The good guys thread

[cassiesmom]

There's been a lot of violence in Chicago this year. Fr. Pfleger from Saint Sabina parish does a lot of work to help improve things. If anybody could work out a one-day truce, it's him. This is from NBC Chicago.

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Four rival gangs, community and church leaders, and NBA superstars all joined together Saturday afternoon in a gym for a basketball tournament geared towards ending violence in Chicago.

“You walk in that gym and you see the passion, the excitement, you see the smiles on the kids’ faces, you see kids who used to shoot each other playing ball with each other, You see D-Rose and Joakim Noah,” said St. Sabina’s Father Michael Pfleger, who organized the event “Balling for Peace” and asked the NBA stars to get involved. “You tell me anything is wrong with this? I’m in heaven right now.”

Pfleger organized the monumental, one day gang truce in the city, which included 28 kids playing from different gangs in neighborhoods hit hard by violence and crime.

The event gained some NBA star power assists from Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson on the Chicago Bulls along with other Chicago NBA stars Antoine Walker, Quentin Richardson and the legendary Isaiah Thomas. All of the NBA players who showed up on Saturday coached the teams, spoke at the event and encouraged the young people playing in the Peace Basketball Tournament.

“I have been begging athletes to get involved and when they say yes, I’m grateful,” said Pfleger, who lost his adopted son Jarvis Franklin to gang violence in 1998.

No matter who wins the tournament, every player will get a job. St. Sabina has partnered with businesses in the community to make sure that players are rewarded with employment for their peace pledge.

Some community leaders who watched gang members trade their guns for basketballs on Saturday hope it sends a message to other gangs in the city.

“There’s life after basketball, but there is no life after discharging a weapon and taking someone else’s life,” said community activist Andrew Holmes, who was at the tournament to support the players.

Pfleger said he also working with players on the Chicago Bears to get them involved and host more events in the community.

[kuhio98]

Rose Astorina was 35 years old and had a 2-year old son when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in 2007. She had to undergo 6 rounds of chemotherapy, 18 rounds of radiation and many side effects -- but today she's cancer-free. Astorina is so thankful that she's made finding a cure her personal mission and has raised more than $17,000 for the American Cancer Society. She also joined Imerman Angels, a group of volunteers who provide support to others who are undergoing treatment.

[kuhio98]

To the world you might just be one person, but to one person, you might just be the world.

Go out and make a difference today. You never know what seemingly small gesture or deed can change a life -- human or animal.

[kuhio98]

Beverly Evens of Anderson, California, recently won $2 million on a scratch-off lottery ticket. Instead of splurging on herself, she's using a portion of the cash to fund her do-good mission: rescuing goats. Evens nursed her first goat, Bucky, back to health nine years ago and has since saved more than 40 abused or malnourished goats. She plans to build a better home for the animals and expand her rescue work.

[kuhio98]

A KIND GESTURE CAN MEAN SO MUCH

I fell in love with a beautiful dress when I was out shopping one day. I wanted it badly, but it was much too expensive. The clerk whom I knew from church, suggested I put it on layaway just in case. Then a few weeks later my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer; he died within a few short months. I had obviously forgotten all about the dress during such a devasating time. Out of the blue a few weeks after he passed away, the store clerk stopped by my house with a gift box, inside was the dress, which she had paid for herself. I will always remember her kindness.

Juanita, Oxford, Alabama

[cassiesmom]

And now, a brief chuckle for your day: The Chicago Cubs are on track to lose one hundred games this season for the first time since 1966.

[kuhio98]

Because Experts Were No Match for a Duck

Doctors told Becci Lomax that her son, Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, would never walk. But then Becci rescued a lame duckling she named Ming-Ming. When a vet showed her exercises to rehabilitate the duck, Finlay started copying. One day Ming-Ming finally took a few steps on his own and so did Finlay. "I walk like the duck, Mommy," he said. His mobility is still improving.