Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Heating It Up In North Carolina
Here's a short story of a heating and cooling contractor in Wilson, North that donated a heating unit to a women's shelter. Apparently, the owners of Affordable Heating and Cooling Service just felt it was the right thing to do.
Read the article on The Wilson Daily Times website
Read the article on The Wilson Daily Times website
Monday, December 19, 2005
Boston Globe and Santa, Unite
Read about the Globe Santa program, an 18-year old fundraising effort of The Boston Globe newspaper and The Globe Foundation. Raising more than a $1 million a year to buy presents for tens of thousands of eastern Massachusetts children is an effort that should be applauded. Thanks, Globe Santa.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Being Nice Has Its (Fringe) Benefits
From The Columbian, Clark County, WA, @ www.columbian.com
Whole latte kindness goin' on
Friday, December 16, 2005
By JOSE PAUL CORONA, Columbian staff writer
Susan Rucker planned on walking out of Luciano's Coffee Shop with her usual drinks, two extra Irish cream lattes, on Tuesday morning.
But instead she walked out with a free trip to Las Vegas and tickets to see Celine Dion, courtesy of the shop's owner.
She didn't get them because she's a great tipper or because she won a contest. It was because she's a nice person.
"She's one of those people who gives and gives and gives and never gets in return," said Tom Boyd, Luciano's owner.
Boyd got the idea of sending Rucker to Sin City after he told her about a trip he had taken to Las Vegas. After telling her about his trip, Rucker said she wished she could get away.
"I've been trying for a long time to do something for her," Boyd said. He declined to say how much the gift is costing him.
Rucker, a fourth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary School in Vancouver, admits that she was "very shocked" by the gift.
"All I said was, 'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!'" Rucker said Tuesday morning.
Employees at the coffee shop know Rucker well; she's a regular customer who believes in random acts of kindness.
Rucker usually stays in her car when getting her coffee every morning, but she went inside the coffee shop Tuesday at the urging of its employees.
When they said they had a gift for her, Rucker said she expected to get some free coffee, not a trip to Las Vegas.
Rucker has been going to Luciano's for the past 10 years, even before Boyd was the owner.
She said that two things have made her a loyal customer: great coffee and wonderful employees.
"They just make your day brighter," Rucker said of Luciano's employees.
Rucker said she goes there so often that she often spends more time with the employees there than she does with her own co-workers.
"It's pretty sad when the coffee people are your best friends," Rucker said jokingly.
Rather than paying with cash every time she's there, which is every morning, she pays ahead of time and buys a punch card. That makes her daily coffee purchase go quicker.
Rucker said she buys punch cards twice a month. Every time she does, she buys the person in line behind her some coffee.
She always thinks of others first, and that's why she deserved the trip to Vegas, a stay at Bally's and the concert tickets, said Boyd.
That, coupled with some recent family hardships, made Rucker even more deserving of the gift, Boyd said.
Recently, all during a short span of time, Rucker's husband suffered a stroke and her parents became ill, as did her sister.
While Rucker acknowledges the illnesses, it's not something she dwells on for more than a moment.
Things like that happen to everyone, she said.
Rucker may not believe that she deserves a trip, but Boyd and others do.
"She does go way beyond the call of duty," said Paula Colby, a secretary at Washington Elementary School.
Rucker is always giving her time to students, Colby said.
Former students visit her on a regular basis. The front office staff refers to them as her "fan club."
Rucker helps them with school projects, regularly visits students at home and does anything else she can, said Colby.
"It's just nice to see somebody get back things they deserve," she said.
Jose Paul Corona can be reached at 360-759-8038 or jose.corona@columbian.com.
Whole latte kindness goin' on
Friday, December 16, 2005
By JOSE PAUL CORONA, Columbian staff writer
Susan Rucker planned on walking out of Luciano's Coffee Shop with her usual drinks, two extra Irish cream lattes, on Tuesday morning.
