The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Sending a shout out to the city of San Francisco -
The Make A Wish Foundation contacted a 5 year old boy with leukemia asking about his big wish, he said he wanted to be a super hero. He spent a day as "Bat Kid" with Batman. He was dressed for the part and went around with Batman in the Batmobile. The film clip showed people lining the street many holding signs supporting Bat Kid. Along the way, he rescued a woman tied to the railroad tracks. The city's police commissioner went on tv saying there were problems in the city and asked Batman to help - and bring Bat Kid. While there, Bat Kid foiled a bank robbery and arrested the Riddler. The police commissioner also said the mascot for the San Francisco Giants had been kidnapped, Bat Kid found the mascot and the Penguin was arrested for the abduction. Dressed as Bat Kid, this little boy was cheered by the crowd everywhere he went and was given the key to the city. Then at the end of the day an anonymous donor paid for a billboard by the bridge that said "Bat Kid, thank you for saving our city".

Thank you to all in San Francisco that made this little boy's dream come true. You've proven that there are angels among us!

Update on this story from November 13, 2014: Batkid One Year Later: One Granted Wish Spurred Flood Of Donations, But Help Still Needed
The Bay Area Make-A-Wish chapter saw a 45-percent increase in granting pending wishes, and in Sacramento there was also a jump in donations and volunteers.

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — It was one year ago when Miles Scott stole the show and our hearts as Batkid as part of his Make-A-Wish dream.

So whatever happened to Batkid?

Scott was in the fight of his young life, battling leukemia from the tiny town of Tulelake. For one day, the 5-year-old was able to fight something else—crime, so he could save the world.

There was no time to waste on that day as the streets of San Francisco transformed into Gotham City as Batkid fought off villains, rescued a damsel and grabbed the headlines.

T-shirts were made celebrating his triumph, billboards praised his victory, and even months later, Batkid would throw out the first pitch at AT&T Park for the San Francisco Giants’ opening day.

This weekend marks one year since it all happened, so where is he today?

Scott’s family provided us with photos of him on his first day of school with his trusty sidekick, little brother Clayton.

They were elated to tell us his leukemia is in remission. Oh and Batkid has lost his first tooth since that day.

But what Make-A-Wish gained because of his story has been huge.

The Bay Area chapter saw a 45-percent increase in granting pending wishes, and in Sacramento there was also a jump in donations and volunteers.

Nationwide, the group make a record-setting 14,247 wishes.

Scott’s mom and dad issued this statement this week: “We are happy to say that Miles is healthy, and we want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support you showed him that day. We hope this will result in more wishes coming true for other deserving children.”

And it has, says Michele Flyn, director of outreach for Northern California and Northern Nevada Make-A-Wish.

“Miles’ story was amazing and he’s a special little guy and he really proved to us that superheroes do exist,” he said.

But, she reminds us, for every Miles Scott that grabs the headlines, there’s another child with a life-threatening illness waiting in the wings to have their wish granted.

“We know in our chapter—37 counties—we know there is potentially about 450 children who are eligible for a wish,” she said. “We grant about 260 a year so the need is very great.”

We’ll soon be able to relive Batkid’s story on a big screen. A documentary based on that amazing day is wrapping up funding and should be out by the end of the year.

Chances are, the audience for that documentary will be huge. On the day Batkid took over San Francisco, more than 1 billion people took to social media to cheer him on.

To mark the anniversary, Miles and his family will be back in San Francisco this Saturday. They’ll hold a private celebration with some of the people who helped make that day happen.

[kuhio98]

Kathy Russell Gives Sick Kids a Home Away from Home

When Kathy Russell was a young hospital administrator, she saw something she didn't like.

"Every day I'd come up on the elevator and I'd walk through radiology and I'd see all these kids in metal cribs with their parents lined up to go through whatever test they had in the morning," she tells PEOPLE.

"It really dawned on me that the whole business of people queuing up to go through radiology was really kind of ridiculous."

So Russell, with the help of a group of congressional spouses and some of her hospital colleagues, co-founded the Children's Inn, a residential facility at the National Institutes of Health for children battling life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer, blood disorders and HIV infection.

But the Children's Inn, a rustic lodge located in Bethesda, Maryland, is more than just a place to stay. With plenty of natural light from the many windows and skylights, as well as newly remodeled kitchens so families can make their children's favorite comfort foods, it's a home away from home, a place where kids can have fun and be themselves.

"I learned how hard it is to have a kid with a life-threatening illness and not be in your own community and not have the people you would call on in terms of support," Russell, 58, who lives in Montgomery County and serves as the Inn's CEO, recalls of those early days as a hospital administrator.

"It just became clear to me that there were a lot of things that we could do if we had the right resources," she says.

At the Children's Inn, there's always plenty to do. Whether it's field trips to Washington Nationals baseball games or playing with the Inn's resident therapy dog, Viola, Russell and her team of dedicated staff and volunteers make sure the kids are having fun every night.

One of the Inn's most popular activities? Bingo.

"We have a police officer who comes in and calls Bingo on Tuesday nights," Russell says.

