NBA Star John Wall Donates $400,000 To Help Homeless Kids with Child Care & Education - http://urbanintellectuals.com

By F. Taylor -  September 29, 2015

Not all good deeds go unnoticed and hopefully will not only bring notoriety to the philanthropic person, but inspire the rest of us to get off our butts, stop talking about it and helping out those less fortunate than us.

NBA star and point guard for the Washington Wizards John Wall decided to make a difference in his corner of the world this week. He donated almost a half million dollars to a homeless organization that focuses on serving children whose families are in shelters or transitional housing.

The name of the organization is Bright Beginnings. According to the Huffington Post, the charity services over 160 kids each day. They made a Facebook page announcement this past Friday touting Wall’s donation and commitment to children and families.

“Support from individuals like Mr. Wall, gives Bright Beginnings the encouragement to continue to provide comprehensive services for homeless children in the District of Columbia,” Betty Jo Gaines, the organization’s executive director, said in the statement. “It is evident that John Wall is sensitive and concerned about the plight of homeless children in D.C. and he wants these children to succeed.”

Bright Beginnings deals with the younger kids on the age range, focusing on preschool-age children and younger. However, it hopes to add an additional school to service another 100 children a day, no word on the age range, but the assumption is it will remain the same.

Wall made the donation through his charitable foundation called John Wall Family Foundation.

Hats off to Mr. Wall, his foundation and his efforts to make a difference in his corner of the world. If more of us would stop complaining and follow the example of these great people making a difference, the world would be a better place.

And no, we all don’t have $400,000 to spare, but we do have something and let’s not neglect the importance of volunteering our time.

Source: HuffingtonPost

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PUBLIC NOTE: The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the view of the Urban Intellectuals, affiliates or partners.

RESPECT: Shaquile O’Neal Plans on Opening a Free Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge - http://urbanintellectuals.com

By Anthony Thomas -

July 6, 2016

Widely regarded as one of the world’s most dominant athletes, Shaquille O’Neal is probably the most gregarious personality in Basketball history. He has an autobiography (Shaquille Talks Back) and preserves a web presence for his worldwide fan base using his image as basketball’s great jokester, but we aren’t talking about his career today.

We are discussing the philanthropic aims of Shaq, who has done a lot of work for people all around the world throughout his NBA career and during retirement.

Shaq has said he plans to launch a new children’s hospital in Baton Rouge, LA that would be completely free. Whoa!!

From Cody Worsham for Tiger Rag (via SLAM):

It was a spur of the moment declaration from Dr. O’Neal, who was addressing the media ahead of his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 29.

“I wasn’t supposed to announce this, but I’m going to do it anyway,” Dr. O’Neal said. “I had a talk with the powers that be in Baton Rouge, and my plan is to build a Shaquille O’Neal children’s hospital. That’s my plan, so that right now is in the works, and hopefully it gets done. ”

Dr. O’Neal said the idea has been discussed for two years, and his goal is to join with Our Lady of the Lake “to build the biggest, freest hospital in the state of Louisiana.”

“All sick children can come for free,” he said. “That’s my vision.” […]

Dr. O’Neal’s announcement couldn’t come at a better time for Louisiana. Faced with budget shortfalls, the state has cut funding to hospitals by $260 million dollars in recent years, according to testimony by House Speaker Chuck Kleckley during the legislative session in May.

Such funding cuts have led Gov. Bobby Jindal — who has continued to reject federal Medicaid expansion that would provide the state more immediate dollars under the Affordable Care Act, citing the law’s inflexibility — to seek private sources of funding for many of the state’s public hospitals.

Read more: http://urbanintellectuals.com/2016/07/06/respect-shaquile-oneal-plans-on-opening-a-free-childrens-hospital-in-baton-rouge/#ixzz4EW4iTtVf 

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Naturally, it takes a lot of time and money to build a hospital, but if anyone can do something for the children in Baton Rouge, it would be this big man with a bigger heart!

Many believe Shaq was influenced by a father with a military background, Shaquille has made public service the other part of his life, and his contributions to society range from donations to organizations and charities across the United States to working part-time as a police office in Miami, Los angels, and phoenix, but it is believed this would be his first venture into free hospital support for children.

Here’s to hoping Shaq can pull of the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital inspired model to help the children of the Baton Rouge area.