But instead she walked out with a free trip to Las Vegas and tickets to see Celine Dion, courtesy of the shop's owner.
She didn't get them because she's a great tipper or because she won a contest. It was because she's a nice person.
"She's one of those people who gives and gives and gives and never gets in return," said Tom Boyd, Luciano's owner.
Boyd got the idea of sending Rucker to Sin City after he told her about a trip he had taken to Las Vegas. After telling her about his trip, Rucker said she wished she could get away.
"I've been trying for a long time to do something for her," Boyd said. He declined to say how much the gift is costing him.
Rucker, a fourth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary School in Vancouver, admits that she was "very shocked" by the gift.
"All I said was, 'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!'" Rucker said Tuesday morning.
Employees at the coffee shop know Rucker well; she's a regular customer who believes in random acts of kindness.
Rucker usually stays in her car when getting her coffee every morning, but she went inside the coffee shop Tuesday at the urging of its employees.
When they said they had a gift for her, Rucker said she expected to get some free coffee, not a trip to Las Vegas.
Rucker has been going to Luciano's for the past 10 years, even before Boyd was the owner.
She said that two things have made her a loyal customer: great coffee and wonderful employees.
"They just make your day brighter," Rucker said of Luciano's employees.
Rucker said she goes there so often that she often spends more time with the employees there than she does with her own co-workers.
"It's pretty sad when the coffee people are your best friends," Rucker said jokingly.
Rather than paying with cash every time she's there, which is every morning, she pays ahead of time and buys a punch card. That makes her daily coffee purchase go quicker.
Rucker said she buys punch cards twice a month. Every time she does, she buys the person in line behind her some coffee.
She always thinks of others first, and that's why she deserved the trip to Vegas, a stay at Bally's and the concert tickets, said Boyd.
That, coupled with some recent family hardships, made Rucker even more deserving of the gift, Boyd said.
Recently, all during a short span of time, Rucker's husband suffered a stroke and her parents became ill, as did her sister.
While Rucker acknowledges the illnesses, it's not something she dwells on for more than a moment.
Things like that happen to everyone, she said.
Rucker may not believe that she deserves a trip, but Boyd and others do.
"She does go way beyond the call of duty," said Paula Colby, a secretary at Washington Elementary School.
Rucker is always giving her time to students, Colby said.
Former students visit her on a regular basis. The front office staff refers to them as her "fan club."
Rucker helps them with school projects, regularly visits students at home and does anything else she can, said Colby.
"It's just nice to see somebody get back things they deserve," she said.
Jose Paul Corona can be reached at 360-759-8038 or jose.corona@columbian.com.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Lottery Winners Gone Good
From The Arizona Republic's "Acts of Kindness" column at www.azcentral.com
Generous lottery winners
Dec. 14, 2005 12:00 AM
In July, our two exterminating ladies, Loretta and Karen, came inside our house to do some spraying. When they left, Loretta said: "When we win the lottery, we are going to buy those people an air-conditioner."
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That night, they won the Arizona Lottery for $1.1 million.
We were away in August when they came for their regular service. They left us a note that they needed to talk to us. When they came back in September, they called my husband and me into the kitchen and proceeded to tell us what they had said on that lucky July day.
This month, our air-condition/gas heater is being installed at no cost to us.
Loretta and Karen are the greatest ladies around, and we cannot begin to tell them how much we appreciate what they have done for us. "Thank you" cannot even begin to express our gratitude.
- Bette Sowell
Glendale
Generous lottery winners
Dec. 14, 2005 12:00 AM
In July, our two exterminating ladies, Loretta and Karen, came inside our house to do some spraying. When they left, Loretta said: "When we win the lottery, we are going to buy those people an air-conditioner."
advertisement
That night, they won the Arizona Lottery for $1.1 million.
We were away in August when they came for their regular service. They left us a note that they needed to talk to us. When they came back in September, they called my husband and me into the kitchen and proceeded to tell us what they had said on that lucky July day.
