Heros

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Heroes By Value

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Your Everyday Heroes

People do extraordinary things every day. They share their time, resources, or love. They show incredible strength and courage. They inspire us by their example. Here are true stories about real-life heroes, written by visitors to the site. You can also share a story of your own hero.

The following stories have been tagged with ‘Helping-Others’

Terry H.

Terry Hitchcock is my Hero. After tragically losing his wife to breast cancer and struggling to raise three young children on his own, Terry Hitchcock seized on an idea. He wanted to accomplish the impossible: run 75 consecutive marathons in 75 consecutive days to bring attention to the incredibly difficult lives of single-parent families.

Elva M.

My hero is my Mom. She has always been a steady, motivating influence in my life. After she retired, she and my Dad decided to travel around, but ended up living in a very small community in deep South Texas. When they moved here, they realized that this community has a terrible frequency of poverty, hopelessness, and despair. So, Mom…

Kenda N.

Kenda is a Hero as she has brought more joy, smiles and higher self-esteem to my young adult child and others like him. You see, Kenda created and directs "Movement E-Motion", a dance program for individuals with different abilities - young adults aged 13 to seniors with Down Syndrome, Autism and physical challenges. This lady, the artistic director of AZDance…

Alan T.

Al was an educator who believed the best in kids and families. He was a highly regarded (and award winning) elementary school principal when I first met him and not too much later, I found out he had MS. He retired after 25 years and fought MS for his, too few, remaining years. He died a few years ago, far…

Rabbi Mordechai M.

Rabbi Mordechai and his wife Henny have been, for the past 30 years, turning their tiny apartment into a guest house for thousands of people. Every weekend the Rabbi and his wife host meals for hundreds of guests in their small apartment. They literally cook all hours of the night to prepare enough food for everyone who comes. They also…

John R.

This young man faced tragedy, overcame it and became a helper of others. His religious values, athletic abilities, and drive gives renewed hope to the returning disabled veterans from the war on terror.\r\n\r\nHe scored highly in the 1983 Illinois State high school track meet; was a two-time All-American at the University of Arkansas; and won many medals on the All…

Alan F.

Alan is a wonderful man who works as a high risk obstetrician. He has saved countless mothers and babies, and he does it every day. Alan does such wonderful things every day, and he doesn't go around flaunting it. He says he's just doing his job, but he's really giving back to the community, and saving lives each and every…

Micah S.

Chorus has just ended and I am so excited about going to woodshop that I don't see these chairs in my way. Then suddenly, I trip over them and go flying and land on the ground unconscious. My breath is knocked out of me. It aches and hurts just to move, walk or get up. Micah says, 'Ben!' with lots…

Keith S.

My father is my greatest hero. Although he is missing fingers from his left hand, is riddled with a liver disease, Hepatitis C and a Vietnam shrapnel wound that's eating his leg, he is constantly smiling, laughing, and doing things for friends and family members. He spends hours helping others even when his health is ailing, often for free. He…

Rachel F.

As she watches her mother fight breast cancer this year, Rachel has persevered, believing that if anyone can beat the illness, it's her mother, Bernice. Through the chemotherapy, hair loss, and emotional hardship, Bernice has thus far defeated the hardest of enemies, a malady that threatened her health and happiness. Despite her mother's progress, Rachel decided that she wanted to…

Jacob H.

Jacob is a very special, very wonderful man who always goes above and beyond what is expected of him. You see Jacob is a lead crew member for a local construction company. And one day at work the roof came crashing down on two of his co-workers. Trapping them beneath weight that no man can stand for too long. Jacob,…

De Anne S.

I first met DeAnne after signing up to volunteer at her clinic. She is the Director of a Doctors' Free Clinic in Utah and has been for seven years. She is one of the most dedicated women I have ever met. She has taken care of over 12,000 patients since the doors opened back in 1999. She never turns anyone…

David R.

I think there are many heroes in the world but I definitely think my dad is one of them. Many people probably have written about their parents but my dad is definitely a hero, he has been gone for a very long time fighting the war in Iraq (he's stationed in Kuwait) and still trying to find every second to…

Sandi L.

My hero is my grandmother, Sandi. She and my grandfather have owned their own bookstore for about 15 years and have never once given up on it. It is hard for her because she has to work every single day, except for Sundays because she goes to church. She is the hardest worker I have ever met in my whole…

Dr. Michael M.

Dr Michael M. has worked with the poor in Africa for nearly 30 years. He has been in many famines and droughts and has lived with the northern nomads in Uganda and Kenya, living as they do. He has build clinics, schools, health programs and water projects. He founded The International Community for Relief of Starvation and Suffering (ICROSS) in…

Bob R.

I cannot think of anyone who is a greater hero to us than Bob. Bob started a charitable organization in l988 to make a real and measurable difference in the lives of America's elderly through arts and music programs that they would not otherwise have any access to! Since then, Bob's organization has brought cheer to thousands of individuals across…

Timmons Elementary School

Timmon's Elementary School in Ohio developed a campaign to collect schools supplies and new/slightly used books for schools in the Gulf Coast. Along with a truck full of school supplies, they collected a total of 558 books! 252 were K-2; 306 were 3rd to 5th, and they went to restock school libraries at Central Elementary School and St. Martin's Upper…

D'elve

Growing up in Philadelphia, D'elve's childhood was fraught with sexual, mental and physical abuse. He internalized guilt, fears and anger, and found some solace in religion. But it wasn't until he began writing down his innermost feelings that he found true peace: the experience became cathartic, and a lifelong writer was born.\r\n\r\nD'elve's passion for writing dovetailed perfectly with his religion.…

Nichalos D.

Nick has raised over $800.00 dollars this year and last year in school selling bracelets for "The Swim" fighting cancer.\r\n\r\nIt was his own idea to help out. He has spent a lot of time and effort and enjoyed all of it. He really feels good about helping out the people who are sick with cancer in our community. Also, Nick…

Jessica C.

This may sound like a strange nomination; however, I would like to nominate my daughter Jessica. She is only 5 years old but she is an inspiration beyond her years. In October of 2005, she helped me put together a donation drive for school supplies for the Hurricane Katrina victims. Our family delivered these supplies to a school district in…

Dean L.

My hero is Deputy L. with the Utah County Sheriff's Office. He is a hero in my eyes because every day he is out there risking his life to make our community a safer place to live. No matter what the time or conditions, such as Christmas Day, middle of the night, rain, snow and so forth he is out…

Trevor U.

