# Inspiring

Hawaii Parade Honors Japanese-American WWII Vets

Hundreds of Japanese-American veterans of World War II were honored Saturday with a parade in Honolulu—nearly 70 years after they volunteered to fight for their country even as the government branded them 'enemy aliens.' About 200 veterans rode in convertibles past a cheering crowd, celebrating the Congressional Gold Medals awarded to the veterans by President Obama last month.

# Inspiring

Secret Santa Inspires Addict's Clean Up

Remember the businessman who this month traveled to Reading, Pa. to give away hundred dollar bills to strangers? One of the people that Secret Santa gave money to is 30-year-old Thomas Coates. Coates is a deadbeat by most accounts, including his own. But when the Secret Santa called him a good man, pushing hundreds of dollars into his hand even when he said he didn't deserve it, a prayer was answered.

# Inspiring

Missouri Woman Gets $6.1 Million From State's Unclaimed Property Office

A Kansas City woman got an early Christmas present when she received a state record $6.1 million from the Missouri unclaimed property fund, which works to return stocks, bonds, bank balances and safe deposit box contents to unknown owners.

# Inspiring

Wealthy Lottery Winners Make Good on Promise of Philanthropy

Three Connecticut wealth managers who won a $254 million jackpot followed through on their promise to put the money toward philanthropy, today announcing donations to five charities that assist veterans.

# Inspiring

Americans are the Most Generous, Global Poll Finds

Americans give more to help others than the residents of 152 other countries, according to a new global survey that asked how many people donated money to a charity, volunteered their time, or helped a stranger in the previous month.

# Inspiring

Girl Sends Wish to Santa on 2 Pink Balloons, Found and Answered 700 Miles Away

A little girl's Christmas wish is coming true after a letter to Santa soared 684 miles on two little pink balloons, landing on a rural California ranch. The rancher, who recognized the tattered letter written in Spanish as a note to Santa, traveled 50 miles to the nearest shopping mall to find gifts for the girl whose parents have fallen on tough times.

# Inspiring

$170,000 Violin Returned to Boston Music Student After Being Left on Bus

Christmas came early for a Boston music student who was reunited with the US$170,000 violin she forgot in the overhead compartment of a regional commuter bus she rode last week, while overcome with travel fatigue.

# Inspiring

Update on Chelsea Clinton Arkansas Story: After NBC Show Donations Flood in

Annette Dove had no idea that an NBC Nightly News segment would cause an avalanche of donations for her Pine Bluff program that feeds and tutors hundreds of Arkansas children after school. It was Chelsea Clinton's debut as a Making A Difference reporter, when she returned to her home state and found this inspiring story.