Puppies in the Classroom

In Wilmington, Delaware, a unique initiative by first-grade teacher Brooke Hughes at Hanby Elementary School, is improving student literacy. The Foster Tales Puppy Therapy program integrates foster puppies into the classroom to aid in students’ reading development. This program has brought joy and excitement to the classroom, and has also shown promising results in enhancing reading skills.

The foster puppy program began in January 2023. Hughes, who was inspired by her own experience fostering puppies during the COVID-19 pandemic, decided to bring puppies into the learning space. She immediately observed a significant positive impact on the students’ mental health and reading abilities.

The program encourages students to read to the puppies, who serve as a non-judgmental audience and boosted the confidence of the new readers. Hughes reported a notable increase in reading scores, with preliminary data indicating a 32% improvement from fall to winter. This uplift in academic performance is particularly significant against the backdrop of declining reading and math scores nationwide, a trend which was exacerbated by the pandemic.

The initiative has extended beyond academic benefits, fostering life skills such as responsibility, empathy, and compassion among students. The classroom dynamic has improved, with students eagerly completing their work in order to get a chance to spend time with the puppies. The program also involves the school community, with families volunteering to care for the puppies outside school hours, and Rags 2 Riches Animal Rescue covering the costs associated with the puppies’ care.

This collaborative effort between Hanby Elementary School and Rags 2 Riches Animal Rescue has not only provided a therapeutic and enriching experience for the students but also offered a lifeline for over 50 foster puppies, facilitating their adoption into permanent homes. The program stands as a testament to the innovative approaches educators can take to address educational challenges and foster a love for learning in students, all while contributing positively to the community and the well-being of animals in need.

This collaborative effort between Hanby Elementary School and Rags 2 Riches Animal Rescue has not only provided a therapeutic and enriching experience for the students but also offered a lifeline for over 50 foster puppies, facilitating their adoption into permanent homes. The program stands as a testament to the innovative approaches educators can take to address educational challenges and foster a love for learning in students, all while contributing positively to the community and the well-being of animals in need.

The Heart of Money

This year, Valentine’s Day in Denver transcends the usual expectations of romance and smiles, offering an inspiring blend of art, generosity, and community spirit. Thanks to the creativity of local artist Xander Phoenix, who ingeniously scattered 100 papier-mâché hearts across the Denver metropolitan area. These are no ordinary hearts; each is crafted from one hundred $1.00 bills, inviting the public to a unique treasure hunt that enriches the soul as much as the wallet.

Dubbed “The Heart of Money,” this art installation ventures beyond the conventional art scene, weaving a narrative that explores our relationship with money and art. Those who are lucky enough to find a heart are encouraged to either use the money, keeping the heart as decoration in their home, leaving it in place for others to find, or even gifting it to someone else to spread joy. The choice is a testament to the varied value we can find in art and generosity.

Phoenix explained, “Ultimately, my goal is to spread love and joy around Denver on Valentine’s Day…  It’s a fun way to both create and connect community around some important themes. I hope everyone who goes out looking for the hearts and those who find them have as much fun as we’ve had creating and bringing this street art installation to life.”

The initiative is also a tribute to Phoenix’s late mother, an award-winning filmmaker and activist. “The Heart of Money” honors her legacy, spreading love and joy in a city-wide celebration that embodies the spirit of giving and creativity.

Penguins Partner with Pacifier Maker

The Penguins Foundation has unveiled an exclusive Pittsburgh Penguins WubbaNub, a combination of a baby pacifier and plush animal, designed to be easy for infants to grasp.  This useful toy is now available for $20, with all proceeds going to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Penguins forward Jake Guentzel has announced that he will buy the first 100 Penguins WubbaNubs as gifts, making a donation of $5,000 to UPMC Children’s Hospital. These unique pacifiers, adorned with the team’s NHL-licensed logo and a special healing heart design, are part of an effort to provide comfort to the hospital’s youngest patients. Guentzel’s Hearts of Gold program, aimed at supporting children with heart conditions, has been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guentzel said, “I look forward to meeting so many fans each year through my Hearts of Gold program… I wanted to do something to stay connected and still benefit the patients at UPMC Children’s.  The WubbaNubs are a great way to give our tiniest fans some comfort right now.”

