# Heroes

$1 million! Three Friends Honor Long-time Pact to Split Lottery Winnings

Three long-time chums who made a pact to split the pot if one of them ever won the lottery got their payday last week, Georgia Lottery officials announced on Thursday. "I was just as tickled for them as I was for myself," Kenneth Wilson told NBC News. "We just had a verbal agreement and I felt like that had to be honored."

# Heroes

Former Microsoft Executive Finds Joy Boosting Literacy Instead of Profits

Since leaving his job as Microsoft's China business development director in 1999 and dedicating his life to improving global literacy, New York-based John Wood has put books in the hands of more than 7.8 million children in 10 countries in Asia and Africa.

# Heroes

A Mother's Fight Against '3-Strikes Law' Helps Hundreds

Since the November election, 240 California prisoners facing potential life sentences have been set free. That's because voters changed California's tough three strikes sentencing law, which sent thousands of people to prison for terms of 25 years to life for minor, nonviolent crimes. The campaign's success is due in no small part to Sue Reams. Her son was one of those released, after 17 years in prison.

# Heroes

Millionaire Buys Daycare and College for Crime-Filled Neighborhood, Turns it Around

Twenty years ago, Harris Rosen had amassed a fortune with his seven Orlando hotels and decided it was time to give back. He targeted the local crime-infested neighborhood of Tangelo Park where the high school graduation rate was 25 percent. He gave every parent a daycare and pre-K program, but didn't stop there.

# Heroes

Woman Who Lost Both Legs in Boston Bombing Just Found a Reason To Smile

A mother who is recovering in the hospital after losing both legs below the knee while watching the Boston Marathon went from being devastated to feeling better. The woman and her daughter -- who is also recovering in the hospital -- were visited by U.S. Marines, men who understand what it's like to lose limbs.

# Heroes

Teacher Helps Injured Embarrassed Student Fit In

Six-year-old Brantley Rogers severely injured his eye last week and was nervous about returning to class with an eye patch. But his Jacksonville, Florida kindergarten teacher made a world of difference for him when she crafted eye patches for all the students in the class.

# Heroes

'Brilliant Bus' Mobile Classroom Gains Support for Retired Teacher's Effort

A retired teacher, who has poured her $900,000 retirement nest egg into a technology classroom on wheels for underprivileged children, has gained an outpouring of national support, after her story aired last week on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

# Heroes

Disabled in Iraq, Now Making Life Easier for Other Wounded Vets

A National Guardsman lost both legs in Iraq, but found a new mission helping others. It was a life-altering injury, but from the beginning, Dale Beatty had a positive attitude about it. Beatty created an organization Purple Heart Homes after a Builders Association -- of which he was a member -- helped him build a wheelchair-accessible home with wide doorways and roll-in bathrooms.