Everyday Heroes
‘Aha!’ Don’t Miss Out on Life’s Special Moments
While on a quick morning jog through a Washington, D.C. park, I came across something that warmed my heart. Deciding to follow my instincts that moment turned out to be a decision I’ll never forget.
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Comedi-tarian Michael Pritchard: Healing Through Humor
Have you ever met someone who touched you so deeply your soul shifted? For me and the millions who’ve been touched by the gentle giant known as Dr. Michael Pritchard, you know and you feel what I’m talking about.
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Tea With Toan: A Conversation About How Grief Leads to Generosity & Love
The spirit of the holiday season can be especially difficult for people mired in grief. In this Tea With Toan, author Marianna Cacciatore opens up about her own childhood trauma and shares how people can emerge from the burden of loss to experience a life full of generosity and love.
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Community Heroes’ Inaugural “Day of Giving”
A look back at the first Go Inspire Go Community Heroes “Day of Giving,” which brought together 120 volunteers young and old on four service projects in one day to positively impact where they live and nurture a lifetime of generosity.
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First Day of School Inspiration: Blossoming Community Heroes
Every parent wants their child to be generous and caring, and Go Inspire Go’s Community Heroes program is helping to achieve that. Co-founder and mother Kala Shah shares the impact this program, now entering its third year, has had on elementary school students and their community through acts of kindness, big and small.
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How Hip-Hop is Saving Lives, Creating Humanitarians
Meet our fourth “50 Stories in 50 States” heroes, Chad Harper and Johwell Saint-Cilien. Their program, “Kids Helping Kids: A Hip Hop Experience,” reaches out to hundreds of at-risk New York City youth with the goal of teaching humanity through hip-hop.
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Animal Activist, 12, Takes His Passion Into Politics
Go Inspire Go’s third 50 Stories in 50 States hero is Thomas Ponce, 12, an animal rights activist in Florida with a special gift of inspiring people from lawyers to lawmakers to protect animals through his infectious poise and passion.
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Man Loans House to Homeless Family for a Year
Go Inspire Go’s second “50 Stories in 50 States” hero is Tony Tolbert, a UCLA lecturer and attorney who is carrying on his family’s tradition of generosity by giving up his house to a homeless family of five for a year.
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Go Inspire Go 50/50 Hero No. 1: The Be O.N.E. Project
Go Inspire Go is excited to unveil our first hero in our 50 stories in 50 states campaign: Matthew Kaplan, 16, founder of the The Be O.N.E. Project, a life-changing program he created for middle school students in Arizona to stop bullying behavior before it begins.
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The Power to Change Lives by Sharing Your Life Story
GIG Chief Inspirator Toan Lam shared about his journey with hundreds of people at the 2013 Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit. The reaction it generated was overwhelming.
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Marker Recycling Programs Draw Inspiration from Students
When efforts to find a responsible way to dispose of used drawing markers failed, elementary school students launched an online campaign that caught the attention of major art supply companies who have launched new green disposal initiatives in response.
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Four Go Inspire Go Heroes Fighting for Equality
With the recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, it’s a historic time for marriage equality in America. Here are four heroes Go Inspire Go is saluting to mark the momentous occasion.
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An Inspired Year of Community Heroes
Last year, Kala Shah was inspired to start the Community Heroes club at her son’s elementary school to connect kids with local issues. This year-end video captures the hard work and life lessons learned in this club and will inspire you to hope, dream and take action.
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Better Breathing for a Better Life
When you find yourself in a situation where you get stressed, frightened or caught off guard, what’s the best thing to do? Breathe. Yes, it’s as simple as that.
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Pilot Inspires Compton Kids to Dream Big
Robyn Petgrave, founder of Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, is using aeronautics to get at-risk youth in Compton, Calif., off the streets and into the air — educating, inspiring and empowering them to soar high and reach their dreams by flying airplanes.
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Tea with Toan: Rethink Yoga. Rethink You
Toan Lam chats with Kim Shand, a nationally-renowned yoga expert whose empowering story and life lessons in overcoming a birth defect and depression will inspire you to rethink yoga and rethink your life.
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Boy, 6, with Brain Cancer Shares Halloween Spirit of Giving
Not wanting kids fighting cancer at a local hospital to miss out on Halloween fun, Nico Castro, 6, a brain cancer patient himself, rallied a community to acquire costumes and goodie bags for more than 50 children. | Video
Part 2: 6-Year-Old Halloween Hero Quadruples Goal, Brings Holiday Spirit to Sick Kids
Girl, 8, Makes Inspiring Stand Against Slavery With Lemonade
Sometimes the best life lessons are learned from kids. Kids like Vivienne Harr, a personality-full-cup-runneth-over, 8-year-old philanthropy phenom whose lemonade stand has raised more than $50,000 in the fight against modern-day slavery.
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Why Your Story Matters
Feel inspired as you learn about Villy Wang, who went from working in a sweatshop and living in the New York projects to achieving her dreams as a Wall Street banker and lawyer. Find out why she left a big job title and paycheck to start BAYCAT, a nonprofit that educates, inspires and employs underserved youth.