Trevor has always been a great friend of mine. We've grown up together, going to the same school and church. He's always been a great hero of mine because of his gift of helping others. He hasn't only helped me and in my life, but others at our school. Whenever someone is feeling down, or is tired, or spiritually troubled,…

Daryl J.

Daryl is involved with almost every aspect of the church, area youth & local charity programs. He started a 2-on-2 basketball league for area youths to provide wholesome recreation. This past summer he brought a number of teens to Mexico to participate in "Habitat for Humanity". Once a month, he helps make 400-600 sandwiches for the homeless. Daryl can also…

Jennifer S.

Jennifer is a Staff Sergeant in the Army, and is currently stationed in Iraq. She has given up college twice because of the Army, but never loses her direction. She wants to be an early childhood teacher, but more than that, she wants to help the under-privileged kids. During her time in Iraq, hurricane Katrina happened. Even being there, she…

Joseph B.

This father of four lives by the example of volunteerism. For Easter Seals, he chairs his company's softball & volleyball yearly tournaments. He mountain bikes for charities: American Diabetes & National MS Society. He's a Ride leader for Pedro's Festival, Lanesboro. He was a volunteer at the Franklin Blades Skating School where he nurtures beginner ice-skaters. He's active at Iskwelahang…

Joanne M.

My hero is my mother, Joanne. She lives her life with grace, dignity, and a "never give-up" attitude. She has lived with rheumatoid arthritis since her early adulthood, and has survived four bouts of cancer. But, you wouldn't know it. She is grateful for all of her many blessings and sees suffering as part of life. She believes that her…

Jackeline O.

I read a lot of the stories written by people who have a person in their life that they consider a hero because of an extraordinary thing they have done. I am nominating my dear friend Jackie. She is an amazing woman, she is always helping others, and all I can say is that it's in her nature. Jackie also…

Robert F.

My daughter's teacher had an in-house program to teach the children about "RESPECT." Mr. F. did the program and is well known here in Nesconset, as Bobby-Dawg, A kid's best friend, the creator of Team Dawg Cartoon Characters.\r\n\r\nI think that Bobby is a true super hero around here on Long Island. Not only has he had a career with the…

Patricia And John F.

I cannot nominate one of my parents without the other. Together they are amazing. They have been married for 33 years, and have been through so much. Their youngest child, and only son, was killed in a car accident at 18, even though he wasn't driving. Crohn's disease, heart disease, Burger's disease, are just a few of the problems my…

Chris A.

My husband is a hero to me and our two children. And a lot of other people. He will do anything to help others. And always thinks of himself last. He has a huge heart. We have two wonderful kids who think the world of him. We couldn't have asked for a better father and husband. He's been through a…

Jena S.

Jena is the 2005 Miss Junior National Teenager and is a sophomore in high school. She is taking her crown, sash and title and using it to teach other teens across the nation about volunteerism and how much fun it is. For six years Jena has volunteered for the American Cancer Society and has raised over $50,000 so far. Winning…

Elaine N.

Elaine is a 34-year-old single mother to over 50 children. She has one biological child, four adopted children, 3 of which have disabilities, and she has been a foster mother to over 50 kids including me. At the age of 24, she became a foster parent and began taking in teenagers nobody wanted. One of those teenagers abandoned her two…

Patrick D.

Throughout all my life my father, Patrick, has taught me to share whatever I have with others. Even through family death and bankruptcy, he never changed his character. Every time my friends visit the house, my father is always the first to offer them gifts or help. While Patrick doesn't have much, he enjoys what is in front of him.…

Jillian B.

I want to nominate my friend Jillian. A few years ago, Jillian overcame her battle with cancer. Since then, she has been on a mission to help others using her skills and gifts as an athlete.\r\n\r\nJillian was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Wing Chun before she got sick, but after she got well, Jillian began training in…

Craig H.

I would like to nominate my husband as a hero, not only because he is a wonderful husband, but also because he is a great friend. Craig is a high school History teacher, basketball coach, student advisor and shooting team coach. He is also active in his community though his church and local fire department. He is always there to…

Terrance S.

My hero is my dad. He is in the military. He is deployed for the second time. I miss him and love him.

Jessie S.

Jessie S. I can't really describe her in a paragraph. She is one of the most influential and wonderful people in my life. Jessie is kind, thoughtful and an all-around pleasure to be with. She has an awesome character and strives to do well in every aspect of what she does. She is always cheerful and full of life. Jessie…

Betty B.

My hero is my mom. By the time she was twenty six she had six kids. She stayed at home with us until the youngest was eight. She always made sure we were as safe and secure as she could. She was fourteen when she had her first child, and was a grandmother at thirty. Every one is always welcome…

Nalliah K.

My father(1926-89) is my hero. He taught me to love fellow humans; not to harm others; to enjoy life with a sense of humour everyday; to learn everyday from everything or everybody; to thank god for all we have; to help others; to realise the truth and happiness; to enjoy cooking, eating, studying, working as well as talking and sleeping.

Ken G.

My dad is my hero, not just because he's my dad, but because I'm fairly certain that he's a hero to everyone he's met. \r\n\r\nThe other night he took me out to ice cream and we sat by the water talking. When I went to school the next day, I mentioned how my dad had taken me out. My friends…

Maria R.

My hero is my Gran, and my best friend. She gave me my Italian blood, for which I am very grateful. \r\n\r\nMy Gran is like a friend as well as a grandmother, and I know she will accept me whatever my condition. \r\n\r\nWe laugh loads despite the challenges we face at any moment. \r\n\r\nShe is my inspiration for all I…

Carter S.

My Darling Son is My Hero\r\nA Poem to him, a soldier....\r\n\r\nTo live so boldly, to dare and overcome\r\nDaily dealings take a path that surprises...saddens\r\nLeaving God to make sense of the total sum\r\n \r\nTo rise to necessity, giving yourself for us\r\nYelling commands follow down mazes of mayhem\r\nNo hindsight needed, beyond the sandy chaos\r\n \r\nTo take the moment, and make it count…

Jody H.

I began singing as young as I can remember. And as soon as I could, I enrolled with the best music teacher in town. When I started with her, we could immediately tell our political and religious differences.\r\n\r\nThrough her teaching me, however, we have discovered that we have more in common than we could have ever imagined. We are both…

Isaias G.

My hero is my brother, Isaias. Right now, he is studying at the University of Indianapolis, majoring in Sociology and International Relations. In his free time, Isaias is always going to George Washington Community School and the Christamore House, teaching inner-city kids about leadership, and he is always telling them to stay in school and off the streets. He encourages…

Christopher &Amp; Andrew L.

