Good News Notes: “Several hours into her day at Nelsen Middle School in Renton, Gena Woodke walked out of her little office to help monitor the boisterous lunchtime crowds. School counselor Tiffany Smith was waiting for her, laptop in hand. Could they make a call to a student’s mom together? The student, who is homeless…
Tag: philanthropy
Dolly Parton’s Dollywood says it’ll pay all tuition costs for employees pursuing higher education
Good News Notes: “For Dolly Parton’s generations of fans, the country music icon’s Dollywood amusement park in Tennessee is an experience that keeps visitors entertained and giddy, from roller coasters and waterslides to stylish lodging and over-the-top dinner shows. Dollywood Parks and Resorts can now offer something else for its employees: Their fees will be…
How Pittsburgh Steelers’ Najee Harris and family are helping out homeless shelter where they once lived
Good News Notes: “When he went back to the shelter for a visit between helping Alabama win the national championship in January and becoming the No. 24 overall pick of the NFL draft in April, Harris noticed the carpet. He made a mental note to change it when he got the chance. A few months…
$370K granted to Kaua‘i nonprofits
Good News Notes: “Eleven Kaua‘i organizations have received a combined $370,000 in grants from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. The donations come from the foundation’s new CHANGE Grants program, which donated $7 million total to 194 nonprofits statewide. CHANGE stands for Community and economy, Health and wellness, Arts and culture, Natural environment, Government “These grants will…
Kyrie Irving makes clean water a reality in Pakistani village
Good News Notes: “Fans (and some media) have tried to paint Kyrie Irving as a villain and a malcontent in corners like Boston and Cleveland, but the Nets star is being quietly hailed as a hero in others, where his philanthropy is changing lives. His latest effort — a solar-powered water plant in Rohal, one of…
Xiaomi Co-Founder Donates $2.2 Billion of Shares to Charity
Good News Notes: “Xiaomi Corp. co-founder Lei Jun donated $2.2 billion of shares in the smartphone maker to charity, joining other technology company chieftains in giving to philanthropy amid increased scrutiny on the industry. Lei on July 13 donated 616 million Class B shares to the Xiaomi Foundation and the Lei Jun Foundation, according to…
Najee Harris on Skipping NFL Draft to Throw Party at Homeless Shelter
Good News Notes: “Najee Harris wanted to give back to celebrate a momentous moment in his life. While appearing virtually on Friday’s episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the 23-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers rookie opened up about his decision to skip the NFL Draft event earlier this year in favor of throwing a party at a homeless shelter in Richmond, California, where he used…
Tesla founder Elon Musk has spent $150 million on charity in 2021
Good News Notes: “Elon Musk is on a philanthropy spending spree. In the months immediately after briefly becoming the world’s richest person, Musk has been transforming his profile as a philanthropist, appearing seemingly every few weeks bearing gifts — in public. That represents a departure from Musk’s penchant for privacy and his relatively thin history as a…
10 Selfless Sports Stars That Are Giving Back To Their Communities In Very Powerful Ways
Good News Notes: “Whenever news breaks of an athlete being signed to a multimillion-dollar contract or endorsement deal, most of us have a tendency to roll our eyes. Of course, we sometimes think, they’re now going to spend it on luxury clothes and a fancy mansion — and all they do is throw a ball…
Jack Dorsey’s surprising $1 billion commitment to charity
Good News Notes: “Jack Dorsey is making what may be the largest private gift to tackling the coronavirus and its consequences, pledging to spend up to $1 billion as part of an unexpected philanthropic push. The founder of Twitter and Square announced Tuesday that he would move $1 billion of his own money into a…