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Cell Phones for Soldiers – Keeping Military Families Connected
Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, two teenagers from Massachusetts, heard a news report one day about a soldier who had racked up a huge cell phone bill in order to keep in touch with his family back home. If the soldier couldn’t pay the bill, he would lose his phone service. Brittany and Robbie decided they couldn’t…
Brandon Hill – Empowering Success Through The Brotherhood!
Back in 2008, Brandon Hill was a teenager who felt that his life had no real direction. But on November 4, 2008, that all changed. On that day, amid chants of “YES WE CAN!”, Barack Obama became the first African-American president in America’s history. Seeing how Obama had overcome the obstacles in his life to rise to ultimate…
For Reading That's Fun, Dr. Seuss Is the One!
On March 2 each year, America celebrates a very special event called Read Across America. This event takes place in order to emphasize the fun and importance of reading, and it is celebrated on the birthday of one of the all-time greatest children’s authors, Dr. Seuss! Also known as Theodor Seuss Geisel (and even sometimes Theo…
Claudette Colvin – A Brave Advocate for Racial Equality
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,…
Pride, Determination, Resilience (PDR) – The Amazing Swim Team of Jim Ellis
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…
Spark Mentoring Program – Motivating Kids Toward Success!
In America today, it is estimated that 30% of high school students become dropouts. In order to change this statistic and help kids become more motivated, teachers Chris Balme and Melia Dicker created the Spark mentoring program. The Spark program tries to motivate each kid toward success by asking them to name their dream job….
Dory Gannes – Helping Children in Need Through The Olevolos Project
When Dory Gannes was eight years old, she and her family took a trip to East Africa. The poverty and poor living conditions she saw there were very different from her life back in America, and this touched her deeply. But what she didn’t know at the time was just how much that experience would affect…
It’s Halloween Time! Frighteningly Fun Facts About This Festive Holiday
Halloween is almost here, and you know what that means – jack o’lanterns, costumes, spooky ghosts and witches, and best of all lots of candy! But do you know how Halloween first came to be celebrated in America and how the numerous Halloween traditions got their start? See the video and the additional resources below…
Jorge Munoz – An Angel in Queens
At 5’2”, Queens resident Jorge Munoz might not seem to have a big presence. But every night at 9:30, when he heads to a subway stop near his home, Jorge is the man of the hour. That is because every night, Jorge brings a hot dinner to over a hundred people in need of one – immigrants who…
Ashley Rhodes-Courter – Helping Foster Kids Find Families!
When Ashley Rhodes-Courter was a young girl, she didn’t know what it was like to have a family. Placed in foster care as a toddler, she ended up being shuffled to 14 different foster homes before she was 12 years old. In some cases, Ashley was subjected to physical and mental abuse. But when she was…