My younger son, Andrew, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He and his older brother, Christopher, have become so involved in fighting this disease by making others aware and raising funds to donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. They are my heroes because they make me so proud of them.

Don G.

Don G., my hero, was a college instructor when I was a freshman in college. Although he did not know me before I was in his speech class, he learned a bit about my interest in radio broadcasting and offered me an opportunity to start, build and eventually manage our college radio station. He gave me the break in life,;…

Chris H.

Chris was hit head on by a drunk driver at 7 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2005 on his way to work. He was instantly paralyzed from the neck down, was pronounced dead at the scene, revived and pronounced dead in the helicopter on the way to the hospital. Many more times he came very close to dying and had to…

Nicole D.

She is the most amazing person I have ever met. She is my inspiration, my teacher, my mentor and my friend. She opened my eyes to the world not only because she taught World History, but also because she popped my "small-town-bubble" which closed me off from the world. After meeting her, I finally realized what a wonderful, diverse, and…

Frank L.

About a year ago, my nephew Trevor and I took my dad, Frank, a World War II veteran, out to see an EA17 World War II Bomber. My dad had served as a tail gunner on a B17. \r\n\r\nWhile we toured the plane, Dad began telling us stories of his experiences. As he spoke, two people nearby drew closer so…

John M.

John has worked in the field of vocational rehabilitation for nearly 40 years. During the short amount of time that I have worked under his tutelage, I have found myself constantly in awe of the qualities he exhibits daily. \r\n\r\nJohn is the ultimate social worker, unwavering in his commitment to serving others. He is completely non-judgmental and dedicated to serving…

Jared M.

My hero is my husband. While stationed in Iraq with the Marines during the 2003 invasion of Baghdad, he left his covered position and ran 400 yards, through enemy and friendly fire, to rescue an Iraqi civilian. Once he reached the man, he had to get both of them back to a safer area, so he picked the man up…

Opal &Quot;Tootie&Quot; O.

My grandmother has always been my hero. She is the sweetest person in the world and thinks of everyone before herself. Last Christmas, she suffered a terrible stroke, which took away her ability to both speak and walk. \r\n\r\nWhile in the hospital waiting room after her stroke, we heard so many stories of generosity from her past. Many people told…

Charlie B.

My hero is my friend Charlie, a 15-year-old from South Carolina. To me, there is nothing more inspiring than a young person giving boxes of clothes to the needy, while having barely any himself.\r\n\r\nCharlie has dedicated his life to clothing the poor. He has given almost all of his clothes away, keeping the bare minimum for himself. He has made…

Christiane D.

My roommate Christy recently gave up her high-paying position to dedicate her time to care for an 8-year-old boy with Autism. He is an adorable boy with a heart of gold, but definitely a challenge at times! Christy has nothing but patience with him and because of her efforts he has made amazing advances socially as well as developmentally. Christy…

George H.

\r\nMy Dad has been an English teacher for the past 50 years; he now mentors young teachers. I can't tell you how many times former students of his have told me that he was the greatest teacher they ever had.\r\n\r\nGrowing up, my mother didn't work and there were nine kids in our family, so we certainly did not live in…

David N.

My grandfather, David, died in 1999; he lived only half a mile up the road from where I grew up in upstate New York. Every day, he would walk down to our house to bring my dad the newspaper. Along with the paper he would bring a small bag of treats for my two brothers and me. Sometimes it was…

Taylor H.

This is a story about a little 7-year-old girl named Taylor. Though Taylor has had her own challenges growing up, these have not distracted her from pursuing her own vision to make a difference. Taylor has a vision give to others who have nothing.\r\n\r\nTaylor saves cans for recycling and has been able to donate her money earned to support children…

Victoria W.

There is a girl at my school named Victoria and she has Lyme Disease, which forces her to use a wheelchair most of the time. One day a while back, I heard Victoria talking to one of her teachers and through her conversation I realized that she is the kindest and most courageous person I've ever heard about. \r\n\r\nVictoria's smile…

Cliff &Amp; Shannon F.

Cliff and Shannon have adopted three children, all siblings, from a troubled home. These children are all under the age of five and the oldest has autism. Cliff and Shannon love these children unconditionally and are raising them in an environment of security, love and understanding. \r\n\r\nWithout much money or high-paying jobs, Cliff and Shannon struggle mightily to provide for…

Gwen W.

Mrs. W often took care of my twin sister and me. She lived across the street and must have noticed that we had a difficult family life. She was patient, kind, and treated us as if we were her own children. She taught me how to create a good family life, how to be loving mothers, and how to help…

Jennifer M.

Jennifer started volunteering with AIDS service organiztions (ASO's) over 10 years ago. She has given her adult life to bettering the lives of those infected with or affected by AIDS. She is now the CEO of Aid for AIDS of Nevada, and is a hero to those in this city who need a hand up, not a hand out.

Ben F.

Ben was my hero as he fought in WW2, a pilot in the Pacific Theater. Ben homesteaded in Wyoming and later built up several thriving businesses in Utah, along with his wife, Rita. Rita and Ben raised eight children who are all successful. Together they have helped many people throughout the years, both financially and spiritually. \r\n\r\nPerhaps the greatest challenge…

Titus C.

My husband Titus is my hero and my inspiration. He had a tumultuous childhood, and after becoming homeless at 17, went on to graduate high school and become successful in every job he holds. \r\n\r\nTitus is now in school to become a firefighter/paramedic. He hopes to soon have the knowledge that will enable him to save lives other than his…

Paul B.

My hero is my Dad! I have always thought of him as such just because he is my Father. I admire him for living his life according to his own hopes and aspirations. At 75 years of age, he still embodies all the compassion and drive that he has possessed his entire life. \r\n\r\nPerhaps because I myself have matured I…

Sona M.

In 1997, Sona's dear friends had an extremely premature baby. Sona asked how she could help, and they asked her to help keep friends and family informed. Sona turned to her background in IT and web design and created a private, personal website for the family. The website kept everyone up-to-date, and allowed people to share their love, encouragement and…

Dayna S.

Dayna was born with a rare disease called schizencephaly. This disease has restricted her from walking and talking since she was a baby. Dayna is now 16 and has surpassed her disability beyond anyone's imagination. Her perseverance and character have inspired me as a leader in my school community. For Dayna, there are no limits or boundaries that she can't…

Carly And Molly

Carly and Molly are not your ordinary sisters. Though they are just 13 and 15 they founded Hives for Lives, a non-profit organization that sells honey and honey products, and donates all profits to the American Cancer Society. Carly and Molly, who grew up helping with their grandparents' beekeeping hobby, started Hives for Lives in 2004, as a way to…

Greg L.

