carlo's grandfather, Billy McIntire, wrote a letter of gratitude to the police department.

"I get emotional when we talk about this type of thing," McIntire said. "You just don't find that many officers who would do this type of thing."

The officer's coworkers plan to honour him for his good deed. A spokeswoman for the Plano PD told Dallas News that the officer, a 43-year-old family man, has done similar things for struggling motorists in the past.

"He helped me out when I needed it and I appreciate that," Carlo said. "I'll never forget that man. It definitely restored my faith in God."

[whatisthis]

Beautiful story. Thanx for sharing.

[phkrause]

Texas police officer issues ticket — and $100 bill — to financially strapped motorist

By Nadine Kalinauskas | Good News – Fri, 14 Dec, 2012

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A Plano, Texas, police officer recently pulled over a driver for an expired registration sticker.

Hayden Carlo, 25, told the officer, who chooses to remain anonymous, that he was struggling financially and couldn't afford to renew his registration.

"I said, "There's no explanation for why I haven't done it, except I don't have the money,'" Carlo told KTVT. "I said, 'It was either feed my kids or get my registration done.'"

The officer wrote a citation and handed it to Carlo. Inside the ticket was a $100 bill.

Carlo burst into tears. With the money he was able to update the registrations on both his car and his wife's car.

The officer told no one of his good deed. The story only made headlines when Carlo's grandfather, Billy McIntire, wrote a letter of gratitude to the police department.

"I get emotional when we talk about this type of thing," McIntire said. "You just don't find that many officers who would do this type of thing."

The officer's coworkers plan to honour him for his good deed. A spokeswoman for the Plano PD told Dallas News that the officer, a 43-year-old family man, has done similar things for struggling motorists in the past.

"He helped me out when I needed it and I appreciate that," Carlo said. "I'll never forget that man. It definitely restored my faith in God."

thanks for the post

[M. T. Cross]

'Tis the season for Reddit to celebrate the everyday heroes among us: the landlord who reduced rent during the holidays, the dentist with the kid-friendly therapy dog, the couple who spent more than 60 happy years together.

This weekend, redditor cb98678 posted photos of Eric the Sandwich Man, a New York City good Samaritan who's been handing out sandwiches to the hungry for 15 years.

"Every morning he makes sandwiches and loads them into his cart along with fruit and juice pouches," cb98678 wrote, adding that he funds his charitable lunches himself, with minimal donations from strangers riding the various trains he uses every day to reach the hungry.

On his cart, a sign reads: "Free food for the homeless and the working poor."

Eric doesn't discriminate between the homeless and those with homes. If you are hungry, "he feeds you."

"When I hear stories like this they never fail to make wonder what our world would be like if just 10% of the population were to spend their time so generously helping people less fortunate on a daily basis like this man," redditor Ballistrophobia commented. "I feel like this is the 1% people should be talking about."

Redditor Scorps agreed:

"This guy is a class act. Even something as simple like being given a sandwich from a stranger can have a surprising effect on a person who needs it."

[JoeMo]

MT,

These are the kind of stories we need to see - especially around the winter holidays! Thank you for the holiday buzz! I hope you and your family have an awesome holiday season. I wish I could join you for some holiday cheer.

[phkrause]

'Tis the season for Reddit to celebrate the everyday heroes among us: the landlord who reduced rent during the holidays, the dentist with the kid-friendly therapy dog, the couple who spent more than 60 happy years together.

This weekend, redditor cb98678 posted photos of Eric the Sandwich Man, a New York City good Samaritan who's been handing out sandwiches to the hungry for 15 years.

"Every morning he makes sandwiches and loads them into his cart along with fruit and juice pouches," cb98678 wrote, adding that he funds his charitable lunches himself, with minimal donations from strangers riding the various trains he uses every day to reach the hungry.

On his cart, a sign reads: "Free food for the homeless and the working poor."

Eric doesn't discriminate between the homeless and those with homes. If you are hungry, "he feeds you."

"When I hear stories like this they never fail to make wonder what our world would be like if just 10% of the population were to spend their time so generously helping people less fortunate on a daily basis like this man," redditor Ballistrophobia commented. "I feel like this is the 1% people should be talking about."

Redditor Scorps agreed:

"This guy is a class act. Even something as simple like being given a sandwich from a stranger can have a surprising effect on a person who needs it."

