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BROOKE ELLISON

A near-fatal accident at age 11 started Brooke on a path to overcome obstacles and do what many people thought was impossible.  ... listen >

LITTER IS JUST NOT COOL

Drew Johnson of Colorado teaches by example while taking care of our planet.  ... listen >

DO UNTO OTHERS

The railroad tracks were within a mile of our house. "Beggers" and "Bums" (as they were known) frequently would knock on the doors in our neighborhood in the summer asking for food.  ... read >

THE STRANGERS WHO CARED

Two days before Christmas we were in a panic. All the boxes that my father had sent us had arrived except for one.  ... read >

THE ESCALATOR

I was returning from another business trip, heading to my car. A five-year-old boy stood at the top of the escalator.  ... read >

STRANDED

In the early evening on a dirt road to a fossil quarry we hit a rock and punctured our transmission pan. Without fluid, the car came to a stop and we were stranded.  ... read >

BOPPA

My mother's father (not "Grandpa," but "Boppa")is turning 81 in a month.  ... read >

MY FRIEND'S DETERMINATION

My best friend is Ellice T. Without her determination, she would probably still be studying at a primary school.  ... read >

GIFT OF HOPE

This wasn't a normal thrift store, though; it was linked to a community organization that helped to give people with disabilities hope for a better future.  ... read >

HELPING OR HURTING

Years ago my husband and I were walking in the city when a man approached us asking for money...  ... read >

TEACH THEM IN THE WAY TO GO

My father used some unusual techniques to teach us and rarely spared us from the school of hard lessons. These are the two I cherish most.  ... read >

THE PARKING METER BANK

My mother gave me a gift that day that will last a lifetime.  ... read >

NINTH WARD TREASURE

I was itching to go back on active duty with the US Coast Guard, especially to go back to the Gulf Coast of the United States. I had been ordered down to Gulfport, Mississippi the night after Hurricane Katrina hit.  ... read >

ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE

Only a minute after I stopped on the side of the road, a semi pulled up behind me to see I needed help. I explained to him that I had to make my appointment, and that I was to deliver any day now.  ... read >

FINE EXAMPLES

My mother through her fine example instilled within me the desire to help others. She taught me to notice those whom others ignore  ... read >

SNOW ANGEL

The snow was swirling everywhere and any oncoming vehicle dusted my little VW so thoroughly that it would take a long few seconds before I could see anything ahead of me.   ... read >

KINDNESS

Before the day of the assembly, I had been trying to better myself by simply being kind to others. After the assembly, I got the idea of just saying thanks to the wonderful staff at my high school.  ... read >

THE OLD LADY IN THE WORN BROWN COAT

After a short while, my father had the heater up and running, making great heat for their cold home. I followed my dad upstairs where the lady asked my dad in poorly spoken English how much she owed him for fixing the heater. My dad looked around the house and said that he had to go out to the truck and write the bill.  ... read >

2XTREME

John told me that if I could get good grades, have no negative police contact, do at least 60 hours of community service, and stay sober, he would take me on the "2Xtreme Dream" trip. The “2Xtreme Dream” was a trip to southern Russia to climb Europe's tallest mountain, Mt. Elbrus, standing at 18,510 feet.   ... read >

A TRUE FRIEND

My friend is now working on her Master's and needed a good friend to write a short paper on her integrity. She asked me, and this is the story I told in that paper. When she read it, she had no idea how much her efforts had meant to me then, or how much they still mean in my life. To me, that is what a true friend is.  ... read >

A GIFT TO ALL - BUT THE GIFT WAS IN THE GIVING

In 1994, the year after my father-in-law died, I planned a surprise for my husband on our anniversary. My husband didn't know where we were going, only that we were flying to see someone he loved.  ... read >

FLICKERS OF HOPE

I know my purpose now, and that is to help. To help anyone I can because I know what it feels like when you need it and the way your heart feels when receive it.  ... read >

FROM SPARK TO FLAME

When my now 19 year old daughter was in Grade 3, all of Mrs. Mathews’ students were given a small pot with a bean seed to plant. Green string beans it seems are pretty hardy and the perfect seed to use when promoting green thumbs in young children. That same plant was also a most unexpected source of understanding and insight for me.  ... read >

TEARING UP THE IOU

At first I wanted to stop dead in my tracks, turn around, get in my car, go home and eat the whole cake by myself! But courage rose up in me.  ... read >

DANCE NATIONALS

What I said next totally shocked them-they did not believe their ears. I said, "They are on stage right now, let’s go and cheer them on instead." I then looked up at the stage and started to cheer, screaming, "Let’s go team."  ... read >

HELPING THE ELDERLY

To live in a hard-knock place, and see that there are still values that people believe in and live up to, is so rare.  ... read >