My hero is my husband Greg. My husband works long, hard hours on the night shift just to give our sons and me a better life. He is a Certified Nursing Assistant at a local hospital and he goes above and beyond his job requirements to make sure that his patients are comfortable, happy, that they feel secure and safe,…

Ana Cristina G.V. D.

Sometimes she can't keep commitments and sometimes she's not dependable...She's not organized. She is a woman, who isn't strong...And yet she is. She is Kind--loving to all. She is inspirational. She is wonderful. She is book smart. She is classy ...She is grace. She is thoughtful. She is a single mother…Someone once said, "Be hope walking," and Cristina (Ana, Tina,…

Erin K.

Erin is the reigning ‘Outstanding Teen Madison County,' and she is truly outstanding. Erin's platform issue is ‘Raising Teen Awareness Against Girls Bullying Girls.' It is her goal to educate teens and parents of the horrors of girl bullies. She has a forum where girls and parents can discuss their issues and she is starting a support group. She always…

Chris W.

My hero is not somebody who is known by many people. He is a schoolteacher with a goal to be an inspiration to his students, and to support them when nothing else makes sense. \r\n\r\nAlthough I didn't have him as my teacher, when I came to him for help with my troubles, he gladly opened his arms to me. I…

Unknown Hero.

In 1982, I was twenty-two years old and driving by myself from Texas to Virginia; it was summer and my 12-year-old car was starting to overheat. In Tennessee, the temperature indicator was buried in the red zone...I knew I was in trouble. Luckily, I was on the top of a hill and drifted/rolled down into a small village down from…

Calvin S.

Calvin is one of my co-workers and he has arthritis. What impresses me most, however, is that Calvin does not let his arthritis prevent him from doing what he loves. He's always playing with his kids or supporting them in their endeavors. Although he works a normal job with average pay, he is determined to never let his kids or…

Rashmi K.

My daughter is an ESL teacher. She teaches adult refugees who have never spoken English in their lives. She narrated me this one instance which brought tears of joy to my eyes. \r\n\r\nThis is what she told me...this is her story in her own words.\r\n\r\n"About a year ago, I walked into my classroom to prepare for my lesson only to…

Camryn B.

Camryn is 6-years-old and was impacted by her brother Cooper's amputation of both feet at 23 months old. She wanted to help children like Cooper. Camryn decided to draw a picture, which was later put on a t-shirt and sold to profit Shriner's Hospitals for Children. Cooper was treated at one of these hospitals for free. Camryn raised over $10,000.00…

Monica F.

My hero is my mom. She had me when she was in her teenage years and though she could have had a much easier life if she had given me up, she chose to keep me. She was faced with the difficult issues of being a single parent while finishing high school and college. She is now a very successful…

Thomas T.

My dad has been working for an agency that cares for a large portion of Long Island's mentally retarded community since 1980. When he started out he worked as a direct care counselor in the one and only group home the agency had. He lived next to the group home, cooked dinners, bathed those who could not bathe themselves, and…

Janice A.

Mrs. Attaway teaches pre-algebra and algebra at a local middle school in my town and has taught thousands of students. Sure, she teaches the material that is required by law and makes sure that her students understand that material, but she does so much more than that. First of all, hardly anyone understands math so she teaches the material in…

Merlin E.

Prior to passing away in October 2007, Merlin dedicated his life to teaching, including spending 43 years as the Director of a week-long summer camp that taught leadership to high school student body leaders from all over Washington State. For 43 years, each summer Merlin left his family for one week because of his unwavering belief that our high school…

My Mother

My mother is my hero. She saved me from dying when I was 8 years old. She pushed me out of the way of a speeding car and died saving me. She was only 28 years old. Out of respect and honor for my mom I went to college and got my masters degree in real estate. Now I'm 28…

Kelsie B.

I was younger than her and I thought I could swim (but I really couldn't). I jumped in the lake behind my house and I was starting to drown. She suddenly jumped in the water to save me and she was only 5 and I was 4. That is why she is my hero—she saved my life without even thinking…

Scott E.

Scott truly is "passing it on." He volunteers in prisons, providing workshops for prisoners ready to be released back into society. He has given 15,000 pairs of glasses to needy children and is doing a huge 7,000 person event in Utah, in which the proceeds will be distributed to the local churches to provide food and clothing to the needy.…

Matt B.

Matt was an athlete, brother, friend, son, student, an all around great person, and my boyfriend whom I was in love with. He had earned his varsity letter in 4 different sports. Although he was an athlete, he was kind to anyone and everyone. When my boyfriend Matt passed away, one comment left on the memorial wall at my high…

Kelly L.

My mom is my hero. Why? Because she has taught me all my life lessons. She has been through so much in these past few months, but although she was in a tough situation, she always made sure my siblings and I were okay. She always put herself last and let everyone else come first. She cares about people, and…

Zurriane B.

Zurriane has volunteered his time as a Martial Arts instructor for many years to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. For the past nine years he has also volunteered his time as a defense instructor for women and a resisting aggression defense instructor for children. He is also my martial arts instructor and has helped me and many other…

Ashley

Ashley is my hero. She was shocked and moved by the extreme poverty she saw during a trip to Africa when she was eleven years old. Determined to help the African people, Ashley pursued numerous avenues but found only dead ends and frustration. Five years later, she has raised the money, completed the paperwork, and recruited the board members necessary…

Estephania And Esperanza

These sisters are my heroes because they created Project Literacy, a neighborhood tutoring program where middle school students are helping elementary age kids with reading. After learning that their own middle school, ranked nearly last in Denver and the state in all areas on the CSAP (standardized test), the girls wanted to help. With the support of the non-profit group…

Michaella

Michaella is my hero. When she was just 14, Michaella helped create the Exceptional Rodeo for children with disabilities. She and her local 4-H Club raised over $2,000 to fund the rodeo, which included 'bucking' broncos (made of hay and barrels), calf roping, and stick horse barrel racing. As a result of Michaella's accomplishments, thirty-five local children with physical and…

Michael

At just 14 years old, Michael organized a bowl-a-thon that raised over $9,000 to help a 13-year-old burn victim in his community. After hearing the story on the local news, Michael, a veteran fundraiser who has raised over $120,000 for various causes, decided he had to help offset the family's medical expenses. Michael visited each homeroom in his middle school,…

Julia

Julia is my hero—she organized Showers to Go!, a program that provides personal care products for needy community members. Julia learned at school that personal hygiene is one of many challenges faced by the homeless. The next day, Julia took the contents of her piggy bank to her teacher, asking that she give the money to a homeless person in…

Mark

Mark is my hero. He organized a jump rope skip-a-thon to raise money for Skylar Stanley, a baby from nearby Fort Morgan in need of a heart transplant. Skylar's need hit close to home: Mark's grandmother had died waiting for a liver transplant and his mother was in need of a kidney transplant. Mark organized 'Skipping for Skylar,' where local…

Adam

I don't even know how many people Adam has helped since he started practicing magic tricks. Adam incorporates his message of breast cancer awareness into the dynamic magic shows he performs, free of charge, for schoolchildren and teachers in Denver. In the seven years since Adam learned his first magic trick, two of his aunts have survived hard-fought battles with…

Sarah H.