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VOENA Inspires Worldwide Audience in London 2012 Summer Olympics
How appropriate that the theme of this year’s Summer Olympic Games is “Inspire a Generation” and that Go Inspire Go is on the go in London with the U.S.-based youth choir VOENA, which will leave you on a high note.
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Create an Art-felt Expression of Gratitude For Those You Love
Nothing says “thank you” better than a kind gesture from the heart. It also doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive or time intensive. My favorite thing to receive is a handwritten thank you card — however, this time, because I love you so much — I’m going to kick it up a notch.
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Tea with Toan: Princess Tirelo and NBA Team Up to Inspire Confidence in Youth
This is a special edition of Tea with Toan, instead of a recorded Skype conversation — Toan decided to take this interview offline and interview Princess Tirelo Molotlegi in person about her royal family’s collaboration with the National Basketball Association.
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Go Inspire Go’s Photo Flash Mob Walk
What do you get when you gather social do-gooders, add creativity + community + conversation with a splash of social media? A Go Inspire Go (GIG) Photo Walk Flash Mob of course!
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Tea with Toan: Using Music to Unify Youth, Spark Inspiration and Harmony
Artist Manager Natalie Pryce shares how a chance meeting with a stranger, Father Andrew Stringfellow, on a train in the U.K., inspired her passion to be elevated and transformed into something quite remarkable. Watch and find out how Natalie uses her power, connections and love for music to orchestrate a unique safe place for youth from all backgrounds together.
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Tea With Toan: Inspiring Heart and Community Through Photos
What do you do with your pictures after capturing the perfect landscape, loved one or moment? If the photos are still digitally archived, you have to watch my “Tea with Toan” interview with photographer Kat Sloma. Her “Photo Heart Connection” project will give you a new appreciation of your photography while connecting to other images around the world.
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Anti-Gay Bullying: Standing Up for Truth
Have you ever felt like your life did not matter… Your feelings not heard, seen or considered? How about feeling isolated without feeling like you could talk to anyone? 20-year-old Emerald Gwinner knows that feeling. She had a secret, but no one to confide in. Her story never would have been shared had Emerald put her fatal plans into action.
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Riding High on Life
Casey Miller seemed to have it all. The Harvard grad made money, traveled the world, and acquired stuff, but he still felt empty. Motivated by the readings of a Greek philosopher, he decided to do something he was very afraid of: ride a bike across the country and along the way ask people some simple questions. What inspires you? Are you doing it now? Why not? His journey was aptly named “Socrates Spoke.”
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London Riots Won Over by a Nation of Tea Lovers
What happens after your life has been threatened and in danger and you’ve successfully run to safety? According to Jonathan Walker and his wife Philippa Morgan Walker, “Put the kettle on!” That’s exactly what this British couple did. They served the police tea after being stuck in the middle of the recent London riots — a simple act that inspired an entire nation.
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Going the Extra Smile: Project Connects World Through Grins
For anyone who has ever doubted his or her ability to make a positive impact — no matter what socioeconomic background, gender or creed — meet Claire Lemmel, someone who instantly puts a smile on your face and who has discovered the true meaning of joy. Smile.
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Make the Connection: Why One Man is Walking from Canada to Mexico
Jordan Bower is a business graduate-turned-vagabond who hopes his wanderlust inspires you to change by putting down your gizmos, gear and gadgets to engage with one another. The 31-year-old Toronto native wants you to join him on his journey. His latest adventure: to walk from Vancouver to Mexico. His goal is to create a shift in you and me.
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Teenager Helps African Villagers Build Brick Oven and Water System to Survive
When it comes to wanting to help others, Lily Gordon does more than talk the talk. She runs at full-speed. This 16-year-old’s efforts have led to a clean water system and brick oven to supply food for villagers in Tanzania. And she has more plans on the way.
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Unemployed Man Lifeline to 60 Neighbors
Every Tuesday afternoon you can hear the wheels of Herman Travis’ shopping cart clacking against the cracked, sloped sidewalks of San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood — an annoying sound for any passerby. But for many residents in this low-income community the sound is heavenly — their angel Travis.
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Four Preschoolers Inspire 135,000 Meals for the Needy
Meet Phoebe, Ethan, Emily and Sophia — four of the youngest humanitarians you may ever meet. They have raised money, rallied resources and heightened visibility about hunger in their community to enable the San Francisco Food Bank to serve more than 135,000 meals.
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Recipe For Success: Karma Kitchen Serves Up Generosity
Every Sunday at Taste of Himalayas restaurant in Berkeley, Calif., Karma Kitchen cooks up kindness. Paid-for bills are the norm as guests are inspired to help out complete strangers. It’s a volunteer-run experiment in selflessness that is spreading across the country.
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1,000+ Volunteers Team Up to ‘Be The Change’
People talk about change. Some dream about it. Others take action and ARE the change. In early October, hundreds of volunteers from across the San Francisco Bay Area heeded that call for the appropriately titled “Be the Change Day.”
