The good guys thread

[Karen]

I saw an article a few years ago where a grade-school teacher was bringing her dog to class. The kids that were struggling with their reading, would sit in the corner and read to the dog. She noticed that the kids improved rapidly because they didn't feel inhibited because no one else was listening and correcting them. They were nervous reading in front of people but didn't feel judged or "wrong" reading to the dog.

Three little dachshunds at my church, one who has her own wheels because of a back injury - are reading assistance dogs at local libraries here. They are all very sweet, and love laps!

[kuhio98]

Charitable Waitress Surprised on April Fools' Day with 'Best Shift Ever'



Chelsea Roff raised her little sister on her own, struggled to overcome an eating disorder that led to a stroke and an 18-month hospitalization, but later went on to fund a non-profit yoga program, Eat, Breathe, Thrive, to help others deal with similar afflictions.

And on April Fools' Day, Roff, a Venice, Calif., waitress, received the ultimate feel-good prank to honor her good work and positive spirit, described by one admirer as "rising from a pit to the top," ABC News reports.

With hidden video recording an unusual day on the job slinging ribs at Los Angeles's Spring Street Smokehouse, an incredulous Roff, 23, had the "best shift ever." She received a $1,000 tip, a Hawaiian vacation, a new car and a dream job teaching therapeutic yoga at a treatment center.

The gifts were all handed out one by one from customers as Roff listened in amazement.

She was nominated for the "prank it forward" day by her boss, restaurant owner Chris Patterson, through the viral feel-good campaign from the website break.com. He noticed Roth's work ethic and dedication to get ahead and help others.

"Believe me, Chelsea deserves a vacation," Patterson said on the video, where he and others at the restaurant along with Roff's friends are all in on the special day. They noted that she had earned it.

"The work she is doing now is actually impacting and saving lives. How would I not want to be a part of that?" said longtime friend Diana Roehl, who had helped Roff through her eating disorder and who emerged from the new Nissan car as Roth screamed and cried.

"No one has ever just given me things that I don't have to work for," Roff said. "I was just so shocked. In life, you work for things, that's how you get things."

Roff says she wants to continue her charitable work to help people recovering from eating disorders. "I love working at the restaurant and waitressing and being around people, but I want to teach yoga full-time through my foundation," Roff told Good Morning America. "That's my goal."

[kuhio98]

Dillie the Deer: Love on Tiny Hooves

[kuhio98]

Gardeners to the Rescue
Out of gas in a remote setting, she wondered who she could turn to for help.

By Mary Gojkovich, Westport, Connecticut

Time was always tight in the morning when I got my fourth grader, Katie, ready for school. Today she had to be there early, so our schedule was even tighter. We had to leave at 6:00 a.m. if we wanted to get from New Canaan, Connecticut, to Katie’s school in Greenwich on time.

“I just hope we don’t hit traffic,” I told Katie as we left the house.

I looked at my watch as we approached the highway. We were cutting it close. “Better take the back roads,” I said, driving past the entrance. I glanced at the gas gauge: It was low, but I was certain I had enough to get us to school and I certainly didn’t have time to stop at a gas station.

I’d been driving for about 25 minutes when the car slowed down–and then stopped. “What’s happening?” asked Katie.

“We ran out of gas. Wait here.” I opened my door and got out. There wasn’t a car in sight. So much for being early, I thought. And then a truck came along.

“Hop in and I’ll take you to a gas station,” the driver offered. He seemed nice enough, but I couldn’t get in a car with a stranger. Especially not with Katie. Ten more minutes passed. Lord, I’m in a real jam!

Another truck came along, full of landscaping equipment. This one had two men in it. “How can we help?” the driver asked. I explained our situation. “We’ll get gas for you at the station up the road and come right back,” he said. When they returned they filled my tank.

“What do I owe you?” I asked.

“Nothing,” said the driver. “It’s our pleasure.” It was then that I noticed the company logo on his shirt: Gardening Angels. Katie got to school early–thanks to some gardeners who arrived right on time.

[kuhio98]

More than 100 Eighth-Graders Join Forces to Build Their California School a Library

This article was originally published by NationSwell, a website dedicated to sharing the stories of innovative Americans who are working to effect social change and move the country forward.

Don’t tell the eighth-graders at Realm Charter School in Berkeley, Calif., that they can’t do something. They’ll end up proving you wrong.

As part of an in-school design and building class called Studio H, this gang of 108 13-year-olds is creating a library for their three-year-old school. X-Space, as the students are calling it, is a project that grew from a question their teacher Ms. Nini (Hallie Chen) posed to them: What do you want from your school?

"One of the students said they want to find their inner self. One said they want to understand how microphones work," Chen said in the project’s Kickstarter video. "Overwhelmingly, they all wanted a place to read, relax, focus, learn and explore." And where's a better place to do that than in a library?

The class got together to conceptualize and design every part of the X-Space – from bookmarks to book bags to stamps and, of course, bookshelves. That's where their concept took on a life of its own. The students, inspired by the algebraic concept of solving for X as an unknown, designed what they call STAX, a shelving system made from stacked, wooden X's.

The students' plan is not just to build an extensive shelving system out of these X's – which are crafted from 13-ply finished plywood using CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) technology, which was borrowed from Carl Bass, CEO of Autodesk, whose factory is nearby – but to use these same materials for tables, benches and stools, as well. The students estimate that they'll need about 250 to 275 STAX for their design, and are raising money to help fund the project. They're even offering STAX as rewards.

For these students, X can be anything. "We designed this thing that not only solves something for us, but can be good for other people, too," Valeria, a Studio H student, said.

Studio H was first launched in rural Bertie County, N.C. In this class, students apply what they've learned in their core subjects to design and build "socially transformative" projects. Previously, Studio H students have built a farmers market pavilion, a pop-up park, laser-etched skateboards and more. In the program, the students learn how to shape their environment. They see their ideas come to fruition. And most important, they can design and build something special for other kids to enjoy.

The first semester was just skill building," Emily Pilloton, who founded Studio H, told Fast Co.Exist about Realm Charter School’s project. "Then we asked them, OK, now let's look around us at our school community and let's ask what do we need, but also what do we want? What are the things that we feel passionate about and we can physically build?"

They wanted a place to explore. "I thought that was really a poignant way to put it," Pilloton said. "A library is not just a room filled with books."

[cassiesmom]

Winners Of $4 Million Lotto Prize To Make Donations Benefiting Pets

(CBS) – A pair of pals say their pets are going to be the first winners as they cash in a $4 million willing instant lottery ticket.

WBBM’s John Cody reports Marta Paciorek and her friend Anna Hassan have been buying over a hundred dollars’ worth of tickets a week for months now and now they’ve scratched off a winner which they’re taking in a lump sum up front.

“It is a 2.4 [million dollars] cash option and then if you split it into two then it is 1.2 [million dollars] and then after that it is a couple hundred thousand, so it really didn’t make any sense for us to take it over 20 years,” said Paciorek.

Paciorek, originally from Poland, says she plans to share the funds with her family and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“Animals are lovable creatures that deserve to be treated as members of the family, just like Tabby, my 10-year old Labrador Retriever,” she said in the statement. “I’m happy this lottery win will allow me to donate to an animal rights charity.”

The store will receive a $40,000 bonus, 1 percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket.

[phesina]

That's wonderful!!!