Sarah is my aunt and she is my hero. Sarah is my hero because she is very giving and loving person. When I was 2 or 3 she took me in because my mother could not raise me. My whole family could have gone to a foster home but she took all of us in. She raised me, my 5…

Lisa H.

My hero is the most passionate person I have ever met. She is the embodiment of "Do what you love, love what you do." She is a person of greatness...someone I can only hope to be like someday. Lisa is a record holding high school and college athlete and coach. Her story lies in her unbelievable selflessness and compassion. Her…

Will M.

More than anything else, Will gives me hope. He looks for the good and upholds it in others. He serves, he walks his talk. He uplifts people. He takes meaningful action to make the world and the people in it better. He's real and speaks the truth. He has character. He's a good man. He provides meaningful, heart-full information to…

Jim R.

Jim coached a TOPSoccer for kids with special needs. He also started the Prom For The Stars, an annual dance for young adults with disabilities.\r\n\r\nThe Saturday soccer games included snacks and a banquet at the end of the year with special trophies. He found sponsors to help with the Prom and many of the dresses and tuxedos for the young…

Henry M.

My hero is a man named Henry. He has always been the one I can run to in times of need. He has shown me that a father is someone who you can trust and rely on, not necessarily one who helped create you. My mom died unexpectedly when I barely turned 13, and my biological dad has never really…

Cameron A.

My son Cameron, now 13, was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer when he was 11. He has transformed his experience into an opportunity to help others. He is developing a magazine called Brain Candy! as a way to bridge young people living with brain cancer. \r\n\r\nHe writes a weekly blog and does regular video blogs on YouTube. He has…

Marc M.

When I reflect on the word 'hero' I think of my father, Marc. For over 30 years my dad has been an ordained minister serving as a senior pastor in several churches. \r\n \r\nHe has taught me about compassion and the need to serve others before myself. In everything that he does, he strives to be a blessing in others'…

Bob B.

As a young boy, I was quite lonely. Although I had a wonderful mother and a great 'big' sister, I didn't have a dad. My true father died when I was two.\r\n\r\nHowever, a wonderful person came into my life when I was about 5 or 6. He was a young guy of about 19 and he worked in the hardware…

Stanley M.

Four days a week in Hutchinson, Kansas a miracle happens: 200-300 people eat a hot meal. The miracle worker is an unassuming woman named Stanley M. who operates the Christian Soup Ministry. For close to 20 years she's never missed a scheduled day, never run out of food, never turned anyone away…and never accepted so much as a penny of…

Halbert T.

What started as a job offer in the medical examiner/coroner's office turned into a life changing event for a single mother of four children.\r\n\r\nDr. T. was a leading national pathologist who worked on many notorious forensic cases with the likes of Henry Lu and Michael Boden. But what he was most was a very compassionate human being. The father of…

Jane A.

Jane A. started the Hull House in Chicago in 1889 as a community center offering support to the children and adults in the neighborhood. She was a broad thinker and activist and helped bring a number of great facilities to her community including: night school for adults, kindergarten classes, clubs for older kids, a community kitchen, a coffee house, a…

My Grandmother

My grandmother (1912-1986) was a 1st and 2nd grade teacher. She lost her mother to influenza during the flu epidemic in 1919, and grew up as the 'Cinderella' of the family: troubled dad and uncaring stepmom—not much love. Her aunts put her to vocational school when she was 14; it was a boarding school, she hated it withal her heart,…

Nancy H.

One of my heroes in Nancy H. Nancy has been teaching at our local elementary school forever, she tells her students every year that she is 196 years old. Why she is a hero to me is because she is a friend and mentor to my daughter. She was my daughter's 3rd and 4th grade teacher. She encouraged my daughter's…

Phyllis W.

This is about my baby sister, Phyllis W. \r\n\r\nThe youngest of nine children, she was the epitome of the baby in our family. Everyone looked out for her, especially me. We were the closest in age and also best friends. At the age of 35, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 4. She had two small children and was…

Ronald And Lydia J.

My heroes are my grandparents: Ronald and Lydia J. They not only raised me but taught me that character and responsibility are more important than how much money you have, the college degrees you have earned or the job you hold. Your character is the foundation of who you are. As they say, 'the true test of a man is…

Susan B.

A mother. A wife. A friend. Generous beyond expectation and committed to all of the things important in her life.\r\n\r\nSusan B., together with her husband, Mike, raised three sons. All the while, she gave them the spiritual support and guidance they needed, loved them deeply and unconditionally, and found the time to share herself with others.\r\n\r\nIf anyone she knew had…

Ursula G.

Ursula G., 90, my childhood dance teacher. Ursula taught modern dance at Colorado College in Colorado Springs for 40 years.\r\n\r\nI took dance starting at the age of 4. I was a pigeon-toed kid and my feet were corrected in my toddler years. The doctor suggested dance to continue my progress and improve my balance. Ursula was so positive with me…

Rachel R.

At 15 she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and has lived with that for most of her life. I believe she is in her sixties now. She became a doctor, then counseled the terminally ill, and now does presentations teaching doctors and lay people that the soul needs to be remembered. She's written several books, My Grandfather's Blessings and Kitchen…

Nick P.

On February 5th, 2003 my cousin Nick, who was 14 at the time, went with his ski club to have a fun afternoon snowboarding. What started out as a fun afternoon quickly turned into a tragic accident as Nick went off an icy jump, not wearing a helmet. He came down on his neck and immediately went unconscious. His friends…

Richard F.

Rich F. was a volunteer fire fighter and Prince George's County Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty on June 27, 2008. Rich was dedicated to his wife, their two small children, and to serving his community. He lived his life with purpose and service. He could always make you smile with his positive attitude. If you…

Marcus M.