Excellent post EC and good to see you hanging out with us, even if its only on a smaller scale.

[M. T. Cross]

Asif Khan, a 21-year-old college student from Villa Park, Illinois, can finally pay his outstanding tuition bills — thanks to a winning lottery ticket.

Last month, Khan bought a winning instant lottery ticket from a local gas station. The machine informed him he'd won $600,000.

"I immediately drove home," he told the Chicago Tribune. "My mother was sleeping so I woke her and told her I won. She told me, 'Good luck to you, be safe and don't go crazy, and always come to me if you have any questions.'"

He kept the winning ticket hidden in a college textbook for days before contacting lottery officials.

When he did make the call, officials told him that the $600,000 win was a receipt error. He had actually won $1 million.

"I never expected this," Khan, a third-year student at East-West University in Chicago, said. "A majority of the money will go toward my education for a better future. If I do have some money left over, I'll invest it and save it for (the future)."

He told the Chicago Tribune that a new car will be among his first purchases, as he currently uses his mother's 2003 Honda Accord. He also plans to transfer to University of Illinois at Chicago now that he can afford the tuition.

Khan, who moved to the United States from India in 2006, plans to eventually become a medical doctor.

"I can actually imagine my life...a better future," Kahn said at a news conference. "My long-term goal is to be a cardiologist, relating to the heart. Science has always been a very broad field for me and I love it."

[phkrause]

[JoeMo]

The Facebook founder spreads the wealth.

Mark Zuckerberg

FORTUNE -- Mark Zuckerberg donated Facebook shares worth $500 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with donors to allocate funds according to their interests. The gift is the largest ever received by the foundation, which finances projects locally and around the world, and Zuckerberg said he planned to focus his giving in health and education.

Zuckerberg announced the gift in a post on Facebook, where he noted that he and his wife Priscilla Chan had previously signed the Giving Pledge, an effort led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to encourage billionaires to donate most of their wealth to philanthropic causes. In 2010, Zuckerberg pledged to donate $100 million in Facebook (FB) shares to an effort to improve public education in Newark, New Jersey.

[M. T. Cross]

A hardworking music student was surprised with her very own tuba during a recent school concert.

Tara Fayazi was performing a solo with the Tuba Euphonium Ensemble at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, on Monday when the conductor stopped her. He told her that something sounded wrong with the tuba she was playing. He started fiddling with the instrument, then called out for someone backstage to bring him a screwdriver.

The ruse worked. Instead of a screwdriver, a friend of Tara's brought out a tuba with a big red bow on it.

"It's really hard to describe, Fayazi said of the moment. "I had to stand up and say something. But between the tears and the overwhelming emotion, I've never felt so much pure happiness in my life because it's just unbelievable."

Fayazi then finished her solo.

"When she started to play after she calmed down, she played even better. And it was instantly noticeable. The whole room was vibrating because the horn is so much more resonant than the one she was playing," Don Harry, Eastman School of Music Associate Professor told WHEC.

Fayazi's friend Jackie Dreher had organized fundraising activities for the previous 11 months to replace Tara's old tuba, raising $4,700.

"It all started 11 months ago when Tara came to my room," Dreher told 13WHAM. "She had this dream that she had her own tuba and it had a beautiful sound. She was just crying in my room. It's just something that's so important and she couldn't do anything about it."

"She works really hard to afford school here and she's never been able to own her own instrument. She's an awesome player and a fantastic friend to everyone in the whole school," Dreher added.

When the family of Brent Miller, a recently deceased student, heard about the fundraising efforts, they offered their son's instrument, a Mirafone tuba still in perfect condition.

In exchange for the tuba, Dreher donated the money already raised to help children suffering from a-plastic anemia, the disease that took Miller's life.

"I'm just glad that I got to meet [brett] and spend some time with him," Fayazi told 13WHAM. "Now I get to use his tuba. It's very emotional. We just made so many memories between baking cookies for a tuba recital and him driving me home for Thanksgiving break. Brett was such a special person."

"It's unreal. I've been carrying it everywhere I go. I don't want to put it down. I can't believe I have an instrument to call my own finally. It's just unreal," Fayazi told WHEC.

[phkrause]

The Facebook founder spreads the wealth.

Mark Zuckerberg

FORTUNE -- Mark Zuckerberg donated Facebook shares worth $500 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with donors to allocate funds according to their interests. The gift is the largest ever received by the foundation, which finances projects locally and around the world, and Zuckerberg said he planned to focus his giving in health and education.