Read more: http://urbanintellectuals.com/2016/07/06/respect-shaquile-oneal-plans-on-opening-a-free-childrens-hospital-in-baton-rouge/#ixzz4EW4pN1i9 

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PUBLIC NOTE: The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the view of the Urban Intellectuals, affiliates or partners. 

Marshawn Lynch joins Seahawks DE Cliff Avril to build school in Haiti - ESPN.com

• 
  Sheil KapadiaESPN Writer

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril led a trip last week to improve conditions for some children in Haiti.

Avril, whose parents came to America from Haiti in the 1980s, was joined by Marshawn Lynch, Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus.




Lynch has been retired for a little more than two months. During that time, he has ridden on camels in Egypt, dunked on a student and hung out with Bill Clinton, in addition to the Haiti trip.

"It’s awesome to have their support, it’s awesome to be in a situation where guys are willing to take that step with you," Avril told the Seahawks' web site. "Marshawn wants to help actually build the school out there. There’s a lot of good guys in the NFL ... It’s cool to have these guys’ support."

In addition to building the school, Avril and the players were scheduled to host a mobile medical clinic and a youth football camp.

Back in November, Avril spoke at length about passing on to his children the lessons he learned from his dad. The 30-year-old pass-rusher has spent the past three seasons with the Seahawks after beginning his career with the Lions.

My Brother's Keeper Initiative - www.whitehouse.gov/my-brothers-keeper

President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.

Through this initiative, the Administration is joining with cities and towns, businesses, and foundations who are taking important steps to connect young people to mentoring, support networks, and the skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way into the middle class.

My Brother’s Keeper is focused on six milestones:

1. Getting a Healthy Start and Entering School Ready to Learn:
All children should have a healthy start and enter school ready – cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally.

2. Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade:
All children should be reading at grade level by age 8 – the age at which reading to learn becomes essential.

3. Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career:
All youth should receive a quality high school education and graduate with the skills and tools needed to advance to postsecondary education or training.

4. Completing Postsecondary Education or Training:
Every American should have the option to attend postsecondary education and receive the education and training needed for the quality jobs of today and tomorrow.

5. Successfully Entering the Workforce:
Anyone who wants a job should be able to get a job that allows them to support themselves and their families.

6. Keeping Kids on Track and Giving Them Second Chances:
All youth and young adults should be safe from violent crime; and individuals who are confined should receive the education, training, and treatment they need for a second chance.

Learn more about the My Brother's Keeper initiative.


Get Involved

My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge

In September 2014, President Obama issued a challenge to cities, towns, counties and tribes across the country to become “MBK Communities.” This challenge represents a call to action for all members of our communities, and mayors in particular, as they often sit at the intersection of many of the vital forces and structural components needed to enact sustainable change through policy, programs, and partnerships.

The MBK Community Challenge encourages communities (cities, rural municipalities, and tribal nations) to implement a coherent cradle-to-college-and-career strategy for improving the life outcomes of all young people to ensure that they can reach their full potential, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or the circumstances into which they are born. Nearly 200 mayors, tribal leaders, and county executives across 43 states and the District of Columbia have accepted the MBK Community Challenge.

The six goals of the Challenge are:

• Ensuring all children enter school cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally ready
• Ensuring all children read at grade level by 3rd grade
• Ensuring all youth graduate from high school
• Ensuring all youth complete post-secondary education or training
• Ensuring all youth out of school are employed
• Ensuring all youth remain safe from violent crime

Community leaders can lay the groundwork for an MBK Community in four steps:

• Accept the President’s Challenge
• Convene a “Local Action Summit” to build an MBK Community
• Conduct a policy review and form recommendations for action
• Launch a plan of action, next steps and a timetable for review

Two Years of My Brothers Keeper




Since MBK’s first anniversary report a little more than one year ago, more than 50 additional communities have accepted the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, including those in seven new states, independent private sector support for grants and in-kind resources has more than doubled to more than $600 million, and more than 80% of the recommendations the MBK Task Force sent to the President two years ago are complete or on track.

This report tracks progress achieved in the past year on efforts to make a measurable difference in the lives of young people.

This report is available at: www.whitehouse.gov/my-brothers-keeper

Sign Up to Be a Mentor.