Marcus was a co-worker of mine for many years and I've never seen anyone so devoted to their job. I've often caught myself just watching him interact with customers. He's never met a stranger, and is an overall genuine and good person. He taught me that being cool doesn't mean playing the 'tough guy,' and basically that you get what…

Earl R.

My hero is a person who always puts others before himself. He is always faithful to anything he undertakes and always willing to lend a helping hand. His word is his bond. He always goes above and beyond the call of duty. He works in Human Resources. He gives 110 percent to the project. He is always going the extra…

Matthew

He saves lives as a Combat Medic while protecting people. He is one of the smartest people I've met, and his heart is bigger than life. He has been deployed twice to Iraq, and has impacted people both times. He never thinks about himself, only others. By far, the world would be a better place with more people like him.…

Henri L.

After surviving the concentration camps of World War II (a situation that could have destroyed one's spirit) Henri came to America and served in our military. Through the G.I. Bill he received an education in the hospitality industry. With success in the hotel business he could have justifiably sat back and enjoyed life. Instead he founded Give Kids the World,…

Kelly K.

Kelly is a one of a kind person. With a heart that she opens to all, Kelly is counted on by many. But what really has set Kelly apart and made her my hero is her non-stop optimism and dedication. Kelly has dedicated her life to helping people, and to helping spread awareness for an array of causes.\r\n\r\nLet me start…

Andrew M.

My hero doesn't have superman's strength or the ability to fly. He has a different kind of strength: the strength to beat all odds, the ability to soar with courage. His name is Andrew. He was a premature baby and was told that he would not make it. He had heart surgery at the age of 13 and now has…

Shawn C.

I met Shawn a few years ago. She is my hero as she is everything I've ever wanted to be. Perfect, no...and doesn't claim to be. She's been challenged with life threatening illness more than once. She is a true miracle. Shawn has more inner strength than anyone I have ever known. She's helped me learn and taught me to…

My Friend

In my late 30's a friend of mine died of cancer. She fought for 6 years and suffered through numerous treatments. In my late forties I was told I had cancer. For two weeks I kept it to myself. I had decided not to fight it. I told no one. \r\n\r\nOne night while chatting with a friend on line I…

Deanna M.

Deanna McLemore, my mother, has given selflessly to our small farm community for over 45 years. As a nurse she has touched the lives of most families in the county, either caring for their elderly parents, their children, or anyone in between. She has given up time on the weekends and in the evenings, always off the clock, to go…

Amanda G.

Ms. G. teaches everyone to love who they are and she has never judged anyone. She is a very talented teacher and mentor. Ms. G. is not afraid to do anything. She's always willing to defeat fear. \r\n\r\nShe's always there for anyone who needs to talk. And she's always willing to give another chance. She truly wants everyone to get…

Erin B.

Erin B. has taught me that you don't have to be fake or selfish to be popular with your peers. She has come into my life and taught me how to be a better friend and a better person. She brightens every room she walks into, and makes a new friend with everyone she greets with a "Hello."

Richard O.

Richard and his wife (Myra) have been teachers in some way all their lives. They have helped in ways we only wish people would really take time and effort to do. Without expectation of any return, they have touched so many lives, old and young, by their constant giving of themselves and making people feel good about themselves. They also…

Hope W.

Hope is a nurse currently working in Darfur with Doctors Without Borders assisting women and children in a clinic camp. Hope wears many hats as she works with cases of trauma/childbirth/rehabilitation; not to mention the general well being and survival of those she touches. She is my hero.

Chad C.

My father is a wonderful man. He is a man with true values that were instilled in him when he was very young. My father has always presented himself as a strong and solid person. He has climbed his way from the bottom to reach his personal goals. The compassion that he maintains for strangers is a compassion that can…

Bobbie D.

Bobbie D. graduated high school third in her class in 2004. Even though she could go anywhere, she went to Africa to help run a program known as Second Chance for Darfur's Kids. She is still only a college student yet instead of finding a way to pay for college textbooks, she finds ways to raise money for dictionaries to…

Doris G.

In the late 1970's, Carroll Park was a block of crime and dirty deeds in inner city Philadelphia, so bad that one could not pass through during the daytime. But one day, a group of residents decided to change that. They entered the park ready to change it for the better. With paintbrushes, rakes, brooms, and determination as their tools,…

Chrystal R.

Chrystal had a really tough childhood. From being hungry to abuse, she held onto her hopes and dreams from a young age. When she was eight she decided she was meant to help people. At the age of sixteen she was doing more volunteer work than anything else. When she was seventeen she even represented California at meetings at the…

Dave &Amp; Lena M.

Dave & Lena are strong people who are helping me finish high school. It may sound cheesy being my hero and all, but they really help me with my life, and it is greatly appreciated.

Renee B.

Whether your life is going well, or facing challenges, almost inevitably along comes a person who turns your world upside down--but for the better. They inspire you to be the best you can be, and always try to be even better every day. They do this without even trying. They simply bring out the best in you. For me, that…

Jimmy

Jimmy was the cousin everyone looked up to, the Head Honcho, the cousin who was always there to help the little ones along. He accepted everyone for who they were and what they had to offer, no matter how different they truly were in their life or how they appeared to others. Right up until his life ended a short…

American Red Cross

I spent the last 2 weeks serving on the disaster relief operation for Hurricane Ike. While this is not my first with the ARC, I stand in awe of the tireless dedication of many other volunteers. \r\n\r\nSome of these have spent a significant portion of their life serving their country in times of disaster. One such gentlemen was on his…

David R.

David is my daddy. Today is his 74th birthday. He is my hero. Daddy adopted me, my younger sister and my little brother, when I was 12 years old. There is something very special about a parent that will take on someone else's children, shower them with love and raise them up as their own.\r\n\r\nMy dad's first wife passed away…

Ray K.

On May 20, 2007, off-duty volunteer fire captain Ray K. acted selflessly and heroically to save the life of a resident in a burning home. Ray learned of a residential explosion only a few blocks from his own home. He went to the address and learned that an individual was injured inside the home. With the assistance of a police…

Wally G.

Wally is one of my personal heroes because he helps people--me specifically--know where to look to find true happiness and how to have peace in the home. He's constantly creating things to educate people about how to have healthy families. I've watched him change at least a hundred lives and heard how he's helped train others to do the same.…

Jason L.

My daddy is my hero. I think he is the best dad in the world. An example of this would be the first time I rode a bike: Crash Boom Bang! I had a very bad wreck! He hustled to me into the house at a very high speed and totally took care of me. He picked me up and…

Rachel S.