Surprise Tip from a Fitness Community

In a touching gesture, a Peloton community in Massachusetts upheld their annual tradition of generosity by leaving a substantial tip for local restaurant servers. Members of the Wicked Smaht Zone, a subgroup within the Peloton community, surprised Nicole Boiardi and Raisa Zan with a gracious gift of nearly $7,200 during a breakfast gathering at Red’s Kitchen and Tavern in Peabody.

In an interview on Good Morning America, founder Josh Vernon revealed that the fitness group, was formed to serve a more significant purpose. With the motto “do wicked good,” the 2,300 members encourage each other to excel not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life, extending their commitment to giving back to the community.

Embracing this mantra, the group initiated an annual charitable gathering, converging at different restaurants each year to pool funds for a special tip for servers. Originally expecting a modest dinner for about 20, the generosity spiraled as members expressed willingness to contribute additional funds via Venmo, resulting in a tip exceeding $7,000.

Expressing astonishment and gratitude, servers Zan and Boiardi decided to share the unexpected windfall with their colleagues, particularly those working behind the scenes. Vernon emphasized that the group’s philanthropy stems from the belief that individuals, regardless of their platform’s scale, can go beyond mere goodness and make a genuinely positive impact, embodying the spirit of “doing wicked good.”

Unicorn Licenses Raise Money for Animal Care

Los Angeles County presented its inaugural unicorn license to a local first-grade girl in December, sparking a global phenomenon. Madeline’s heartfelt letter to L.A. County Animal Care and Control asking for permission to house a unicorn in her backyard if she can find one, has gathered significant attention worldwide.

While shelters all over the country are struggling under increased pet surrenders, insufficient funding, and staffing troubles, Madeline’s search for a unicorn has inspired a new fundraising initiative at the Los Angeles Count Animal Care Foundation. To help support local pet owners, the Foundation has started offering unicorn licenses in exchange for a donation. In 2023, 417 unicorn licenses have been issued to people around the world, and Madeline’s Magical Unicorn Fund has raised $17,420.

Marcia Mayeda, L.A. County Director of Animal Care and Control explains, “Local government can only fund resources and activities at a certain level… The foundation is absolutely critical in making sure we can go above and beyond that.” Mayeda is curious as to whether she will receive license requests for any other mythical creatures. She reassured the city that she “made it clear when I issued the unicorn license that if anybody wanted a license for a dragon, I was going to refer them to the fire chief.”

Surprised Town Receives Millions from Modest Man

Geoffrey Holt was the modest caretaker of a mobile home park in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. He could often be seen riding his lawnmower around town in worn-out clothing. When Holt died in 2023, the 4,200 people of Hinsdale were shocked to learn that he had left $3.8 million to benefit the community.

Holt left a will with brief instructions that the money could be used in the areas of education, health, recreation, and culture. These funds have the potential to transform Hinsdale. Suggestions for how to use the money include upgrading the town hall clock, restoring buildings, or establishing an online drivers’ education course.

Holt’s close friend, Edwin “Smokey” Smith, discovered Holt’s fortune while serving as the executor of his estate. Despite his wealth, Holt lived frugally, investing wisely after working as a mill production manager. His investments grew over time, making Holt a multimillionaire.

Growing up in a strict and frugal household, Holt adopted a similarly modest lifestyle. He avoided attention, declined a promotion, and was happiest when his actions went unnoticed.

Several years ago, Holt suffered a stroke, and his mobility declined. He was no longer able to mow the lawns of the trailer park, an act which brought him great joy.

His parting gift has the potential to bring much joy to others, rejuvenating the overlooked town of Hinsdale, and leaving a lasting legacy.