"He'll get off his shift and come in here," she says, "and be standing there in his uniform with a goofy hat on and making the kids laugh."

But it's Viola, the Inn's resident therapy dog, who's the most visible member of the team. (She's even got her own mailbox at the Inn.) A former seeing-eye dog who lost her job for being too friendly, Viola now works full-time at the Inn, keeping the kids company with her sweet, calm demeanor.

It's not all fun and games, though.

By allowing their illnesses to be studied at NIH, these kids are helping to find a cure for some truly terrible diseases.

"They're pioneers in that they're looking for their own opportunity to be well, but if they can't, they're contributing to the body of medical knowledge that will hopefully be helpful to some other child in the future," says Russell.

"So unlike a Ronald McDonald house, we're in a position to bring our resources to bear to empower and engage the research in a way that helps develop new therapies," she explains.

Robert Vogel, whose 24-year-old son, Scott, has been staying at the Children's Inn on and off since 1999 while being treated for chronic granulomatous disease, says the Inn was a godsend.

"Words can't describe how competent she is and how wonderful she is," says Vogel, 62, who is also a member of the Inn's Board of Directors.

"I've walked in after a long day at the hospital with my son and you always get such a warm feeling from everyone," he says.

Tammy Koch, whose daughter Karly, 20, is staying at the Inn following a bone marrow transplant, credits Russell with making her family feel comfortable in this trying time.

"Even at a recent event we had where Kathy needed to schmooze with board members and donors, she took the time to come and talk to us," recalls 53-year-old Koch, who works part-time as a dental hygienist. "When I've asked for things, she never forgets and always follows through."

Koch, of Muncie, Indiana, is also especially grateful to the Inn for making the holidays extra special. "How do you replicate the holidays when you are away from home?" Koch says. "The Inn totally made that happen with stockings and gifts that were donated by generous donors and volunteers."

"The kids got to make Santa's cookies and leave them at the fireplace – just like at home," Koch says. "Being able to keep up some of the holiday traditions with the help has meant so much and Kathy Russell has created that kind of a place."

Adds Vogel: "I've seen her run down the hall chasing kids who are hysterically laughing. She has it all. She is an amazing person."
Kathy and Viola, the Inn's resident therapy dog

[Karen]

So glad there's a dog there!

[kuhio98]

Honest teen returns $1500 found in customer's pocket at Continental Cleaners

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. - A couple who mistakenly left $1,500 in a pair of pants at the dry cleaners after going on vacation got their money back, thanks to an honest high school student in Greenwood Village.

When Chris and Nota Syrpes left Greece, Chris gave his leftover Euro's from one pocket to his brother and kept his leftover dollars in his other pocket for the trip home.

When Nota dropped off the clothes at Continental Cleaners in Greenwood Village Monday she didn't check both pockets and the money went with the pants.

However, the Syrpes' daughter, Helen, told 7NEWS, when her parents got home from the cleaners, there was a message waiting.

"All of their money was there," Helen Syrpes said. "They have honest employees working there."

Continental Cleaners owner Bill Platten told 7NEWS that his workers always check pockets for pens, lipstick, chapstick and other items before clothes go into the load.

A Cherry Creek High School student working the counter, Paola, found the money.

Platten said Paola has actually found a large sum of money before.

The Syrpes gave Paola a reward for her honesty.

[Taz_Zoee]

Honest teen returns $1500 found in customer's pocket at Continental Cleaners

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. - A couple who mistakenly left $1,500 in a pair of pants at the dry cleaners after going on vacation got their money back, thanks to an honest high school student in Greenwood Village.

When Chris and Nota Syrpes left Greece, Chris gave his leftover Euro's from one pocket to his brother and kept his leftover dollars in his other pocket for the trip home.

When Nota dropped off the clothes at Continental Cleaners in Greenwood Village Monday she didn't check both pockets and the money went with the pants.

However, the Syrpes' daughter, Helen, told 7NEWS, when her parents got home from the cleaners, there was a message waiting.

"All of their money was there," Helen Syrpes said. "They have honest employees working there."

Continental Cleaners owner Bill Platten told 7NEWS that his workers always check pockets for pens, lipstick, chapstick and other items before clothes go into the load.

A Cherry Creek High School student working the counter, Paola, found the money.

Platten said Paola has actually found a large sum of money before.

The Syrpes gave Paola a reward for her honesty.

My parents owned a dry cleaners for most of my life. I grew up in one. Our rule was we returned any money over $5. Anything less (which was usually loose change) went in a Tootsie Roll coin bank. I am not sure what my parents did with that money that was collected. I think we used it to get pizza twice a year when we had to do inventory.
I know over the years they found large sums of money and very valuable items left in clothes. And sometimes we found disgusting items as well.

[mon]

I don't really think giving back money that does not belong to you is gonna make you a "good guy". It's kinda called not stealing a bros money when he's misplaced it.

[Taz_Zoee]

I don't really think giving back money that does not belong to you is gonna make you a "good guy". It's kinda called not stealing a bros money when he's misplaced it.

Thank you! That's what I thought too.