An Teen Inspired to Help Other Teens

The ABC News series AmeriCAN has found teen Krissi Fajgenbaum who has organized a clothing drive for teens by teens to help with college interviews, internships or just to have a better life. 5,000 pounds of clothing so far has been distributed. Check out the story here:


AmeriCan Inspired to Help Peers

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Nothing like family!

It is often said that sometimes what you are looking for is right under your nose, but in this case, it was right across the street.

This is the story of a woman who found her long-lost brother right across the street from where she lives. Here is the video of this remarkable family reunion.



Here is the text & link to the story from KTBS....

Who's the guy across the street? Turns out it was Candace Eloph's brother, who had been given up for adoption 32 years ago.

Jamie Wheat was born at Barksdale Air Force Base's hospital. His birth mother, Joellen Cottrell, eventually moved from Louisiana and had other children, but did not keep her son a secret.

"My girls always knew that they had a brother," she said. "I've always looked for him."

Eloph, who is one of those daughters, found her brother by chance.

She had moved into a Shreveport neighborhood, across the street from a couple who had a 32-year-old son. Eight months ago, that 32-year-old son, Jamie Wheat, moved back in with his parents.

He and Eloph became friends -- and one day started talking about family.

"We were sitting one day and talking and she said, 'I had a brother born Jan. 27, 1977, that was adopted,'" Wheat recalled. "I was like -- I was adopted. My mom was 16 when she gave me up for adoption."

Candace called her mother, who drove all night to meet Wheat.

They knew in their hearts he was the son Joellen Cottrell had been looking for, but they wanted confirmation. DNA testing did it.

Wheat was with his families when he opened the letter from the lab. His adoptive parents said they are thrilled about the new stage in their son's life.

"It was just surprising that they lived across the street from us for two and a half years," Ted Wheat said. "When they told us, we said this is the greatest news it could be."

http://www.ktbs.com/news/New-neighbor-turns-out-to-be-brother-given-up-for-adoption-32192/#

'Class of Katrina' Grads Give Back To Pay It Forward

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High school graduates this year from New Orleans were forced to overcome unimaginable obstacles 4 years ago - Hurricane Katrina crushed the Gulf Coast when they were entering their freshman year of high school. Many survived through the goodwill of others, in turn they passed that goodwill on to their peers & communities. An incredible story about giving back to pay it forward. This is part of the NBC Nightly News series - Making A Difference.

Times Square Still Has Soul

The idea of a greener, more pedestrian-friendly Times Square caused a bit of hysteria for some New Yorkers when the Transportation Department announced parts of the legendary Square would close to traffic. The fear - Times Square would lose its soul. But as the New York Times reports, the famed tourist spot remains in tact. And for those wanting to soak in the sun in the heart of the Big Apple, good news, there's a lawn chair on Broadway between 42nd and 47th Streets waiting for you! Sit back, relax and enjoy the sounds and smells of New York City!
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/arts/design/26clos.html?_r=1&ref=arts">

Show Me the Cupcakes!!!

Now here's a good news story for those living in the Big Apple. A new cupcake vendor is coming to town. More good news? You don't have to stand in long lines outside storefront windows wishing and hoping and praying your favorite flavor will be available by the time the "doorman" lets you inside. You get the point.

Here's the scoop on the new kid in town. Cupcake Stop is calling itself "New York's first mobile cupcake stoppe." This dessert truck is the brainchild of Lev Ekster. Just six months ago Ekster found himself spending long hours at the New York Law School library prepping for a legal career. After graduating and realizing the prospect of finding a full-time position with a firm in today's economic times may not happen, he quickly channeled his entrepreneurial spirit. Ekster saw how his fellow New Yorkers were cupcake-obsessed - for good reason of course - and decided to meet their need.

"This is a mobile city where everyone's always on the go," Ekster told CNN. "I thought, 'Let's come to them'."

The idea was born and Cupcake Stop was created. In addition to traveling throughout the city and offering a variety of cupcakes on different days, the truck will deliver gourmet coffee and other drinks.

The truck will be conducting a test drive to survey locations this Friday as it preps for its public debut on June 3. Want to find out where the Cupcake Stop truck is making rounds at any given time? Just check Twitter for the truck's location. Easy enough!

And here's the best news of all - Cupcake Stop plans to donate leftover cupcakes to City Harvest, a charity that donates unused to food from New York restaurants and vendors to the homeless.

From Mississippi Burning to Mississippi Turning!