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Superhero Capes Provide Hope & Inspiration for Sick Children
To help instill courage and power in the battle against cancer, 4,000 sick children and their siblings have been given custom homemade Superhero capes. The capes are gifts, sewn with inspiration and sent with blessings of love, from Wonder Capes.
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Homeboy Industries
Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehabilitation center in the U.S., has been taking thousands of “homeboys” and “homegirls” off the streets of Los Angeles and giving them a second chance at life.
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Oakland Doctor Gives ‘GIFT’ of Health Care
Amidst the ongoing health care debate in America, one doctor has a simple solution: just give it away. Why would anyone do such a thing and how does it work? We made an appointment with Dr. Aumatma Shah to find out.
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Gratitude Jog Blog
Strawberries, a phone call from a long-lost friend, the fresh spring weather — inspired me to do something I’ve never done before — document my jog with my flip cam. The goal: To look for things I’m grateful for while on my run. I hope this inspires you to be on the lookout for things you’re grateful for too.
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6-Year-Old Inspires Movement To Feed 120,000 People
GIG highlighted San Francisco pre-schooler, Phoebe, who self-initiated an aluminum can drive to feed the hungry.
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July 30, 2009: Go Inspire Go Goes Global, Rolling out weekly GIG blogs for Huffington Post & Thank You!
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Dec. 23, 2009: Giving a little, gaining A LOT! Feeding Your Spirit this Holiday Season
Behind the Story With Toan Lam: A Personal Account
GIG Helps New Jersey Reverend Build School In Haiti
GIG highlighted New Jersey Reverend Alerte’s mission to build a Jr. High School in his hometown of Grande-Saline, Haiti. He was moved to begin his project after cries from locals for education in this impoverished town.
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Feb. 15, 2010: How You Can Help N.J. Rev. Lemaire Alerte Build a School in Haiti | Video
Behind the Story With Toan Lam: A Personal Account
New York Woman Saves Lives of 10,000 Dogs
Emelinda Narvaez believes dogs are angels of this Earth. That’s why she’s spent the last 41 years of her life, saving the lives of more than 10,000 through her non-profit, Earth Angels, a no-kill canine rescue and adoption organization established to rescue homeless and abandoned dogs.
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Unlikely Santa Grants Holiday Wishes To His Community
Richard Valdez is living proof that joy comes from GIVING not Getting! Richard is a truck driver from San Jose, Calif. who heard many stories about families in his community who were hit hard by the economy — with tight budgets, stories about families who couldn’t afford Christmas gifts for the kids broke his heart. So he took action and a unique event was unwrapped!
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MedShare & GO Inspire GO Helping Haiti
Following the 7.0 earthquake that rocked the poor island nation of Haiti, the Go Inspire Go Team immediately sent emails to our community, urging everyone in our global nexus to act in whatever way they could by donating money or time to help the people in Haiti who have no shelter, no food, water and proper medical care.
Jan. 19, 2010: MedShare and GO Inspire GO Urge YOU to ACT NOW! |
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From the BIG C to little c… We all know someone with CANCER – Let’s talk about it!
Let’s face it. We all know someone with cancer or have been touched by it in some way or another. My friend George Lin died at age 37 of Pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor of the adrenal gland. My father and aunt died within a few months of each other – both from the BIG C. But it doesn’t have to be the taboo BIG C anymore. Let’s make it cancer with the little c, and change the way we talk about and view it.
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Loved Twice: 20,000+ lbs. of Clothes for Underprivileged Newborns
After one of the worst natural disasters struck the United States, Lisa Klein of Oakland, Calif. put two and two together and created LovedTwice.org.
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Illinois Family Sells Company; Gives $6.6 Million In Bonuses
In a time where we are inundated with bad news about our economic landscape, corporate greed and bank bailouts — it was refreshing to meet the Spungen family — such an authentically kind family with solid values.
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A Real Life ‘Angel’ in Queens, New York
GIG highlighted Jorge Munoz, a New York school bus driver, who spends more than half of his $700 per week salary on food to feed more than 100 hungry people at a subway stop every night.
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Aug. 9, 2009: Toan Lam Heads To New York
Aug. 10, 2009: An Angel in New York (continued)
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Behind the Story With Toan Lam: A Personal Account
Sacramento: The People of Tent City
You may have heard about Tent Cities sprawling up across America. Middle-class American families who have lost their jobs and homes are pitching tents. They are the new faces of homelessness in America. When I heard the news that a Tent City was rapidly growing in my hometown of Sacramento, I had to visit and find out more about these families.
Mar. 13, 2009: I’ve Created a Movement!!!
Mar. 20, 2009: Dr. Toan Lam, the Dentist?!
Daylight Saving Time, A Reminder to Tap Into More Abundance
March 14, 2021
What Pillows Taught Me About Snapping Out of My Creative Rut
February 17, 2021
How to Still Have a Happy Thanksgiving During the Pandemic
November 26, 2020
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