This month, our air-condition/gas heater is being installed at no cost to us.
Loretta and Karen are the greatest ladies around, and we cannot begin to tell them how much we appreciate what they have done for us. "Thank you" cannot even begin to express our gratitude.
- Bette Sowell
Glendale
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Atlanta Falcons Football Stars Also Shine in Life
From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at www.ajc.com
Vick, Dunn perform acts of kindness
Inspirational teen visits quarterback
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/13/05
Warrick Dunn's philanthropy is well known, but even for somebody who has made a habit of touching lives, the Falcons tailback's most recent gesture, literally, resonated deep. Quarterback Michael Vick, meanwhile, went long distance with his voice, not his legs or arm, to make arguably one of the most crucial scores of his life.
Kenny Gibson, a Southern California 17-year-old paralyzed while playing football last year, watched Vick, his idol and the person credited with inspiring him to live, play against the New Orleans Saints from the sideline at the Georgia Dome on Monday night.
Gibson was set to speak to Vick briefly before kickoff, making it the second time they were to meet in as many days. Gibson first met Vick after a closed practice Sunday, capping a long-sought face-to-face encounter.
In November 2004, Vick, through the When U Dream A Dream foundation, called Gibson in the hospital to encourage him to resume eating and to pursue a long life. Gibson had stopped eating, saying he wanted to succumb to his condition, which left him without the use of his legs.
"He told me to keep my head up, but the main thing when he called me a year ago was that I was an inspiration to him," Gibson said. "That's what helped me. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I'm glad I can have it."
Dunn, meanwhile, awarded the 55th, 56th and 57th houses through his foundation to single parents last week. The highlight of Dunn's longstanding Homes for the Holidays program was him communicating through sign language to KaSheena and Keyonal Singleton, the hearing-impaired daughters of Melinda Hutchins, as they were awarded a fully furnished home in Gainesville.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank and coach Jim Mora were on hand for Dunn's project in Gainesville. He also awarded homes to families in Atlanta and Roswell.
Since 1997, personally and with the help of sponsors, Dunn annually awards homes to single mothers in metropolitan Atlanta, Tampa and his hometown of Baton Rouge, La., in tribute to his mother, Betty Smothers, a police officer killed in the line of duty.
Nearly 150 children and their mothers have been awarded homes through Dunn's program.
Vick, Dunn perform acts of kindness
Inspirational teen visits quarterback
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/13/05
Warrick Dunn's philanthropy is well known, but even for somebody who has made a habit of touching lives, the Falcons tailback's most recent gesture, literally, resonated deep. Quarterback Michael Vick, meanwhile, went long distance with his voice, not his legs or arm, to make arguably one of the most crucial scores of his life.
Kenny Gibson, a Southern California 17-year-old paralyzed while playing football last year, watched Vick, his idol and the person credited with inspiring him to live, play against the New Orleans Saints from the sideline at the Georgia Dome on Monday night.
Gibson was set to speak to Vick briefly before kickoff, making it the second time they were to meet in as many days. Gibson first met Vick after a closed practice Sunday, capping a long-sought face-to-face encounter.
In November 2004, Vick, through the When U Dream A Dream foundation, called Gibson in the hospital to encourage him to resume eating and to pursue a long life. Gibson had stopped eating, saying he wanted to succumb to his condition, which left him without the use of his legs.
"He told me to keep my head up, but the main thing when he called me a year ago was that I was an inspiration to him," Gibson said. "That's what helped me. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I'm glad I can have it."
Dunn, meanwhile, awarded the 55th, 56th and 57th houses through his foundation to single parents last week. The highlight of Dunn's longstanding Homes for the Holidays program was him communicating through sign language to KaSheena and Keyonal Singleton, the hearing-impaired daughters of Melinda Hutchins, as they were awarded a fully furnished home in Gainesville.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank and coach Jim Mora were on hand for Dunn's project in Gainesville. He also awarded homes to families in Atlanta and Roswell.