The town of Philadelphia, Mississippi, known for the murders of three civil rights workers in 1964, has caught the public’s attention yet again – this time for electing the town’s first black mayor. James Young, a 53-year-old minister, edged out a win over incumbent Mayor Rayburn Waddell by a 64 vote margin.

Young’s victory sends out a message that Philadelphia is turning a new leaf. He told reporters it shows a change of attitude and a desire to move forward. A Philadelphia native, Young integrated the local elementary school in the 1960s. He was the only black student in his sixth-grade class.

A predominantly white town of 7,300 people, Philadelphia, Mississippi, was once known for the Ku Klux Klan killings of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner in August 1964. The three young men were murdered as they attempted to organize voters during the “Freedom Summer.”

Chaney, who was black, was accompanied by two white co-workers, Goodman and Schwerner, during a “Freedom Summer” voter registration campaign through the south.

The murders were featured in the 1988 movie “Mississippi Burning.”

This is a story of change and hope. It is also about overcoming the burdens of the past. History can be rewritten – the election of James Young is proof of that.

Volunteers Step Up to Help Those in Need

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While financial contributions to charities continue to drop in number, non-profits have seen a surprising rise in the number of volunteers stepping up to help those in need. Many of the volunteers are unemployed, but rather spend their days doing something worthwhile - giving back to others.

CBS Honors "Angels"

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The CBS Early Show has been honoring unsung heroes all month in a special series called Early's Angels. For the animal lovers out there - here's one of many stops CBS made on their trek to find angels throughout the country. An animal rescuer gets a special makeover for her rescue shelter in Nyack, New York. You'll love her story.

A Natural Healing Process For Veterans

Here's a CNN report on a "green" jobs program that helps military veterans learn marketable job skills while discovering a deeper understanding of their experiences in combat. The Veterans Conservation Corps initiative was designed for vets to study and train to enter the ever-increasing "green" jobs field.

From Serving in Iraq to The White House

From the Iraq war, to campaign trial, to receptionist of the United States. A young woman's incredible journey.

Copy & paste this link in your web browser for the full story: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/05/16/us/politics/20090516ROTUS/index.html

What's for Lunch? How About a Hug!

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What started out as an interactive art project in Los Angeles has turned into a beach-front deli serving up nothing but HUGS! Believe it or not, they have menu to choose from! Check out this story from The Early Show on CBS.

City of Music

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Here’s a story from NBC. Chris Jansing reports on a program based in Phoenix, Arizona, called SOCKS – Sounds of the Community for Kids. Molly Yang, 17, shares her love of music with inner-city elementary school kids through the SOCKS program. Her goal – to help expand this opportunity to students throughout the Phoenix area. Imagine – a city of music!

Neighborhood Joins Forces to Help Homeless

http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/crime/article/community_rallies_to_help_homeless_man/15682/

Here's a story from Columbus that my friend Angie asked me to check out. The local NBC affiliate covered the story. It's about a neighborhood coming together to support a homeless man they commonly refer to as "friend."

Students Helping Honduras

Here’s a great story from CNN.com. Shin Fujiyama, 25, is the founder of Students Helping Honduras, an organization that aids children and families in need through service trips and fundraisers. The back story is inspiring. Fujiyama told CNN his childhood was dominated by health concerns. Born in a fishing village in Japan doctors told his parents he had a hole in his heart and they weren’t sure how long he would live. It was during a later visit to the doctor, Fujiyama says, when his family learned the hole had closed. “Somehow I was cured and I became a normal kid,” Fujiyama said. “And I had a second chance.”

During Fujiyama’s sophomore year at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, he took a volunteer trip to Honduras with a campus group. His visit was eye-opening. Seeing children living in such poverty made Fujiyama realize he could help give other kids their own second chance.

Be sure to check out the video links of Fujiyama in Honduras. His organization has grown to 25 campuses and has raised more than $750,000.

Imprint-TV Is Launching Soon!!!

Imprint-TV is getting ready officially launch in a couple weeks! It's been a process a bit longer than we expected, but we're anticipating getting our first story out there, plus the many more that will follow every week. Each Monday we'll upload a new good news story to our website: http:///imprint-tv.net

Our blog though will be updated on a daily basis as we upload stories, videos, quotes, etc., of great things that are happening not only in New York City, but around this country & the world. We look forward to your suggestions and encourage you to share your own good news stories with us all. Thank you for your support!

Helene