13-YEAR-OLD RUNS HIS OWN BAKERY AND GIVES BACK EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

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Lots of kids have at one point asked their Mom or Dad to set up a lemonade stand on the weekend to make a couple dollars over the summer. It’s a kids first look at a small business, but once all the lemonade runs out that’s usually the end of it, not for Michael Platt. Michael took this concept a step further. He loved to bake, wanted to start a business and wanted to give back to his community. At just 11 years old he was able to put together  a plan to do all things, successfully. 

Michael started baking with his mom in their kitchen selling all kinds of baked goods, although cupcakes are the biggest hit. He didn’t want to just turn profit though, he wanted to give back, so he started a one-for-one business model, for every baked good sold, he would donate one to the homeless. This started as a small business and has grown quickly. Now 13, Michael has an outlook on life that few too many people have “I always wanted to have a purpose for what I do,” he said. “It’s all about helping people — not just having a purpose for yourself, but thinking about, 'How does this touch other things?’”

We recognize you Michael for not only your entrepreneur mindset, but for finding creative ways to give back to those in need and make your community a happier, better place!

Quick Courage Saves Sadie's Life

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Delivering packages in Bozeman, Montana in the cold of winter comes with plenty of challenges. Not one that you run into everyday is the sound of a screaming, crying dog. Ryan Arens was ready for anything that day tho, and when he heard the cry for help he jumped into action without hesitation. He ran towards the scream and saw the dog trapped 15 feet off of shore, with ice all around. An older man was in a row boat making little progress through the ice. Ryan stripped off his uniform and broke through the ice. He swam out to the struggling dog whose time was getting very limited. Once back to shore they were let in a neighbor's house to get warm and recover.

Ryan said, “This dog had a whole lot of life left in her, and I’m really glad i was able to act when i did. She’s a sweetheart.” Ryan’s quick reactions and compassion saved this dog's life. Life altering moments cannot always be planned for or laid out perfectly, often they are snap decision that one has to make and not everyone would act as Ryan did in that moment, for that we recognize Ryan for his courage and compassion in saving Sadie’s life. “Animals are my weakness, it was the highlight of my 14-year UPS career”.

With A Nudge From God, Brock Sabo Forever Changed A Life

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Jerry Sluman has lived with Polycystic Kidney Disease for last 7 years, and 8 months ago was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure). Left untreated, this stage of the disease can be fatal in a matter of weeks. Jerry was given two choices for treatment: go on dialysis or get a kidney transplant. Thankfully for Jerry, someone else - Brock Sabo - had recently received a “nudge from god” that could not be ignored - he need to donate his kidney. He went in to the hospital and got tested to see if his kidney would be a match for Jerry, and, as fate would have it, it was. He could not ignore this sign, and knew he only had one option: he was to donate his kidney to Jerry. Acting on this sign, on August 7th, 2018, Brock donated his kidney and changed Jerry’s life forever. 

Brock, we recognize your endless compassion for others and going above and beyond to help others in need.

More information on kidney donation can be found by clicking: National Kidney Foundation

EVEN IN HIS PASSING, HE WILL BE REMEMBERED A SELFLESS HERO

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This month started with a tragic story coming out of Canada, when the Humboldt Junior Hockey team bus was involved in an accident that killed 15 of its passengers and left dozens of others injured. One of those injured players was Logan Boulet. Logan was a defensemen from Lethenridge, but will certainly be remembered as much, much more: he will be remembered as a hero.

Immediately following the crash Logan was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support. The hospital quickly went to work trying to find positive matches for his organs. In a statement released by his family, they stated that Logan made it a point to sign his donor card as soon as he turned 21. Logan’s selflessness payed off as the hospital was able to find six positive matches for his organs overnight. In the ultimate act of heroism Logan’s life was lost, but at least six other lives were saved, and as his dad said, even in his passing “he will be a selfless hero.” Not only did Logan directly save the lives of six individuals, he inspired a community to save the lives of countless others. In an average week about 425 people sign up to be organ donors in Alberta. The week following Logan’s heroic act, however, there were over 3,000 donors in Alberta. His actions have sent a ripple effect that will continue to touch and save the lives of others.

An event as severe as this is truly a nightmare, and something that will not be quickly forgotten. One thing for certain, however, is that Logan will forever be remembered and recognized as a hero.

A 16 YEAR OLD BOY HELPING EMPLOY THE HOMELESS

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Our nation has so much access to information and technology and resources, all we could ever want is right at our fingertips. The problem is, we do not always take advantage of it the way we should. Also, far to often a good idea is presented or created, but it is never seen through, the idea is like our attention span, short lived and bouncing from one thing to another. When one is able to overcome what now seems like social norms, incredible things can happen. At 16 years old, Kevin Barber listened to TED talk and like so many, immediately became inspired. It was a talk about a program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that employed the homeless to help clean up the streets. "It just looked really simple, and the statistics were staggering," Kevin thought. That thought developed into an idea, and then Kevin followed through.