Since 1997, personally and with the help of sponsors, Dunn annually awards homes to single mothers in metropolitan Atlanta, Tampa and his hometown of Baton Rouge, La., in tribute to his mother, Betty Smothers, a police officer killed in the line of duty.
Nearly 150 children and their mothers have been awarded homes through Dunn's program.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
When Being Nice Becomes Habitual
Elaine Parke, resident near Oil City, Pennsylvania, is the founder and director of Caring Habits, a program that incorporates kind living with over 20,000 students across the country. The idea is that by perforhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifming small acts of kindness these students begin to experience positive behavioral changes as the acts become habit.
The program accomplishes this one month at a time. Parke developed a system of monthly "Golden Rules" upon which students practice a particular act each day until it becomes habit. For instance, October's rule is "Be Patient & Listen." Students are simply asked to be better listeners both inside and outside of the classroom. There is a color-coated system as well. October's color is "Slow-Down Lavender."
Read the article
The program accomplishes this one month at a time. Parke developed a system of monthly "Golden Rules" upon which students practice a particular act each day until it becomes habit. For instance, October's rule is "Be Patient & Listen." Students are simply asked to be better listeners both inside and outside of the classroom. There is a color-coated system as well. October's color is "Slow-Down Lavender."
Read the article
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
So Many Events...
It's mind-blowing to think of the many major disasters that have taken place over the past six weeks.
With the Gulf Coast hurricanes, increasing turmoil in Iraq and the recent earthquake in Pakistan, we are all overwhelmed with what seems to be a world riddled with bad news.
We just want to remind you to keep your chin up in these times, and keep your mind focused on what you can do to help make ours a nicer world to be. Donate a dollar to relief efforts. Help with your son's school bake sale. Pay your neighbor a visit. Offer to babysit for someone. Do anything to keep the good karma up.
With the Gulf Coast hurricanes, increasing turmoil in Iraq and the recent earthquake in Pakistan, we are all overwhelmed with what seems to be a world riddled with bad news.
We just want to remind you to keep your chin up in these times, and keep your mind focused on what you can do to help make ours a nicer world to be. Donate a dollar to relief efforts. Help with your son's school bake sale. Pay your neighbor a visit. Offer to babysit for someone. Do anything to keep the good karma up.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Kanye West Calls for End to Gay Bashing
Grammy artist, Kanye West, with upcoming sophomore album, "Late Registration," due in stores later this week, had a discussion recently on MTV about rap and its negative portrayal homosexuals.
With thuggery and testosterone driven lyrics dominating the hip hop world for the good part of the 1990s and this decade, Kanye West brings a fresh new point-of-view to the genre. Son of a college english professor and a product of suburban Chicago -- and not the projects of Brooklyn (like his mentor and predecessor, Jay-Z, of Roc-A-Fella records) -- West brings a more positive attitude to his music, not unlike the pop-friendly rappers of the 1980s, including LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.
read the AP article on sfgate.com
With thuggery and testosterone driven lyrics dominating the hip hop world for the good part of the 1990s and this decade, Kanye West brings a fresh new point-of-view to the genre. Son of a college english professor and a product of suburban Chicago -- and not the projects of Brooklyn (like his mentor and predecessor, Jay-Z, of Roc-A-Fella records) -- West brings a more positive attitude to his music, not unlike the pop-friendly rappers of the 1980s, including LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.
read the AP article on sfgate.com
Background: The Peace House & Cindy Sheehan
Trying to hold to our apolitical ways, I offer this knowing full well the volatility of the Cindy Sheehan issue. Personally, I think war sucks and is very much not the nice way to resolve issues. I don't think anyone could argue with this statement (maybe just with my naivete...but I can handle that). Seems important for people to speak-up against war, and Cindy Sheehan's campaign has given their story some real legs.