Commit to making a difference by pledging to mentor a young person in your community. 

Get started at Serve.gov/mentor

“Paparazzi For Good” Cameras Paid to Catch Average Folks in Acts of Kindness - www.goodnewsnetwork.com

“Paparazzi For Good” Cameras Paid to Catch Average Folks in Acts of Kindness

by Terry Turner - Mar 8, 2016

A sausage-maker is getting paparazzi to refocus their cameras away from celebrities to the real stars of this world — people who do good for others.

Amateur photographers, like you, can also get paid the big bucks for snapshots – earning $500 for capturing the best weekly picture of someone committing an act of kindness.

Jimmy Dean launched “Paparazzi For Good” to pay professional celebrity photographers their going rate to capture images of everyday people helping others.

Professional photographer Giles Harrison captures shots of a man who cleans his local beach and a chef who hands out food to the homeless. The company will use the images in ads splashed across magazines that that mainly cover the rich and famous such as US Weekly and People.

“Looking back on the pictures I took today it fills me with a sense of passion, a sense of purpose,” the paparazzo says of his change of pace assignment.

Paparazzi For Good, part of Jimmy Dean’s “Shine it Forward” campaign, was extended to the general public last Friday and the company says it will choose the best photo of the week and pay $500 for the submission.

You can post your pictures of people doing good to their website, or just post on social media with the hashtag #ShineOnPics.

Photos so far include images of a man who runs a horse rescue operation, people collecting used medical equipment to donate to others, and a Boy Scout simply changing a flat tire for a friend’s parents.

Chef Wins Reality Show and Uses Money To Feed Chicago Homeless - www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Chef Wins Reality Show and Uses Money To Feed Chicago Homeless

By McKinley Corbley - Mar 6, 2016

Thanks to his winning a recent reality television show, Quentin Love can open his big heart to all the big appetites in the Chicago homeless community.

Every Monday for the last two years, Love’s restaurant, the Turkey Chop Grill, would close for business and fire up their grills for anyone in the city in need of a hot meal. With the help of a weekly team of volunteers, Love has paid nearly $2,000 a month out of pocket for over 60,000 free meals.

The compassionate business model, however, was not sustainable enough to keep going on its own.

That’s when Guy Fieri called with an invitation to compete for a $36,000 prize on the Food Network reality television show Guy’s Grocery Games.

It was a gamble, but Love won the action-packed competition and not only used half of the prize money to continue feeding hungry Chicagoans in need, but he also donated the other half to the United Services Organization.

Whether this kind, talented, and good-looking chef is single, we don’t know – but we do know that the Turkey Chop Grill will stay open for business and continue to be a hot spot for the homeless.

Soup Kitchen Disguised as Cafe Offers Side of Dignity to Kansas City Poor - www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Soup Kitchen Disguised as Cafe Offers Side of Dignity to Kansas City Poor

There’s no waiting in line at this soup kitchen where food is served with plenty of humanity.
The staff takes your custom order right at your table and brings healthy meals even if you don’t have a dime in your pocket.

The Kansas City Community Kitchen feeds the city’s hungry in a restaurant setting. When someone comes in off the street for a hot meal, they’re met by a greeter who takes them to a table where a waiter takes the person’s order.

It sometimes catches the homeless off-guard.

“It’s different,” Brian Oglesby told the Kansas City Star “They’re treating me good, like they don’t know I’m homeless.”

The kitchen staff whips up healthy fare based on the ingredients they have for the day, and the presentation on the plate looks like what something from an upscale restaurant.
Substitutions are no problem. The Kitchen can make changes to meet health, dietary, or religious requirements.

The selections are low in sodium and high in nutrients — an effort to reduce the cases of hypertension, diabetes, and expensive hospital visits for the homeless.
The people behind the project have something more than just food on their menu — they want to find jobs for the homeless.

Episcopal Community Services, which runs the kitchen, offers volunteers a six-month training program in culinary arts. The final two months, they work in restaurants as interns — with requirements that they receive a minimum wage of $13 an hour.

Kansas City isn’t the only American city using this model to feed the hungry. Masbia—which means “to satiate” in Hebrew—is a three-kitchen network in New York City serving healthy kosher food to the poor in a setting that runs exactly like a cafe, except without requiring payment, in Brooklyn and Queens.