Cabinet Secretaries and Obama Give Back 5% of Salaries to Help Federal Workers

Along with President Obama, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano have decided to forgo portions of their salaries in solidarity with federal workers. Like Obama, they volunteered to give their money to help reduce the deficit, or to foundations that benefit federal workers.

By Jeanne Goddard

05 April 54 Views

NY's Bloomberg Aims to Save Mothers, Children in Tanzania

New York City billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg is funding the expansion of a pilot maternal health program in Tanzania that is predicted to help 50,000 mothers who too often die during childbirth.

By Jeanne Goddard

05 October 35 Views

Earth Day Activities Launched in Biloxi to Clean up Hurricane Mess

750 volunteers from all over the country descended on Biloxi, Miss. for the official kickoff to the 2006 national campaign, launching a full-day of Hurricane Katrina Restoration activites.

By Jeanne Goddard

22 April 40 Views

Volunteerism Erupts During Egyptian Protests in New Spirit of National Pride

While Egyptians battle for their political future, social change is already sweeping the country. Amid the protesters, volunteers are sweeping the streets, picking up litter, and handing out food.

By Jeanne Goddard

01 February 37 Views

Remodel Gives Dallas Army Veteran A Home Fit For A Hero

Trista Hopkins, a U.S. Army veteran in Dallas who was raising two daughters in a dilapidated home with holes in the roof and no running water, now has a renovated home with new furnishings -- just in time for Thanksgiving.

By Jeanne Goddard

25 November 31 Views

$261 Million Donated to Save Rainforest Hot Spots

The largest gift ever to a private conservation group, $261 million, was pledged to Conservation International by Intel Corp. cofounder Gordon Moore, 72, and his wife.

By Jeanne Goddard

29 December 44 Views

Oxford University Study Suggests World Poverty is Rapidly Shrinking

World poverty is shrinking and developing countries are becoming less poor according to a new study by Oxford University. Nepal, Rwanda and Bangladesh were the star performers.

By Jeanne Goddard

17 March 50 Views

37 years After Graduation, Student Sends High School Teacher $10,000

Kansas businessman Kevin Perz stunned his home economics teacher from 37 years ago, Marilyn Mecham, with a $10,000 thank you check.

By Jeanne Goddard

09 April 42 Views

Teen Cancer Survivor Wins Lottery, Plans to Pay It Forward

Nick Ruth has been playing the Lottery for just over a year, but this past Friday, he said it "just felt right." Following that intuition made him $250,000 richer. The young winner, who has been in remission from leukemia for seven years, said: "As a cancer survivor, it is really important for me to give back. I want to ‘pay forward' what some wonderful local organizations did for me.

By Jeanne Goddard

27 September 40 Views

UPDATE: Homeless Science Whiz Given $50K Scholarship on Ellen Show

New York high school senior Samantha Garvey appeared Thursday as a guest on the Ellen talk show, where she received a $50,000 scholarship from AT&T to the college of her choice. Last week, Garvey was named a semifinalist in the prestigious Intel science contest, just weeks after her family was forced to move into a homeless shelter and attracted media attention.

By Jeanne Goddard

21 January 35 Views

80-year-old Volunteer Heads into Hurricane, Joins Rescue Teams From Across US

An 80-year-old Utah man arrived on the East Coast Monday to help feed evacuees from Hurricane Sandy. Vern Gillmore, who says his hobby is volunteering, joins other Good Samaritans from around the country and Canada leaving their warm homes and heading into the eye of the storm to help neighbors they've never met.

By Jeanne Goddard

29 October 32 Views

Teen Cancer Survivor Wins Lottery, Plans to Pay It Forward

Nick Ruth has been playing the Lottery for about a year, and last week he won $250,000. In remission from leukemia for seven years, he said: "As a cancer survivor, it is really important for me to give back. I want to ‘pay forward' what some wonderful local organizations did for me.

By Jeanne Goddard

27 September 34 Views

Shamed Boy's Family Gets Minivan When Public Steps In to Defend

No good can come from publicly shaming a six-year-old boy. That's the lesson educators at Lincoln Elementary in Grants Pass, Oregon recently learned when the community stepped up to defend a student and help a family in need.

By Ron Long

10 March 32 Views

Stephen Colbert Auctions TV Desk, Uses $800K to Fund SC Teachers

Though many don't agree with his politics or love his humor, everyone is talking about Stephen Colbert's generous contribution to education in his home state.

By Jeanne Goddard

09 May 31 Views

Santa and Mrs. Claus Reside in Utah, Toymakers Deliver 1 Million Handmade Gifts Worldwide

17 years ago, a retired couple in Utah started making handmade wooden toys for poor and sick children. The little cars and trucks were received so enthusiastically in the local hospital, a workshop was set up which has since delivered more than 1.1 million toys to kids around the world -- a place where volunteers come to laugh and give their time in an effort to make kids happy around the globe.

By Jeanne Goddard

03 October 43 Views