Cindy Sheehan is being supported by the Crawford Peace House, a group and actual house that was organized and purchased for $65,000 sometime before the actual invasion of Iraq. The group had been running low on funds when they agreed to support Cindy Sheehan's campaign to speak with President Bush about the war. In fact, Cindy's first gift to the Peace House was a $250 check to help turn the phones back on.
Again, we do not support war, but we do not support anti-war political groups either. Politics are covered ad nauseam on the web. We just think that it's important for people to think about peace as an ideal that should define us rather than tear us apart; and we support peaceful alternatives. We also support everyone (soldiers and citizens alike) in the war torn areas of the world. Peace is a means to an end. And an end to war is what (I think) we all want. Let's bring our soldiers home; and let's welcome them back with arms and hearts wide open.
read the article in The Dallas Morning News
Cindy Sheehan is being supported by the Crawford Peace House, a group and actual house that was organized and purchased for $65,000 sometime before the actual invasion of Iraq. The group had been running low on funds when they agreed to support Cindy Sheehan's campaign to speak with President Bush about the war. In fact, Cindy's first gift to the Peace House was a $250 check to help turn the phones back on.
Again, we do not support war, but we do not support anti-war political groups either. Politics are covered ad nauseam on the web. We just think that it's important for people to think about peace as an ideal that should define us rather than tear us apart; and we support peaceful alternatives. We also support everyone (soldiers and citizens alike) in the war torn areas of the world. Peace is a means to an end. And an end to war is what (I think) we all want. Let's bring our soldiers home; and let's welcome them back with arms and hearts wide open.
read the article in The Dallas Morning News
Monday, August 22, 2005
Check Cashing Store Owner Writes Check
Stephen Rahn, owner of EZ Cash check cashing store in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, went against the grain when it comes to payday loan proprietors: He helped someone in need with a little cash.
Mr. Rahn paid a past due electricity bill and deposit fee to the local utility to get the lights turned back on for a struggling teacher and frequent customer. The woman was going through rough times having just been divorced and dealing with a failing car. Mr. Rahn knew of her troubles but had no idea that things had hit rock bottom until the woman's daughter informed him that the electricity had been turned off in their home for a month.
Out of the goodness of his heart, Mr. Rahn decided he needed to help the Michigan teacher out for no other reason but that it was the right thing to do.
read the article in The Flint Journal
Mr. Rahn paid a past due electricity bill and deposit fee to the local utility to get the lights turned back on for a struggling teacher and frequent customer. The woman was going through rough times having just been divorced and dealing with a failing car. Mr. Rahn knew of her troubles but had no idea that things had hit rock bottom until the woman's daughter informed him that the electricity had been turned off in their home for a month.
Out of the goodness of his heart, Mr. Rahn decided he needed to help the Michigan teacher out for no other reason but that it was the right thing to do.
read the article in The Flint Journal
Selma, Ala. Says Thanks
The City of Selma, Alabama, came together last Tuesday to say, "Thanks."
Although it looks like a business community ploy to drum up business, I like to think that it's always a good idea to celebrate the goodness in life.
The "Thanks, Selma" public relations campaign was developed and promoted by the City of Selma and the Selma-Dallas County Centre for Commerce to thank citizens and customers for all of their past support. Mayor James Perkins Jr. got into the thankful spirit by thanking, "the person who picked up litter and put it in the litter basket...parents who help their children with homework every night and...the person who goes by to check on a neighbor." Now that's gratitude.
read the article in The Selma Times-Journall
Although it looks like a business community ploy to drum up business, I like to think that it's always a good idea to celebrate the goodness in life.