With the help of his Mother, Kevin developed his idea into a program that they felt would work, and then reached out to the city government to start a trial run for this homeless program. It’s called “Wheels of Change”. Participants are picked up from the local homeless shelters in a van and then hit the streets, cleaning up San Diego one piece of trash at a time. San Diego has the fourth largest homeless population in America, and with the incredibly positive response the program has received from the community, the waiting list to be able to participate grows every day. Bob McElroy who works with the homeless through the non-profit Alpha Project says the impact the program has had on them is clear by just looking at the faces of the individuals associated. “It is so medicinal for our folks who have always been marginalized and irrelevant.”

Kevin is already looking to expand the program, adding more vans, to help as many homeless as they can. Just because an idea seems too good to be true, doesn’t mean it can’t become a reality. All it takes is the right person acting as the driving force, And Kevin Barber is that right person.

YOUNG LADY SPENDS HER BIRTHDAY HELPING THE HOMELESS, AND WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY

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Jordyn Burch embodies everything we are trying to highlight in this world, and epitomizes someone who truly deserves to be recognized. By doing things with the sole purpose of helping those in need, and bringing a community closer together rather than further separating it, one can create a contagious energy - an energy that trickles down to those impacted by someone's generosity and continues to spread. These are the stories that need to be shared.

This is the story of a young lady who wanted nothing more for her birthday than to give back to the homeless and unsheltered in her community. She wasn’t exactly sure what shape that would take, but ever since she saw the conditions in which so many people in her community lived, she knew she had to do something. As fate would have it, she heard about the Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition's ‘Freeze to the Finish’ 5K happening two days after her birthday and knew that was what she wanted to do to celebrate. Jordyn could barely contain her excitement and began raising money. She stated visiting others in her community, raising donations and doing her part to bring everyone together. By race day, two days after her birthday, she had raised over $3,000 to help the homeless in her community. The Coalition was so grateful for the money she had raised they presented her with a certificate to commemorate her efforts, and some cupcakes as well to help celebrate her big day.  Jordyn Burch is eight years old - eight years and this special young lady chose to spend her birthday and the weeks leading up to it giving back to individuals in her community who truly were in need. “When I was 6, me and my family went to New Orleans and I saw lots of homeless people and it broke my heart..”

Jodryn has taught us all that it does not matter your age, or size, or resources, everyone can do things to help others and bring their communities closer together. These are the stories that should be shared with our children, these are the people that should be going ‘viral’. Jordyn Burch you inspire us all to be better people, we are so happy to share your story.

74-YEAR-OLD MAN HITS THE STREETS TO SAVE HIS WIFE

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It’s amazing to see the lengths people will go through to help the ones they love, and Wayne Winters is a great example. The 74 year-old from Farr West, Utah found himself in a desperate state to help save his wife, who was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failures. Typically, this is something you would wait for through the hospital but Mr. Winters had other ideas, “I didn’t know what to do. I felt like i needed to do something.”

Like a scene out of a movie, Wayne strapped on a sandwich board sign that read, “Need Kidney 4 Wife” and his phone number. With his sign and slacks Wayne walked along busy roads for miles, day after day in search of the kidney to save his best friend. After weeks, Wayne received the call he had been waiting for. His wife is now recovering from transplant surgery. Winters told the local tv station, “I will have my wife back the way she was, normal, helping people, loving people; she likes to serve other people.” It certainly seems that her kindness has rubbed off on Wayne, as he now says he will keep walking and finding donors, making it his ‘life mission’ to help those in need.

SAVING A LIFE, ONE ANIMAL AT A TIME

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Deming Animal Guardians (DAGs) has been addressing the needs of unwanted or abused pets, as well as the care and well being of pets in low-income households, for the past 25 years. Their impact has been felt throughout Luna County, New Mexico, and has even inspired others to chip in. However, one individual, Mike Reitz, has done far more than just chip in.

Mike and his wife Lisa both have a passion for animals, and always want to do more for them. They have been working with animals for some time at their Sunshine Grooming business, but have since expanded their efforts to helping animals in need. They want to give every animal born in their area a fighting chance. To do this, they have began developing their property into a facility to house and rehome unwanted, abused and abandoned pets. Mike has worked endlessly setting up the no-kill shelter and taking in animals all over Deming and Luna Counties. Mike and Lisa have placed over 1,000 pets into loving and caring homes, and the number is still growing. Mike has not stopped driving this forward, as he continues to build more shelters and make room for more animals needing help.