IMPARTING WISDOM

My father died on December 18, 2003, when I was 12-years-old. Granted, I was not able to know my father for a big portion of my life, yet I acquired much wisdom from this great man's life and from what he had imparted to me.  ... read >

FITTING IN

My experience as a first year camp counselor held many things I was expecting, but also a number of things I was not expecting, with my group of 6th graders. My campers came from lower income neighborhoods and schools for an 8 week summer day camp.  ... read >

SHARING IS CARING

So working at camp has taught me so many, many things—especially working at a camp for kids coming from low-income families and neighborhoods. One thing it has taught me is that these kids are not short of kindness and happiness, they just show it differently.  ... read >

LIFE IS LOVE

Life, most people say, is fleeting. It flies right by us and we barely even notice until something horrible happens. My name is Bec and I am sixteen. August 3rd was the fourth anniversary of my mother's death.  ... read >

LIFE IS NOT WORTH WASTING

I was riding in the middle of a field on my ATV when it flipped over on me leaving me paralyzed from the chest down. I lay out in the field for a really long time before going to the hospital, helpless.  ... read >

THE POWER OF LOVE

Raising my youngest daughter as a single parent, particularly through her teenage years, was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. Not denying that there may be other factors involved, I am convinced that my inept parenting had a significant role to play in the emotional challenges my daughter faces.  ... read >

OHIO TO SAN FRAN MY SON MET AN ANGEL

y son was traveling to San Franciso, CA. He missed his connecting flight in Ohio which was the last flight out. My son called me frustrated, confused and panicked in North Carolina. I asked him what happened and he told me the gate had changed and he ran to the new one. As he got there, he saw the plane taking off. He asked the attendant was that the plane for San Francisco. The attendant stated "Yes it was. You just missed it."  ... read >

TWO AMAZING PEOPLE

I recently read a wonderful account of an incredible act of kindness. It involved the country singer, Jan Howard, and it occurred back in the early or mid 1950's.  ... read >

LIFE IS OURS TO LIVE FREELY!

Peter was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when he was 16 years old, and was told that his life expectancy was far shorter then an average 16 year old's, and that he would not live much beyond his twenties.  ... read >

MY PARENTS' LOVE

I lived in Dallas, Texas nearly all my life with my mom, dad and older sister. We were raised to respect others, value education, and get all that we could out of life. "You can be anything you want to be," my parents always say. "Work hard and the world is yours," is often quoted in my house. My parents are never without a helpful word of advice or a bit of encouragement when life gets tough.  ... read >

FORGIVE AND GROW

Forgiving, I feel, is easy. Forgetting the experience that comes prior to the forgiveness, however, always remains with us. Choosing to forgive means choosing to let go of the bad or negative emotions that one experiences so that we can live in peace and harmony.  ... read >

MCMASTER

I go to Mac High School, and once a year we get snacks when we get off the bus. Usually I think nothing of it and just take a snack and then go on with the rest of my day.  ... read >

DELIVERING SMILES

My name is Destinee. I am 11 years old. I have a friend name Shelby. Shelby and I have set up a small organization with my Mom. It is called Delivering Smiles.  ... read >

SERVING THE UNDERSERVED

My story is about an individual who truly represents servant leadership and community betterment. As a college student, I was fortunate to be hired as an intern for an international community development organization.  ... read >

THE STRANGER

The guy I was with reached into his pocket to give this man a $20 bill. As the other man was extending his hand out to take the money, I put my hand on my new friend's hand and said, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"  ... read >

JUST GIVE

A few years ago, I was the single mom of two kids, aged 12 and 14. Times, as always for us, were very hard. I spent 85% of my pay for rent  ... read >

KINDNESS CHAIN

It is amazing how kind acts can be catching...  ... read >

GUM

Today I was out shopping with my mom at a store. While a lady in front of us in the checkout line, I spied a kid that looked 2 years younger than me. He was trying to get some gum but probably was out of money, because he just stared at the dispenser with sad eyes.  ... read >

MR. AND MRS. POSITIVE

I have two really good friends, Nancy and Richard. They both believe in the power of positive thinking. However, though their personalities are similar, they are totally different in other areas of their lives. The biggest differences are their childhood, career choices, and lifestyles.  ... read >

DAYDREAM

One boy really can make a difference!  ... watch >

VOLUNTEERING WORK

Here is an example of hundreds of people coming together to serve their community.  ... watch >

SUCCESS STORY (SPANISH)

Some students at the USC Marshall School of Business put together this video as one of their assignments. Check it out!  ... watch >

CU BOULDER CREED AWARD WINNERS

Last year, members of the University of Colorado at Boulder held an awards dinner in honor of students doing exceptional things, both on campus, and around the world. These are their stories.  ... watch >