My hero is Rachel Scott. She was killed in the Columbine shooting, the first one killed. \r\n\r\nBefore she died, she always made sure to included everyone and anybody in whatever she did. She helped numerous kids before they hurt themselves. \r\n\r\nBecause of her example, I am in the program Rachel's Challenge. Compassion, pass it on.

Lou A.

I have worked with Lou for 11 years. Even though he is over 15 years younger than me, I consider him to be my mentor. He is wise beyond his years. He has taught me and my co-workers positive values for living that have made our lives richer in so many ways.\r\n\r\nBasic values, like:\r\nHow to treat people\r\nHow to dig inside…

Ken C.

Ken has taught me a lot. He has taught me to have a positive attitude, to never give up, and to work for everything. Kevin is the Principle at my middle school. He has encouraged us to Watch the Foundation for a Better Life videos everyday in advisory. He also has made my life easier from the first day I…

Anonymous Hero

I don't know my hero by name or even remember his face. He's one of those unnamed and unsung people who do a good deed not for the recognition but because it's the right thing to do. \r\n\r\nI was 16 years old, going through possibly one of the hardest times of my young life, sitting in the passenger seat of…

Daniel D.

My hero is my husband. He is an amazing man, especially to me. We have been married 33 years and his example of showing love is unsurpassed. He is always kind, courteous, patient, and giving. He is very courageous when confronted with difficult situations. He helps guide people to improve their lives and inspires them to improve their character. He…

Joyce M.

When I was twelve, mom became a single parent and raised my sister and I completely by herself. As the daughter of an Appalachian brick mason (and one of seven children), my mother was no stranger to tough and meager times. How she managed to keep us in stylish clothes, Nike's and well fed on a modest income of near…

Cheryl R.

Cheryl is my mother. She has always been there for me, supporting me in everything I do. She is just a great and loving mom. One day i want to be like her. I love my mom.

Monte R.

Monte R. is my dad and he has made a huge difference in the first 13 years of my life. He has helped me throughout life and through hard ships. He has never given up on me and has always done what is best for me. If I were to pick anybody to be my hero and help in the…

Ashley L.

My hero is my sister, Ashley. From the moment I was born she has set a good example for me and has shown me how to do the right thing. She cares about my family and others a lot and is great at showing compassion and reaching out to those in need. She has followed through with her goals and…

Jeff M.

My soccer coach, Jeff M. is my hero. He has showed me so much not only in soccer but also about my outlook on life. I am a usually a negative person about myself and the things I do. Every time I would do something wrong in soccer I would take it out on myself. He is the one who…

Amanda R.

I have a mental illness and Amanda R. is my social worker here in Kansas City, Missouri. Although for the most part I'm okay, I have certainly put Amanda through the ringer for the four years she's been my social worker. I've definitely confused her, and in my mind I'm sure I had her going crazy. There were days where…

Colin F.

I have never have met Colin at all or even talked to him but I heard about his story. Colin died in a car accident on January 20th, 2006. After his death people started to come forward with stories about how he quietly performed small acts of courage which saved their lives, the lives of friends, and the lives of…

Anne Frank.

Anne Frank, 1929–45, German diarist, b. Frankfurt as Anneliese Marie Frank. In order to escape Nazi persecution, her family emigrated (1933) to Amsterdam, where her father Otto became a business owner. After the Nazis occupied the Netherlands, her family (along with several other Jews) hid for just over two years (1942–44) in a 'secret annex' that was part of her…

Kathryn And David S.

These parents lost both their son, Andrew, and their daughter, Abby to cancer. In honor of their children, Kathryn and David have worked hard to establish a foundation to financially assist families of terminally ill children. \r\n\r\nThe foundation aims to provide enough income for one or both parents to stay home and care for their sick child during what could…

Prem R.

My hero's name is Prem. He has created the Prem Rawat Foundation to show solidarity with people in need and suffering from lack of water, food or natural disasters. At the same time he spreads good values and appreciation for life by traveling around the world to deliver very inspiring talks. That's how I came to know Prem. I met…

Larry S.

Larry is a resident in Greenwich Village and he spends almost all of his day collecting money for various causes and organizations; for example, The Fight Against AIDS. He does all of this despite his mild mental retardation.\r\n\r\nLarry has raised over $10,000 for local charities over the years. Larry is very persistent. When he goes to the doctor for a…

Crystal R.

Throughout the course of the two years in high school which I have completed, there have been numerous occasions in which I was depressed because I felt like I had nobody who cared for me. During these times I have turned to three individuals for guidance and comfort. Their names are Crystal, Cherisse, and Kristine. They have made an impact…

Eric S.

Last Friday the most amazing thing happened to me. For several months I had been training with my sister to run a half-marathon. It was my sister's first half marathon and both of us decided to use the race as an opportunity to raise money for causes we cared about. My sister raised money for cancer research and I raised…

Joseph S.

My husband Joseph Shipp Jr. was my hero. He died at age 32 in a hit and run accident that left me on my own with our three wonderful boys. He was always there for me and the boys. \r\n\r\nHe cared for others by helping them get their cars fixed, so they would have transportation. He was a man of…

Margina S.

My mother is my hero as well as my best friend. She cheers me on when no one else is there. She also encourages me when I feel like giving up. She is a fabulous person and she always helps me learn new things.\r\n\r\nShes my best friend because she doesn't stay inside and watch TV, instead she comes outside and…

Roberta S.

This is a story about my Aunt Bobby. She was the most loved person I ever knew. As a boy I remember visiting her and her husband Bob, son Randy and daughter Patty at their Gross Pointe home in Michigan. I arrived one summer after school had let out. I found a family filled with love and a home that…

Erica A.

My hero is my older sister Erica. She has always been there for me when I needed someone to talk to, and she is like a second mother to me. If there is ever something that I can't tell my Mom, I go to Erica because I know that I can trust and confide in her with my secrets and…

Fred M.

In Uganda, AIDS orphans and abused children take the streets of cities, hoping to find enough to eat by begging, stealing and searching the garbage dumps. Fred is a college student in Jinja who likes to play tennis and listen to music...and to save street kids in his spare time. \r\n\r\nOnce a month, he gives over 100 kids a bath,…

My Dad

My hero is my dad. He passed away two years ago and yet it still feels just like yesterday he was here. He died of cirrhosis of the liver. It was hard watching him slowly fading away. He'd been to the hospital before but always came out. Until this day I had always thought of this as a dream. A…

Kelli

My sister, Kelli, is my hero. She has overcome a lifetime of hardships including physical and emotional abuse, substance abuse and poverty. Today, she is a clean and sober single mother of five daughters. Though she works full time and takes phenomenal care of her 5 children, she still finds time on the holidays to take plates of food to…

Phoenix And Talia D.

