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LITTER IS JUST NOT COOL

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

A CUP OF COFFEE

I'm a youth worker now; far away from the life I had ten years ago. My job is simple, I buy kids coffee. Bill taught me how to do that.  ... read >

TEACHING THE VALUES THAT MATTER MOST

Before the start of the summer, I had no idea that I would be a YMCA summer camp counselor. Now, here I am near the end of the summer, finishing up camp. I can’t say it’s been easy, but it was undoubtedly a beneficial, enjoyable experience for me.  ... read >

MY FATHER, MY HERO

During my turbulent teen years I always tested my dad because, you see, we were so alike. My mother played referee between us, but it never seemed to make a difference.  ... read >

HOW YOU GOING TO FEED THAT PIG?

I had been saving to buy a pig for months, and when somebody gave me a dollar for my sixth birthday, I had $5 to buy the pig.  ... read >

AN OLD DUTCHMAN TEACHES ME WORK ETHIC

My Dad, raised during the Great Depression, realized the benefits and discipline of hard work. He didn't want me to grow up soft.  ... read >

FOOD IN THE WORLD OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Nearly a year ago now, I had been unemployed for 3 months, No income, no food! Mother and 11 year old daughter. My landlady to whom i could not pay rent either decided to make a commitment to us. She said "I will not let you go without until you are settled again!".   ... 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 >

A HELPING HAND

...in a not particularly safe part of town, we heard my car make a funny noise, and then it was shaking violently as we drove along. Quickly, I pulled off to the shoulder and determined a tire had blown out.  ... 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 >

A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE

We’d always wanted a real Christmas tree—a tall, lavishly decorated one, like other families had. It would have had singing lights, silver tinsel, blown-glass ornaments, and icicles dressing its snow-tipped branches.  ... 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 >

IN THIS MOMENT, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT?

Today in the moments of frustration, ask yourself the question, "In this moment, what is most important?"  ... 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 >

A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

That Christmas Eve, however, as usual, my father left the house dressed as Santa Claus. He knew that even though our Christmas would be hard, he could not disappoint the other kids in the neighbourhood.  ... 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 >

DEALING WITH RACISM

As a result of my actions, I have been friends with that kid for 3 years now. He’s happy I helped him when he was at his lowest point and I’m happy he helped me, too… He inspired me!   ... 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 >

GOING TO THE ELEVEN

My family was getting ready to sit down to dinner. My son was hopping on one foot and counting to ten. He had me count three times. 1, 2, 3, ...10. He stayed balanced each time. Then he tried his left foot. 1, 2, 3, ...10. He did it again. Then he paused... "This time Mommy. let's go to the..." He thought about it for a long time, "to the eleven." At first I laughed. What great inspired things kids say.  ... read >

ONE STRANGER'S KINDNESS

While doing some caving in Southern Missouri a few years ago, we came out of a cave only to find a flat tire on our van. I was with three or four of my buddies and we were covered in mud and not the most clean-cut group. We were way out in the country and we stumbled across a "mutton feed.” We were told that there was a gentleman who might be able to help us.  ... 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 >

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

I have come a long way from riding on the back of a donkey as a child in Portugal in the 50's and 60's, where I grew up. My family was poor; in fact, I recall times when my courageous mother had to literally beg for food to feed four hungry boys.  ... read >

A FRIEND TO BE THERE

It was a fairly chilly Wednesday night, and for some reason, I had decided to go to Pioneer Girls (kind of like girl scouts). I figured maybe someone I know might be there. We had talked a lot about friendship in class earlier that day, and it got me thinking.  ... 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 >

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 >

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 >

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 >

HELPING SOUTH FLORIDA

Helping South Florida's homeless... one bag at a time.   ... read >

IMPOSSIBLE THINGS

During a particularly bad moment I emailed my old high school religion teacher that I was in the middle of a crisis of faith and didn't really know how to carry on. His response was simple but so profound, "to believe in the face of it all - that is faith. Impossible things happen every day."   ... 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 >

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 >