Volunteer rescue dog Toby to become a movie star

His owners call it paw-sitive inspiration.

He was in foster care and was a rescue dog with behaviour problems, and now he'll be a star on the silver screen.

It's the story of nine-year-old chesapeake bay retriever Toby, a local volunteer rescue dog whose touching story has turned him famous.

Read the full story.

Students Help with Special Olympics

Bethel University education majors are gaining valuable preparation for their careers by playing kickball; duck, duck goose; and the hokey-pokey. They volunteer once a week to assist 3- to 7-year-olds who are in Young Athletes, a program that prepares children with special needs for the Special Olympics.

“As they lead relays and games that incorporate large and fine motor skills, they learn a lot about patience and passions,” says Associate Professor of Education Katie Bonawitz. “Having patience is a skill all educators need and these coaches will experience that here - which is a gift.”

Read the full article.

Gates' Foundation Funds $436 Million In Global Health Projects

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced the funding of 43 research projects, that will receive a combined US$436 million to implement radical proposals for confronting problems such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, malnutrition, and other world health problems.

The Gates' Foundation identified 14 "grand challenges" .. developing vaccines that do not require refrigeration or needles .. that create immunity in one dose and are safe for newborns .. vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS .. ways to stop insects from spreading diseases .. growing more nutritious staple crops to combat malnutrition .. preventing drug resistance .. methods to treat latent and chronic infections such as hepatitis and tuberculosis .. and finding more accurate ways to diagnose and track diseases.

The Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative was launched in 2003, taking proposals for projects that would be funded for up to US$20 million, for 5 years. The projects involve scientists in 33 countries seeking to create 'deliverable technologies' -- health tools that are effective, inexpensive to produce, easy to distribute, and simple to use in developing countries. Researchers are allowed to patent anything they invent, but they must guarantee that it will be made available to poor countries at low cost or free.

"It's shocking how little research is directed toward the diseases of the world's poorest countries," Bill Gates said. "By harnessing the world's capacity for scientific innovation, I believe we can transform health in the developing world and save millions of lives."

Bill Gates originally committed $200 million to the project but raised that to $450 million when more promising proposals were submitted.

$18 million + $36 million = A Real Commitment

Mozambique's UN Ambassador thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

After all, Greg Carr, founder of the internet service Africa Online, seemed to be interested in helping Africa, not just benefitting from Africa's growth.

The result? A $36 million pledge to the Mozambique Ministry of Tourism, to be paid over the next 30 years. Greg Carr, who was connected with the very first Internet venture, Prodigy, has directed the money toward making the million-acre Gorongosa National Park into a tourist destination, as well as preserving the wildlife there and educating the local population, creating jobs and providing social services.

But the giving didn't stop there ..

Greg had bought a condominium in Manhattan in 2001 for $7.5 million .. and spent $3 million renovating. He lives full-time in Cambridge, MA. So he's put it on the market, asking $18 million. The proceeds he will donate to his family foundation, for the benefit of the same Mozambican park.

The Carr Foundation is dedicated to supporting human rights, caring for the environment and supporting the arts.

Now that's a .. prodigious undertaking!

Country Artist Darryl Worley's Foundation Opens Cancer Treatment Center

The Darryl Worley Outpatient Chemotherapy Clinic opened on December 2, 2004 at the Hardin County General Hospital in Savannah, Tennessee. Worley was honored at the dedication for his generous contribution to the facility through the Darryl Worley Foundation, recognizing his compassion and commitment to his fellow Hardin County neighbors who battle cancer.

After Worley lost both of his grandfathers to cancer, he realized the importance of establishing a cancer treatment center in his hometown area -- an ongoing vision of Worley’s and it has finally come true. “It has always been very important to me to give back to the people and the place which inspired me to do what I do,” says Worley.

The Darryl Worley Foundation raised funds from the Tennessee River Run, an annual event that began in 2001, to enable the hospital to make the chemotherapy drugs on site and allow the hospital to treat cancer patients on an on-going basis.

In announcing the dedication of The Darryl Worley Outpatient Chemotherapy Clinic at Hardin Medical Center, Charlotte Burns, CEO/Administrator of the center, praised Worley saying “Darryl’s vision and generous gift through The Darryl Worley Foundation will allow us to provide services to more of our citizens who have cancer. They will be able to receive chemotherapy treatment right here at home and will not have to make the long drive to Jackson, Memphis or other cities. We are proud to recognize Darryl’s compassion and commitment as we name our new chemotherapy clinic area in his honor.”

$1 Million Gift For Tsunami Relief Just The Latest Of Many

Newspaper chain owner Richard Mellon Scaife, and his wife Ritchie, have announced their contribution to Catholic Relief Services of $1 million for tsunami relief.

They are just the latest of those with resources who have made substantial pledges.

