Wishing You Well

Hero Air Controller Guides Couple to Safety After Pilot Passes Out

WellWisher — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:04:59 +0000

When one of the nation’s 15,000 air traffic controllers does something wrong, you always hear about it. When one of them does something right, averting disaster, it’s called a save, and many times we don’t hear about these stories. Charlie Rohrer, a controller for 22 years, had just finished a class on how to recognize the symptoms of hypoxia. A week later, while working his shift at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center, Rohrer diagnosed the condition, which occurs when a pilot flying at …

from Inspired http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/inspired/controller-diagnoses-hypoxia.html

Reddit Community Helps Machete Victim to Secure Kenya Orphanage, Raising $65K in 1 Day

WellWisher — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:05:30 +0000

Summary: Reddit is hands-down one of the most philanthropic communities on the Internet. Here’s just one of the many stories that showcase how.

As if you needed more proof that Reddit is one of the most amazing sites on the whole of the Internet, here, we meet a man by the name of Omari (yes, that’s him on the right). Omari took a machete to the face while protecting an orphanage of 35 children in Kenya recently. As such, an individual involved with the Longonot Education Initiative jumped on Reddit to share Omari’s story and ask for $2,000 in donations to complete the construction of a cement and barbed wire wall with which to keep thugs out and the children (and Omari) safe. At the time of this writing, that was 14 hours ago.

In the short span of time that Omari’s story has been circulating on Reddit, updates have been given by the Longonot Education Initiative representative which reflect donations given to the tune of $50,000 — $10,000 of which, coming from Weebly, who hosts the Longonot Education Initiative’s Web site and also upgraded them to Weebly Pro for 2 years.

As incredible as this story may seem to those of you not familiar with Reddit, these things happen all the time. Earlier this month, a young girl by the name of Kathleen Edward lost her battle against Juvenile Huntington’s Disease. However, just a short year ago, the then-7-year-old’s story of being bullied because of her diseasewas shared with Reddit by the owner of a toy store in her town who wanted to raise money to give her a shopping spree. When all was said and done, Reddit donated a total of $19,500. Needless to say, Kathleen was given the royal treatment that everyone involved had wished for her.

Back to Omari, if you would like to read much more into the story of his wound and the orphanage — as well as keep abreast of updates on the situation — here’s the thread that tells the whole story and is being continuously updated. Lastly, here is Omari with a message for Reddit:

As you can see, Reddit is an incredibly giving and selfless community — just one of the many reasons why I’m absolutely in love with Reddit! Amazing things like Omari and Kathleen’s stories happen almost daily, so, what are you waiting for? Go visit Reddit and get familiar with one of the most philanthropic communities on the Web!

Update: The total is now over $65,000 — all in under 24 hours. Incredible.

via ZDNet

Helix Seen in New Colors

WellWisher — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:40:51 +0000

via HappyNews – Top Stories Read story: Helix Seen in New Colors

In The Era Of Big Boxes, A Day For The Little Guy

WellWisher — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:53:56 +0000

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio — It began quietly, as an email to 40 friends.

But when a steady stream of customers began coming through the door before the fa…

from Good News on Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/in-the-era-of-big-boxes-a_n_1236835.html

Generous Americans Give More to Charity in 2011

WellWisher — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:50:40 +0000

Americans gave a total of nearly $347 billion to charity in 2011, a 7.5 percent increase over 2010, according to a report released Tuesday by Atlas of Giving. The group, which measures and forecasts charitable giving in the United States, said giving expanded at a faster rate than overall economic growth for the year….

from Inspired http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/inspired/us-charity-giving-up-in-2011.html

NH School Principal Dives In River To Rescue Boy

WellWisher — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:54:23 +0000

ROCHESTER, N.H. — An elementary school principal in New Hampshire jumped into a frozen river to save a 10-year-old student who fell through the ice.
…

from Good News on Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/nh-school-principal-dives_0_n_1236346.html