The "Thanks, Selma" public relations campaign was developed and promoted by the City of Selma and the Selma-Dallas County Centre for Commerce to thank citizens and customers for all of their past support. Mayor James Perkins Jr. got into the thankful spirit by thanking, "the person who picked up litter and put it in the litter basket...parents who help their children with homework every night and...the person who goes by to check on a neighbor." Now that's gratitude.
read the article in The Selma Times-Journall
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Brooklynite Rides 4,210 Miles in Memory of Friend
Don Dauphinais just returned from a charity bike ride last Sunday. He rode 4,210 miles from San Francisco to Boston in memory of his good friend, Crispin Morrison, who died May 23, 2003, of ovarian cancer. These cross-country rides are much more common than you may think; nonetheless, everytime it is accomplished, you just have to admire the heart of the rider.
I have a friend who once did a similar ride to draw attention to the oil industry's on-going plan to open up the Arctic National Refuge to drilling. Jeff Barrie, documentarian and all around cool guy, has been a longtime inspiration for me. Check out his latest project Kilowatt Ours. I'll write more about Jeff in future posts.
read the article on www.norwichbulletin.com
I have a friend who once did a similar ride to draw attention to the oil industry's on-going plan to open up the Arctic National Refuge to drilling. Jeff Barrie, documentarian and all around cool guy, has been a longtime inspiration for me. Check out his latest project Kilowatt Ours. I'll write more about Jeff in future posts.
read the article on www.norwichbulletin.com
Denver Urges: Don't Give To Panhandlers
The fact that anyone goes homeless or hungry in our country is, to say the least, insane. In the wealthiest and most charitable nation's in the world, why can we not end once and for all this issue? According to the Urban Institute, approximately 800,000 people (of which 200,000 are children) are homeless on any given day. And, according to America's Second Harvest, more than 30 million Americans went hungry in 2001.
The presence of homeless and hungry in our society raises a very interesting debate: To give or not to give. Here in New York City, we are faced with this moral dilemma on a daily basis. On one hand, to give is to show compassion and the willingness to help another person in a time of need. Who can argue with this? Of course, this magazine promotes charity and the lending of a helpful hand. Then, when you ask others about why they tend not to give away pocket change on the subway, a common (a somewhat cynical) response is, "well, how do I know if this is truly a homeless person I'm speaking with and how do I know that I'm really helping this person out?" This line of reasoning is usually followed up with the statement, "besides, I'd rather give my money to an established charity like the United Way or the local food kitchen where I know the money will be used effectively." Hey, how can we argue with this point-of-view either? Both sides are right to a degree, and neither really are conflicting in nature. But still, the debate sits unresolved: To give, or not to give.
Enter the Downtown Denver Partnership and the City and County of Denver’s Office of Economic Development. They have released a study that showed $4.6 million a year is given to panhandlers. One visceral response is, "Great. The People of Denver are taking care of their own." Yet others, especially those of us working in the non-profit sector, are a bit more analytical and wonder what better good could be done with this money. Could $4.6 million dollars go toward programs that cut at heart of the perpetuating homeless issue. This money go toward much needed counseling services, shelters and food pantries. Indeed, the sponsors of the study encourage residents of Denver to funnel their charity away from the streets and into the local United Way. Is this necessarily better than just giving a buck to someone in need?
We are glad that the study sponsors have introduced this information. We only caution that people understand that the kind of attention that city agencies and economic development corporations pay to this issue is usually not the kind that you and I necessarily agree with. Cities across the country (New York and San Francisco included) have had their moments of looking ugly and without a soul when it come to addressing homelessness. Usually, these studies are brought to bare only to help raise public support for ousting the homeless from the streets, leaving them with no real housing alternatives -- classic NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) stuff. The issue doesn't go away, it just disappears.