Operation Healing Forces – Saving Military Marriages

It is well documented that military service can take a toll on family life. Special Forces soldiers, in particular, grapple with high divorce rates. Operation Healing Forces, a charity that assists injured Special Forces veterans and their spouses, is working to change that.

Brant Ireland joined the army in 2002. He spent 6 tours in Afghanistan, suffering a devastating injury in 2013. After 20 surgeries in just two-years, he made the decision to amputate his injured leg.

Understandably, this was a terrible time for Brant’s wife, Tanya, a pediatric trauma nurse, and the couple’s two daughters. The Irelands started to drift apart. Brant explained that they lived side by side, but they were living “entirely different lives.” 

Fortunately, Tanya and Brant discovered Operation Healing Forces, a nonprofit dedicated to helping America’s Special Operations Forces and their families to restore the relationships wounded by the call of duty. Founded by Gary Merkel, Operation Healing Forces offers resources and therapeutic marriage retreats to ease the effects of military service. To date they have held more than 250 retreats, serving over 1,000 couples.

Operation Healing Forces took the Irelands on a transformative retreat to the British Virgin Islands in 2016. Surrounded by other military couples who understood what they had been through, Brant and Tany were able to rebuild their marriage.

The Irelands took what they had learned from this experience and used it to reconstruct their lives. Brant regained confidence through adaptive sports, while Tanya transitioned careers, both finding new roles within their family dynamic.

Brant and Tanya are grateful to Merkel for his support and intervention during a dark time.

Haunted House Fundraiser

15 years ago, Kim Steffenhagen was looking for ways to bring Halloween joy to her son, Kristian. Kristian is on the autism spectrum and found traditional trick-or-treating challenging.  So Steffenhagen decided to turn their Boyertown, PA residence into a captivating haunted house. Year after year, the haunted displays grew in scale, and now Kristian actively participates as one of the 20 actors who contribute to the spooky fun. Steffenhagen describes the haunted house as as fun and scary, but not too scary.  Their home has drawn thousands of visitors in past years.

Instead of charging an entrance fee, Steffenhagen asks for donations from those who visit. This year, they have partnered with Tyler’s Ride, a nonprofit founded by Tyler Dierolf’s parents in memory of their son who tragically lost his life in 2015. Recognizing Tyler’s passion for the trade and his giving nature, Tyler’s Ride supports individuals pursuing careers in the trade industry by offering scholarships. Mark Dierolf, Tyler’s father encourages friends and neighbors to visit this spooky celebration that combines Halloween fun with a heartfelt cause.

Press Forward Fights Against News Deserts

The MacArthur Foundation has joined together with the Ford Foundation, Knight Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, and Carnegie Corporation of New York, as well as several other philanthropic organizations to rejuvenate local news coverage in regions that have been identified as “news deserts”. “Press Forward” is a five-year, $500 million initiative that seeks to address the crisis in local news.

The past few years have witnessed the closing of over 2,500 newspapers, leading to increased corruption and decreased voter participation.  Approximately one-fifth on the American population does not have steady access to reliable local news.

The goal of “Press Forward” is to develop sustainable funding models for journalism, aiming to support existing organizations and foster the emergence of new ones. Press Forward aims to accelerate innovative solutions in the journalism industry and bring other philanthropic organizations and digital platforms on board, with a potential target of $1 billion over five years. While for-profit news outlets may receive some funding, their ownership and business practices will be scrutinized. The philanthropic support is characterized as “seed money” to encourage innovation and ensure the delivery of local news to all American communities.

Hope for those with Medical Debt

In 2011, Jerry Ashton and Craig Antico, were executives in the debt collection business. The two decided to visit the Occupy Wall Street protests that were taking place in Zuccotti Park in New York City, not knowing that it would change the course of both their lives.  

