Valentine’s Day – A Day to Celebrate Those You Love!

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On February 14 each year, a very special occasion happens – Valentine’s Day! Although the day was originally a tribute to Saint Valentine and not necessarily an “ode to love”, many legends and traditions developed over the years that helped the day evolve into the love celebration it is today. And what an occasion it has become! It [...]

Benjamin’s Hope – A Place Where We All Belong

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At 15 months old, Benjamin Mason was a typical toddler with a budding vocabulary and an active curiosity. But then, over the next few months, Benjamin started to withdraw, losing his vocabulary and turning completely inward. Doctors diagnosed Benjamin as having profound autism. Despite his autism, the Masons tried to give Benjamin a normal life. However, his severe autism made it hard for him to participate [...]

City Year – Improving the World, One Year at a Time

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If you had a year’s time that you could devote to anything in the world, what would it be? For one very special group of people, the answer is City Year. City Year is an organization that gives young people the opportunity to serve others in a major way. The people who take part in City Year [...]

Giavanni Ruffin – Determination Beyond Compare

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At East Carolina University, Giavanni Ruffin was a talented, promising football player. However, when the time came for the NFL draft, Giavanni somehow didn’t get picked. But Giavanni didn’t let that discourage him. Instead, he became a free agent and got to work making sure he and his game were in top form. Currently, Giavanni is still a free agent, [...]

Claudette Colvin – A Brave Advocate for Racial Equality

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Most people are familiar with the inspiring story of Rosa Parks, the African-American lady who refused to give up her bus seat in 1955 during the civil rights movement. But did you know that there was actually another who performed the same peaceful protest months earlier? This other person was Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old African-American girl. She, [...]

Anne Frank – The Ultimate Spirit of Courage and Hope

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In many ways, Anne Frank was a typical teenager – she went to movies and for ice cream with friends, she got good grades except in math, and she liked boys. And in one other very significant way, she was a typical teenage girl……..she kept a diary. However, the diary Anne kept was anything but typical. You see, [...]

Jacob Barnett – A Real-Life Boy Genius!

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At first glance, Jacob Barnett looks like an ordinary 13-year-old kid. He wears sweatshirts and backward baseball caps, goes to school, and hangs out with his family. But the reality is that Jacob is anything but ordinary! You see, Jacob is a genius………. As a toddler, Jacob was diagnosed with autism. But as he got older, he began to show signs of incredible intelligence. And now, as a 13-year-old college [...]

Pride, Determination, Resilience (PDR) – The Amazing Swim Team of Jim Ellis

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Pride, determination, and resilience – combine these three qualities, and you’ve got a solid foundation for excellence. To Jim Ellis, these qualities were important ones to teach kids, especially underserved kids who might not have many examples of them. Jim chose to teach kids these qualities by sharing with them something he loved – swimming. In 1972, Jim [...]

Martin Luther King, Jr. – A Man with a Dream

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Every year in mid-January, America celebrates a holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. By many counts, Martin was just an ordinary man – a husband, a father, and a pastor at his church. But his incredible dedication to his cause and his profound influence made him also an inspirational world-changer worthy of the highest honor. Throughout [...]

A Tribute to Dear Old Dad……

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As we approach the holiday season, we celebrate and remember the importance of family. One of the most significant, special members of a family is a father. Dads serve faithfully in their roles as caregivers, mentors, playmates, providers, advice-givers,  guiding forces………the list goes on and on. In order to honor these incredibly special family leaders, here are some tributes to [...]