• Seven basketball players including Kobe Bryant pledged to donate $1,000 for every point they scored in a game this week to UNICEF. They hope to raise $250,000.
• Steven Spielberg will give $1.5m to Save the Children, CARE and Oxfam
• Film star Sandra Bullock has pledged $1m to the American Red Cross
• Leonardo DiCaprio said he will give a "substantial amount" for aid to Thailand where he filmed the 2000 movie The Beach. He set up a link on his website for fans to follow his lead and make donations.
• Television network NBC simulcast a telethon over its broadcast network and six cable channels on January 15.

Private donations are set to overtake the US government aid of $350m. Already private US donors have given $322m, and groups say additional pledges of aid push the total to almost $355m, according to the Centre on Philanthropy at Indiana University. And that figure does not include the Salvation Army, one of the largest charitable organisations in the US.

Christmas Message: President Urges Volunteering

The blessings we enjoy come with a responsibility attached. That was the message US President George Bush gave to Americans in his Saturday radio address on Christmas Day.

The President urged Americans to volunteer to help those in need.

"Christmastime reminds each of us that we have a duty to our fellow citizens, that we are called to love our neighbor just as we would like to be loved ourselves. By volunteering our time and talents where they are needed most, we help heal the sick, comfort those who suffer, and bring hope to those who despair, one heart and one soul at a time."

You can read the complete text or listen to the audio.

QikReview™: The Savvy Senior

If you've got a question on health, finances or family matters, Jim Miller has the answer. Jim is pretty well known in Norman, Oklahoma .. where's he's the stadium voice of U of Oklahoma football and basketball games.

But he's also the voice for savvy seniors everywhere .. helping seniors get the best deals, the right answers, and cut through the red tape. His weekly newspaper column, called .. what else? .. The Savvy Senior .. is syndicated in 400 newspapers, with a readership of over 12 million.

So much for the qualifications .. what about the content?

Jim has prepared a practical guide. For example, one of our favorite topics: volunteering. Jim offers an overview of resources on the web and elsewhere. He points out 3 national programs that might be of interest for seniors who want to volunteer. Then he briefly introduces 11 more groups, including their websites, and 1-800 numbers.

Speaking of web resources, Jim has a great section on becoming a Computer Savvy Senior. Wondering about Medicare? There are 13 sections covering everything from how to appeal a Medicare decision to deny you payment for a medical expense to cost-cutting tips on prescriptions. Questions about assisted living, health issues like prostate problems, social security "basics" and financial issues likes wills, trusts and reverse mortgages are just a small sampling of the book's contents.

You may wonder how an MTV generation guy knows all about senior issues and questions. Well, Jim knows lots .. first-hand. In October 2000, both of his parents died within 3 weeks of each other. He was devastated and lost. To work through his grief, he took a job at a retirement home, and found that being around folks his parents' age helped. He took up writing a column for seniors in a local paper. Lots of questions and lots of learning followed.

And Jim has shared it all with us. His goal?

"..provide senior citizens, and the families who support them, access to information and resources in one, easy-to-read book."

Mission accomplished!

Order here from Amazon, and Friends of the Needy gets a donation.
The Savvy Senior : The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family, and Finances for Senior Citizens

Mel Gibson's $10 Million Giving Puts Children's Charities in the Spotlight

The announcement of a $10 million gift to benefit children's charities from Mel Gibson has turned the spotlight onto several worthy charitable projects.

It was announced that two Los Angeles area hospitals will each receive $5 million to be used towards the treatment of poor and needy children.

In a unique approach to dispensing the money to UCLA's Mattel Childrens' Hospital and the Cedars-Sinai's Children's Center, Mel chose another charity to allocate the funds. He's found a new way to shift the spotlight onto the worthy charities and stepped back from the limelight.

Gary and Cris Embleton founded Healing The Children, which will distribute the monies by choosing needy children from around the world who would benefit by specialized medical care at either of the 2 hospitals in Los Angeles.

"For the past several years, the Gibson family has quietly supported Healing the Children's efforts to help sick and injured children around the world," explains Cris Embleton. "Not only have they given financial support, they also have given their time and hearts and as a result have seen first hand how people working together can give a child the future they deserve," she told Zap2it entertainment news service.

Healing the Children began in 1974 when Gary and Cris, advocates for adoption of special needs children, found a special needs child, Lori, who was going to die for want of $5 worth of medicine .. medicine unavailable in her native country.

They managed to get Lori into the US, but the wait had been too long, and she died before her first birthday. All because she lacked just $5 worth of medicine.

And thus began their efforts. First it was children they heard about. Then they started getting special requests. And finally, in 1979, they formally establish the nonprofit organization.

By bringing children to the US, and by organizing healing trips overseas, HTC's 15 chapters in the US having been able to reach some 60,000 children from countries around the world.

In an amazing opportunity, $10 million will help extend the work of Healing The Children .. and hopefully the publicity will cause medical professionals and other volunteers, as well as donors, to become part of their project of practical love.

Healing The Children Homepage