The community has noticed Mike’s efforts, and supports him however they can. Mike says, “There are just too many people to mention, but we greatly appreciate the support. We have no running costs and it’s been strictly volunteer.” Mike knows how important any and all support and donations are. To ensure they are getting the most out of the contributions of others, he oversees and provides the energy for all advancements. Along with finding new homes for animals in need, the Reitz’s work closely with DAGs to offer support to low-income families, so that they help create a better life for the animals that are already part of a loving household. Together they have distributed over 14,000 lbs of emergency food to animal owners in need, and this has only been possible through the donations they have received.

Mike, we recognize your endless compassion and hard work towards providing better lives for the animals of your community, as well as inspiring others to give back and donate the way they have!

MAN SKIPS AN INTERVIEW TO SAVE A STRANGER

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These days, job interviews are not the easiest thing to come by. They are especially difficult when you've been out of prison for only seven days, but Aaron Tucker came out of jail with a new perspective on life, and he was not going to let his past put limitations on his future.

Three weeks after being sentenced, he received a call that his son was born. “I heard my son crying in the background, and right then and there I was like, 'I'm changing my life’.” When he was released, he knew that if he worked hard things would start working in his favor, and he would be able to provide for his son.

Just a week after his release, Aaron started realizing the benefits of this new outlook on life as he put on a dress shirt he received from a halfway home and got on the bus for a job interview. Somewhere along the route, however, the bus driver came to a sudden stop as a car in front of them hit a tree and flipped. Aaron jolted up and asked the driver if he was going to stop to help the driver. "No, but if you get out I'm going to leave,” the driver replied. Without hesitation, Aaron jumped off the bus and sprinted over to the man, whose car was now lying upside down. When he got there the man had already lost a lot of blood from his head, and his bleeding showed no signs of slowing. Aaron pulled the man from the car, as it was now starting to catch fire, and took off his dress shirt to control the man's bleeding. "You're going to be all right," Aaron kept reminding the man as they lay together in the middle of the street. "Your family wants to see you. Keep your eyes open." He continued to lie next to the man, encouraging him and controlling the bleeding until first responders showed up. When they did arrive, Aaron stayed near, grasping the man's arm as they gave him oxygen. “I just wanted to make sure he was alright, and that's what I did,” Aaron said.

Unfortunately, Aaron missed his job interview, but, in his mind, he knew that jobs come and go, but “a life is one time thing." In the end, however, he was rewarded for doing the right thing, as the local community noticed his heroic actions and set up a gofundme page for Aaron and his son. A local businessman gave him a tailored suit to wear to future job interview, and Aaron has since received lots of job offers.

When Aaron was in jail he knew he was going to be the best role model he could be for his son when his sentence was done. He started by getting his GED and becoming a tutor for other inmates while serving, and certainly continued to be a role model by putting his life on hold to help save a stranger's life. We recognize you, Aaron, for your selfless act.

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A BLACKSMITH CHANGES A LIFE IN A SINGLE MOMENT

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In a 19th century blacksmith shop, Rob Lyon was working away at his forge when a little boy ran up, grabbed his leg and asked to be his friend. Without a second thought Mr. Lyon told the little boy that it would be his honor. He had no idea who the little boy was, or the impact this would have on him. The boy was Will Mitcham, a hyperactive and friendly child who has been diagnosed with autism. His mother was often over-protective, and worried that people did not always understand her son and were not very sensitive towards him. She feared that he would not be accepted. That all changed with Mr. Lyon's act of kindness and compassion.

After agreeing to befriend the young boy, Rob asked Ms. Mitcham if he could stay and help him finish his work. The blacksmith spent the rest of the day patiently teaching and showing Will the tricks of his trade. It was another day at work for Mr. Lyon, with nice company, but for Will and his mom it left them a new perspective on life. “His kindness to my son made me realize that I didn’t need to be as protective of my son as I had been – that by trying to shield him from potential hurt, I was actually robbing him of precious opportunities ... to meet and interact with some incredible people.”

Not only did it impact his mom in this way, it also had a huge impact on Will himself, who has made it a part of his everyday life to pay it forward. “He taught me to give kids who have special needs a lot more patience and to teach them the best you can,” said Will. “He also taught me that everyone is worth the same, no matter who they are or what they can do. He made me feel happy, because he became my friend and taught me a lot about how to make people feel important and to be kind. He also taught me respect, patience and kindness, and let me help out in the forge, which was something that I always wanted to do and still want to do.”

Will was able to go back to that the Old Sturbridge Village blacksmith shop and thank his friend for his actions some years ago. Rob was very humbled by the story and felt honored to have been able to have the impact he has had on Will’s life. Although many kids have made their rounds in the Old Sturbridge Village blacksmith shop, none will hold onto the memory the way will has, “After meeting the blacksmith, I felt like somebody finally saw me for who I was, and I still feel like I matter because of him. People with autism should not be made fun of, but they should be given patience and shown kindness. I wish that more people were like the blacksmith.” We recognize both Mr. Lyon for his incredible act of compassion, as well as Will, for his ability to use it as a constant reminder to pay it forward and give back.