While there, protestors approached them, asking if it would be possible to get a group of people together for the purpose of buying debt in order to forgive it. Ashton and Antico loved the idea, and in 2014 they created a charity called RIP Medical Debt, which buys up past due medical debt for a low price.

According to Allison Sesso, president and CEO of RIP Medical debt, “We take $1 and turn it into at least $100 of medical debt relief by acting like a for-profit debt buyer… Once we get our hands on those debts, we identify people that are 400% of poverty [or below], or if their debt is 5% or more of someone’s income.”

Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, professor of public health at New York’s Hunter College, and an expert in medical debt, explains that 20% of all U.S. households have medical debt. In fact, medical illness and medical bills are a factor in the majority of U.S. bankruptcy cases.  

To date, RIP Medical Debt has abolished more than $10 billion worth of medical bills for nearly 7 million Americans. While these are impressive figures, there is still much more work to be done, as somewhere between $80 and $120 billion in medical debt continues to exist.

In the meantime, those who benefit from RIP Medical Debt are thrilled that they no longer have to worry about their medical debt.

Jimmy Butler Helps Ukraine at the US Open

NBA All-Star, Jimmy Butler took his talents to tennis’ U.S. Open to raise money for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

The 6 foot 7 forward from the Miami Heat joined up with American tennis great, Frances Tiafoe to play a doubles match against Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz and singer-songwriter Sebastian Yatra.

The foursome raised $320,000 to help those suffering in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February of 2022.

The US Open began on August 22 in Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens NY. In addition to Butler, Tennis fans enjoyed seeing familiar faces like Gabriela Sabatini, John McEnroe, and others who participated in Stars of the Open, a series of fun exhibitions that took place prior to the Open.

Does mood impact giving?

A study out of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Georgia Institute of Technology found that people who are in good moods are more likely to donate to charitable causes.

According to AP News, the study analyzed Twitter posts made by donors both before and after they made a donation. Evidence pointed to the fact the donor’s mood had improved shortly before the donation was made.

Assistant professor Casey Wichman, explained, “It suggests that rather than this conventional notion that people give because it makes them feel good about themselves for doing the right thing, we found that people were in a good mood prior to donating, and that’s potentially the causal factor for why they decided to give”.

Charities could use this concept to their advantage, reaching out to donors at specific times such as birthdays and holidays when they are likely to be in a good mood. Using a donor’s good mood to their advantage could help nonprofits who are still recovering from the effects if Covid-19.  CEO of Charity Navigator, Michael Thatcher, continues to prompt charitable organizations to experiment carefully and stay focused on their mission. He said, “I think we need to be trying new things right now because there is donor fatigue, … (but) don’t try every new fad.”

Taylor Swifts Donates to Community Food Banks in Eras Tour Cities

Taylor Swift is delighting the country with her 2023 Eras Tour – but it’s not just her music that is bringing joy to fans. Swift has been making generous donations to food banks in every city where she performs.

During a two-night stint in Detroit, Swift, age 33, made a large donation to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. Gleaners representative, Kristin Sokul, said, “Taylor Swift’s support of food banks across the country comes at such a critical time for so many emergency food providers — when resources are down, and need is up… The space in her heart will empower households across Southeast Michigan to live happier, healthier lives and elevate the important issue of food security so others who have the ability to help can be inspired by her example. The entire Gleaners team is so grateful for this incredible gift.”.

Swift’s donation to Denver’s Food Bank of the Rockies was enough to purchase 75,000 meals. Donations such as these are crucial – Feeding America claims that 34 million people in the US are currently dealing with food insecurity. Chief marketing officer for Food Bank of the Rockies, Aditi Desai, said, “We’ve been able to meet the increased demand thanks to the generosity of individuals like Taylor Swift. Her gift will help fuel our work across the Rockies and allow us to distribute more food to our communities. I was shocked and then thrilled by the news! We are grateful for her inspired support in answering the challenge of hunger.”

Miranda Family Fund Supports Diversity in the Theater

Lin Manuel Miranda, creator of the Broadway hit, “Hamilton” is on a mission to increase diversity in theaters across the United States.