Zuckerberg announced the gift in a post on Facebook, where he noted that he and his wife Priscilla Chan had previously signed the Giving Pledge, an effort led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to encourage billionaires to donate most of their wealth to philanthropic causes. In 2010, Zuckerberg pledged to donate $100 million in Facebook (FB) shares to an effort to improve public education in Newark, New Jersey.

[JoeMo]

This is an awesome thread - such great stories! let's keep it going. Thanks for starting it, MT!

[JoeMo]

This story was too long to post (besides, it's copyrighted). Check it out if you want some more uplifting news.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/20/us/reactions-aesha-surgery/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

[M. T. Cross]

‘Sandy Claus’ delivers presents to children affected by storm

By Nadine Kalinauskas | Good News – Fri, 21 Dec, 2012

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While most of us have to wait until Christmas Eve to receive a visit from Jolly Ol' Saint Nick, children affected by Superstorm Sandy are spying him early.

Michael Sciaraffo, 31, a Brooklyn-based political consultant, is dressing up as Santa Claus and delivering toys to kids in storm-ravaged areas.

'Santa' Gives Presents to Sandy Victims

For the children whose toys floated away during Superstorm Sandy, Michael Sciaraffo is playing the role of a real-life Saint Nick, personally delivering new toys to awestruck little kids whose play rooms were destroyed by floodwaters. (Dec. 21)

Following the storm, Sciaraffo launched a donation outreach effort on Facebook in which he collected food and clothing for those who lost everything. As Christmas approached, he asked for toys. Soon, his "Secret Sandy Claus Project" was born.

"When I was a kid, my toys were very important to me," Sciaraffo told the Associated Press. "That's their security blanket, so to speak. I couldn't sit home and do nothing."

Sciaraffo uses a spreadsheet to keep track of kids' wish lists and the toy donations that are arriving by the truckload from all over the country, making sure that Santa gives each child what he/she wants this holiday season.

"The goal was to match up each child with a toy that they liked or asked Santa for, for Christmas," he explained. "We basically tried to pair them up with toys I had in stock."

He hopes to deliver gifts to around 1,000 children before Christmas.

"Between the requests coming in for personal visits as well as the influx of donations, it's been a full time job," Sciaraffo told the Associated Press. "And kudos to Santa, because I don't know how he pulls it off every year."

[phkrause]

Here's a great story:

Hero Cop Jumps Into Frigid Waters to Rescue Woman

http://gma.yahoo.com/video/news-26797925...n-31397242.html

[M. T. Cross]

Great story pk.

Thank you to all that contribute to this thread.

[M. T. Cross]

Manitoba lottery winners quietly spread holiday cheer

CBC – Thu, 27 Dec, 2012

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CBC/CBC - Kirby and Marie Fontaine have been generous with their winnings after collecting a $50 million lottery prize in 2009.

Generous spirits from Sagkeeng First Nation have been riding a wave of post-Christmas philanthropy — virtually wiping out the debt of Winnipeg's Christmas Cheer Board and apparently visiting other charitable causes in the Manitoba capital.

Lottery millionaires Marie and Kirby Fontaine gave the Christmas Cheer Board a cheque for $50,000 Thursday afternoon, said board director Kai Madsen.

Madsen said the Fontaines called after hearing media reports that the cheer board was left with a shortfall of roughly $60,000 in the aftermath of the agency's annual campaign of delivering Christmas gift hampers to the city's needy.

"They said we're going to come by and fix that," Madsen told CBC, adding no one at the charity was certain it was Fontaines who telephoned.

Then, out of the blue, the couple who won $50 million in a Lotto 6/49 draw in 2009, showed up at the Cheer Board offices. "I was all choked up," when the generous couple offered a cheque to cover the bulk of the shortfall, said Madsen.

"It was nice to be able to hug and shake hands and feel the warmth and generosity of someone," said Madsen. "It was a very special day."

He said that in the 40 years he's been involved with the board he's never seen an individual gift so large.

Madsen said he understood the Fontaines were planning to visit other worthy causes in the Winnipeg area.

Kirby Fontaine spent his last $10 on a lottery ticket in 2009 when the couple won the big prize: $50 million. Since then the publicity-shy Fontaines have donated to a number of good causes around Manitoba — often with little or no fanfare