Inspiring stories of philanthropy and giving back
The act of giving back is a difficult one. Philanthropy can be expensive and time consuming, and the returns are not always clear. But those who do embrace it reap some pretty amazing rewards: gratitude from others, satisfaction with themselves, a sense of purpose in their daily lives.
In this post, we collected inspiring stories of philanthropy and giving back to provide motivation for anyone looking to make a positive impact on his or her community. We've got stories about people who have given selflessly to help those that need it most — sick children who need medical care or families living without electricity in rural Africa — as well as people who have dedicated time and money toward making their own communities better places to live.
But, before we get started, here's a quick reminder:
While the stories that follow are real and heartwarming, and while great acts of philanthropy are happening all over the world, they're by no means intended to act as inspiration for those who aren't already engaged in some sort of giving back. Rather, they're here to serve as a reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together to make our world a better place.
Isn't that what the holiday season is all about anyway?
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The man who saved Christmas for thousands of children. Continue reading →
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A former writer for Saturday Night Live who went on to become a family doctor now serves as executive director of Doctors Without Borders UK, and he's bringing desperately-needed medical care to war-torn countries around the world. Continue reading →
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The woman who found herself after spending years helping others. Continue reading →
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A 30-year-old woman working to end poverty in her neighborhood. Continue reading →
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A man who dropped out of college to build houses for the homeless. Continue reading →
" My mother was an Air Force doctor at Osan Air Base in South Korea when I was born in 1981 and we left when I was 12, a year later she met my father at church. He had served as an Army medic and was stationed there as well. While he was stationed in Korea, he got stranded and needed to get home. My mother took him back to the states and then they started dating. " Continue reading →
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A couple who hit the streets of New York City to see if they could help the homeless. The couple spent hours a day posting fliers on subway cars, and soon had thousands of loyal fans volunteering to help them. Continue reading →
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A family in need of a kidney donation. A Manhattan taxi driver stepped up to save their lives, passing his kidney tissue into a friend's wife over the course of two decades. Continue reading →
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" I was inspired to start the nonprofit after seeing the news that a woman with six children had drowned after being swept into a fast-moving flood in southern Africa. " Continue reading →
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A woman who was waiting for her son to come in from school when she passed out. The paramedics said they couldn't transport the mother very far because she would need a helicopter ride to the hospital, but as soon as they saw how much weight she'd lost, they realized that she should be brought right there on the stretcher. Her son noticed his mother's condition, so he put her on his back and carried her across town... Continue reading →
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A fashion designer in Hong Kong who decided to make a difference with her own successful clothing line. She donates a portion of her sales to charity and works closely with the Horizon Program Hong Kong, an organization that provides surgery and family support for children living in underdeveloped areas of rural China. Continue reading →
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A man from New Jersey who spent six years volunteering at a children's hospital in Ghana, West Africa. After returning home, he founded a nonprofit to help build schools for children there in his spare time—and he's still using 10% of his salary to give back to those kids. Continue reading →
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" I founded it myself, knowing that it would be a self-sustaining organisation. " Continue reading →
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A former soldier who started a company that collects millions of tons of e-waste, and then recycles and refurbishes it for resale in developing countries at very low prices so that people can afford to have their own computers. Continue reading →
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A college student who started a nonprofit to help raise money for people with disabilities, even after he was diagnosed with leukemia. Continue reading →
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A 7th grade student who founded a community garden to help feed hungry people in Washington, D.C. Continue reading →
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A former Olympic swimmer who gave up her career to become a teacher and motivational speaker for children, sharing a message of hope and perseverance. Continue reading →
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" People have told me that I am giving my arms and legs for someone, while they tend to their own families. But I don't see it like that. I am proud of what I have done, and it makes me strong every day. " Continue reading →
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A man who served in the Army for 23 years and now serves as a full-time firefighter, volunteering at his local fire department on his days off from work. Continue reading →
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A woman who runs a nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy into the lives of sick children. Her organization quickly became a huge success after she started giving out "hugs" at various public events. Continue reading →
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A man who saw a YouTube video of people dancing on the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan and knew he had to help them build their first orphanage.
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