The Miranda Family Fund has donated money to build the R.I.S.E. Theater Network. R.I.S.E stands for Representation, Inclusion and Support for Employment, and its goal is to help theater professionals from diverse backgrounds find jobs as producers, managers, and stagehands.

 

According to Miranda, “R.I.S.E. is really about making sure that the beautiful mosaic of people you see — if you see a production of ‘Hamilton’ or you see a production of ‘MJ (The Musical)’ or ‘Fat Ham’ on Broadway — is also reflected backstage, that it’s not just the folks in front of the footlights, because there are incredibly talented practitioners and carpenters and makeup designers and wardrobe folks who also deserve that shot.”

A study by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition revealed that in 2018-2019, 100% of general managers and 94% of the producers on Broadway were white, as were 90% of the lead roles in plays, and 80% of the lead roles in musicals.

R.I.S.E. is set to publish a directory of 1,000 diverse theater professionals, helping them to gain visibility by those doing the hiring. The directory will be available for free to the theater community.

Set and production designer Wilson Chin, is hopeful that R.I.S.E. will succeed. “People keep saying, ‘We can’t find anyone,’ but we’re out there, we just have to be found. Having us all in one place is great for us to be seen.”

Damar Hamlin to Donate $10 Million to Foundation

In January of 2023, Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a Monday Night Football game. Viewers watched as he was rushed to the hospital, and concerned football players, fans, and well-wishers immediately began donating money online to assist Hamlin and his family. Fortunately, Hamlin was released from the hospital 9 days later, and his recovery continues to progress. Nearly 5 months after the incident, Hamlin has announced that he will use the $10 million he received in donations to fund his own non-profit, the Chasing M’s Foundation.

Hamlin created the Chasing M’s Foundation in 2020 when he was playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh. According to the Chasing M’s website, the “Charitable fund is dedicated to the development, health, & safety of youth sports, engagement activities, & programming.” The Foundation’s articles of incorporation have recently been updated to include sports education, including CPR and AED training.

Hamlin told the press, ““We have been very deliberate and intentional about taking our time to set my charity up properly, … I’m excited to begin sharing news about programs we are creating to impact a generation of youth and give back to others.”

Lego Foundation Awards Nearly $20 million to Foster Playful Learning

The Lego Foundation believes that children learn through play. To foster classroom play and learning, the Lego Foundation has awarded $19,980,000 to Temple University Professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and her team, as they implement a playful and socially interactive learning model in pre-k through 4th grade classrooms. This five-year grant will allow Hirsh-Pasek to take her ‘playful learning to teaching’ model, which she piloted in schools in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Hampshire, and expand it to California, Illinois, Texas, and Virginia.

Based on the philosophy that playing facilitates learning, which enables children to thrive and develop the skills they need to engage with the world, this project will work closely with under-privileged schools to promote a teaching approach that is based on the science of how the human brain learns. Hirsh-Pasek explains that cultural inclusivity is also a major tenet of this program, “The first step is to respect cultural values and find out where the community values lie—what is important to parents, what do people care about? In our research, and in the method that we’re using for education, we bring parents and the community in as partners”.

Solarpunk Simulator – Playing Video Games for Charity

In March 2023, Roblox unveiled its latest idea to help promote giving in the youth community. This online, social gaming platform has partnered with ComicRelief US to create the “Kids Relief Presents: Solarpunk Simulator” in an effort to help kids have fun while fighting poverty.

Solarpunk Simulator takes place in a peaceful future world. It features Jack Black as well as a host of Roblox influencers who encourage players to work towards the common goal of building a spaceship. When participants buy virtual items in the Solarpunk Simulator virtual store, money from their purchases goes to charity.