This debate is an important one that needs to be pushed to the top of public discourse. We hope that residents and decision-makers in Denver will now be forced to confront their homeless issue. Obviously, people care enough about others to dish out $4.6 million a year to "help a brother out." Now, imagine what could be done if all of this care and concern was cultivated and focused into eliminating homelessness. I can.
read the article in DenverPost.com
read the story on Denver's ABC 7 website
read the story in bizjournals.com
read the story in Rocky Mountain News
The presence of homeless and hungry in our society raises a very interesting debate: To give or not to give. Here in New York City, we are faced with this moral dilemma on a daily basis. On one hand, to give is to show compassion and the willingness to help another person in a time of need. Who can argue with this? Of course, this magazine promotes charity and the lending of a helpful hand. Then, when you ask others about why they tend not to give away pocket change on the subway, a common (a somewhat cynical) response is, "well, how do I know if this is truly a homeless person I'm speaking with and how do I know that I'm really helping this person out?" This line of reasoning is usually followed up with the statement, "besides, I'd rather give my money to an established charity like the United Way or the local food kitchen where I know the money will be used effectively." Hey, how can we argue with this point-of-view either? Both sides are right to a degree, and neither really are conflicting in nature. But still, the debate sits unresolved: To give, or not to give.
Enter the Downtown Denver Partnership and the City and County of Denver’s Office of Economic Development. They have released a study that showed $4.6 million a year is given to panhandlers. One visceral response is, "Great. The People of Denver are taking care of their own." Yet others, especially those of us working in the non-profit sector, are a bit more analytical and wonder what better good could be done with this money. Could $4.6 million dollars go toward programs that cut at heart of the perpetuating homeless issue. This money go toward much needed counseling services, shelters and food pantries. Indeed, the sponsors of the study encourage residents of Denver to funnel their charity away from the streets and into the local United Way. Is this necessarily better than just giving a buck to someone in need?
We are glad that the study sponsors have introduced this information. We only caution that people understand that the kind of attention that city agencies and economic development corporations pay to this issue is usually not the kind that you and I necessarily agree with. Cities across the country (New York and San Francisco included) have had their moments of looking ugly and without a soul when it come to addressing homelessness. Usually, these studies are brought to bare only to help raise public support for ousting the homeless from the streets, leaving them with no real housing alternatives -- classic NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) stuff. The issue doesn't go away, it just disappears.
This debate is an important one that needs to be pushed to the top of public discourse. We hope that residents and decision-makers in Denver will now be forced to confront their homeless issue. Obviously, people care enough about others to dish out $4.6 million a year to "help a brother out." Now, imagine what could be done if all of this care and concern was cultivated and focused into eliminating homelessness. I can.
read the article in DenverPost.com
read the story on Denver's ABC 7 website
read the story in bizjournals.com
read the story in Rocky Mountain News
Saving a Life In Vermont
Kestrel Blackstone is a writer in Vermont who tells about how passersby helped to save her life as she experienced a cardiac episode while tending to her garden. Like the most poignant of these stories, this one involves anonymous folks who stepped in, called the EMT and stayed with her until the hospital; then they disappeared into the crowd. These folks were completely selfless, only looking out for Blackstone's wellbeing.
Turns out, of course, that these lifesavers were her neighbors who have since become important members in Blackstone's circle of friends. Check out her piece and for the full skinny.
read the piece on ChamplainIslander.com
Turns out, of course, that these lifesavers were her neighbors who have since become important members in Blackstone's circle of friends. Check out her piece and for the full skinny.
read the piece on ChamplainIslander.com
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Strangers Stop Child Abduction
This past Saturday in Syracuse, New York, two strangers thwarted a child abduction in progress. Monique Williams and Jerry Searight confronted James H. Gilkeson at the gas pumps of a Big Apple Market just as he coaxed a 10-year-old girl into his car.
Thank goodness there are people in the world willing to put it out there and do the right thing. For all of you central New Yorkers, if you know Monique or Jerry, send them our highest regards.
read the article in ElitesTV.com
Thank goodness there are people in the world willing to put it out there and do the right thing. For all of you central New Yorkers, if you know Monique or Jerry, send them our highest regards.
read the article in ElitesTV.com