Kids Relief was built by Wonder Works Studio. CEO Zach Letter explained that the concept for the simulator is similar to that of the popular school fundraiser “Penny Wars”, which awards prizes to the classes that bring in the most pennies for charity. Solarpunk has teams of kids competing to collect parts of a spaceship, and the winners are awarded prizes, such as tickets to a virtual concert by singer BoyWithUke.

Letter explains that the game itself is fun and exciting, “It’s really satisfying to play and you always feel this sense of power over collecting the materials. You don’t want to be shoving charity in someone’s face and make it feel overwhelming and that it’s all about the donations. We really want kids to have a great time here and educate themselves.”

The Kids Relief campaign aims to raise $10 million over the next three years directed towards ending intergenerational poverty.

Creating Hope – Make-A-Wish Foundation Launches New Campaign

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is launching a new fundraising campaign in advance of World Wish Day. Occurring every year on April 29th, World Wish Day commemorates the wish of Chris Grecious, a 7-year-old with leukemia, who dreamed of being a police officer. Chris’ wish in 1980 inspired the creation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which has gone on to grant more than 500,000 wishes to children with critical illnesses all over the world.

Throughout April, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will run a fundraising campaign entitled “Don’t Wait for Hope. Create it.” This campaign acknowledges that the pandemic has been a devastating time for the families of children with critical illnesses, increasing their loneliness and isolation. Granting wishes to these children is more important than ever before, as it can restore their hope and joy at a particularly dark time.

President and CEO of Make-A-Wish America, Richard K. Davis explains, “With our new campaign, we are focused on conveying urgency and driving action because Make-A-Wish is uniquely qualified to deliver hope to children with critical illnesses and their families at a time when they need it most”.

Leading up to World Wish Day, national sponsors of Make-A-Wish such as Macy’s, Avis, and Keebler will demonstrate their support for the Foundation.

Dak Prescott is 2022’s Walter Payton Man of the Year

Every year, NFL teams are invited to nominate their players for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is given to a player who shows excellence on and off the field. 

This year’s winner is Dallas Cowboys Quarterback, Dak Prescott, who’s charity work for the Faith Fight Finish Foundation focuses on cancer research and suicide prevention. 

As reported in People Magazine, Prescott’s mother, Peggy, died of colon cancer in 2013. At the NFL Honors ceremony in early February, Prescott spoke lovingly of his mother,

“My mother was, and still is, my moral compass. And through my own charitable contributions, I seek to share her strength and courage with the world.”

Following his brother Jace’s suicide in 2020, Prescott expanded the work of the Faith Fight Finish Foundation to include suicide prevention. He made a promise to himself “that that would be one life taken to save millions.”

Winners of the Man of the Year award are granted $250,000 to donate to a charity of their choice. Nominees are granted up to $40,000 to donate to charity through the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.

Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes was also nominated for the award in 2022, as was Saquon Barley of the New York Giants. Last year’s winner was Los Angeles Rams tackle, Andrew Whitworth.

Generosity at Providence College

A generous group of Providence College students from Raymond Hall’s fourth floor came together to give James Mogaji, a beloved security officer, the gift of a lifetime. Several months ago, the students learned that Mogaji hadn’t visited his family in Nigeria in over a decade. They decided to start an online fundraiser to reunite him with his loved ones.

Their initial goal was modest. The students hoped to raise $3,500. However, the overwhelming support from nearly 800 donations soon exceeded their expectations, highlighting the community’s admiration for Mogaji’s kindness and compassion.

In a touching ceremony on March 6, the students presented Mogaji with the money, ensuring his journey back home could become a reality. Mogaji was overwhelmed by the gesture, expressing his shock and gratitude at the unexpected kindness.

The gesture not only underscores the strong sense of community at Providence College but also reflects the institution’s ethos of care and concern. President Father Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. commended the students for embodying the spirit of the Friars, showcasing an exceptional example of selflessness and unity.

Mogaji plans to travel to Nigeria this summer. This story is a beautiful reminder of how small acts of generosity can make significant differences in people’s lives, strengthening community bonds and fostering an environment of mutual support and love.