On October 15, 2003, I received a call from my wife that she was getting ready to have an emergency C-section. She had gone in for a normal prenatal check up and was told that the baby was breech and they needed to take him. I immediately left work facing a 2 1/2 hour drive in which time I had…

Stephanie M.

Stephanie saved a three year old girl from getting run over by a car. The three year old was down the street when Stephanie saw her. There weren't any cars coming, but Stephanie new it wasn't right for a three year old to be standing in the middle of the street. She ran to get the little girl out of…

Naomi D.

My hero is a girl I know at work. She started there about 6 months ago after being out of work for over a year. She has some developmental and learning differences that make it hard for her to do math and cash registers, so she couldn't get hired in a lot of places, particularly in retail. But she's told…

My Mother

My mother is my hero because she chose me. I am the only adopted child out of four children; all three of my siblings are my mother's biological children. So why me? You don't just adopt a child in 1965 with no story. Yet here I am—a part of the most wonderful family you could ever dream for. \r\n\r\nMy mother…

Ryan

My hero is my husband Ryan. He is my best friend. \r\n\r\nWe have been together for over 8 years and we also have been apart for a long time because we lived on two different continents before we got married. Ryan is the most wonderful person I have ever met. He is always very committed to what he does –…

Mom

My mom is my hero. There are many people who inspire me but my mom seems to have all the qualities of all those people wrapped into one.\r\n\r\nI was born into a middle class family. My dad and mom worked six days a week close to ten hours every day. My mom woke up at 5am every morning to make…

Sarah R.

My hero is my girlfriend, Sarah. She is an overall great person she always tries to do the right thing. She always tries to keep the peace between people. She works as a Certified Nurse's Assistant and truly and deeply cares about the residents. \r\n\r\nSarah is always very forgiving and is always in a good mood. She's just an all…

Nurses

My hero is every nurse who works 12 hours straight… \r\nExposing themselves to illness and emotional stress…\r\nSometimes on weekends and holidays…\r\nSometimes through the night… \r\nOften putting their own needs and even some of the needs of their families aside…\r\nTo care for the sick who are sometimes confused, scared, frustrated, sad, angry, and not at their best… \r\nAnd still put their…

Sonny H.

After clicking nearly all of the values below, I realized how much my former boss, mentor, and friend is a hero to not just myself, but everyone he interacts with. Sonny puts together academic programs at a huge California university campus. \r\n\r\nSonny's favorite program is in July, and he especially loves the teens who attend on scholarships. He literally will…

Melissa C.

My hero is my history teacher. She has been an inspiration to so many people. She lives on a pretty meager teacher's salary yet donates over half of it to charity foundations. She hasn't done anything particularly extraordinary that I know of. But she doesn't have to. Her values and her character make me want to be exactly like her.…

Cassidy M.

My hero's name is Cassidy, but I rarely call her that. I call her Marty because she has eyes like Marty Feldman, but only when she puts stress on them to make me laugh. She will do anything to make someone laugh and make the people around her happy. She is absolutely hilarious. I can go to her crying my…

Willam M.

My hero was my stepfather Bill. He passed away suddenly three weeks ago. When he was in my life and the life of my two young girls, he was there for us through everything. If I dropped my girls off at the babysitter and they needed medicine or diapers or anything, he would drop whatever he was doing and take…

Randy

My hero is a wondrous man named Randy Pausch. His entire life, he has been a symbol of greatness and integrity. Even as he discovered he had cancer, he chose not to mope and dread the inevitable.\r\n\r\nInstead, Randy became an embodiment of hope and eternal optimism. His memory still lives on today and continues to inspire millions, just as he…

Great Grandma Condie

My hero is my great grandma Condie. To her life was always about the people. It was never about what she could get out of it, but about how she could help others and bring sunshine into someone's day. It never mattered who it was, she was always willing to help and visit with a person if only to make…

Joe A.

Joe is the president of wigsalon.com, an online website that sells wigs. Over the years as a customer I have seen evidence of Joe's exceptional character and would like to share the latest example with you. Please check out the current e-newsletter in which Joe has included information regarding advances in cancer treatment that will soon make wigs unnecessary -…

Richard H.

My hero is my grandfather, he has been a real inspiration to me and my brothers. He teaches valuable life lessons and pushes the envelope every day. As a retired orthopedic surgeon he has a lot of time on his hands and doesn't waste one second of it. At 73, he has a lot of life highlights. He's ran every…

Electrical Lineman

In the winter of 2007, the mid western United States was ravaged by monstrous ice storms. In the days and weeks leading up to the holiday season; teams of electrical lineman left there homes and families to restore power to the people affected by the storms. For weeks at a time, working 100 plus hours each, putting aside their "Merry…

Patrick John Hughes

Patrick John Hughes is the father of Patrick Henry Hughes, a member of the University of Louisville band who is blind and unable to walk. Patrick plays the trumpet and his father pushes Patrick in a specially designed wheel-chair, through all the maneuvers that go along with being in a marching band. If I were to write a caption for…

Vince E.

My step dad, me, and three other people where driving to a soccer game when the truck went off the road. He was able to bring the truck back on the road, but even so the back tire blew out. It sent us flipping, and my step dad was thrown from the truck into a ditch. The other guys and…

You The Foundation For A Better Life

When I first began seeing your ad's I wondered who this group was and if it was our tax money being diverted to someone as payback for a political favor. My husband and I decided to look up "The Foundation for a Better Life" and much to my amazement it was someone who just wanted to promote better values to…

Lindy M.

My mother in law has been a true blessing, not only to me, but to immeasurable others. Lindy's entire life has been dedicated to helping others. She helps her family, and she helps complete strangers who become family. Just since I've known her, she has helped send a young man in Haiti to college; she helped a Hispanic mother who…

Anonymous Organ Donor

My anonymous organ donor, and her family, have given me back my life. At my darkest hour, and their darkest hour, they chose organ donation. They have given me 12 more years of life, anonymously.

Meredith L.

My wife, Meredith, quit the job she loved to stay home with our four children. While at home, she couldn’t help but notice the need in our community for a mentor, guide, a friend, a coach, particularly for the younger girls. She submitted an idea based on that need to our local school board. Well, they went for it! Now…

Roy O.

Being the favorite of my grandpa I have gotten to spend a lot of quality time with him and have learned many valuable lessons from him as well. About a year ago my grandpa suffered from a major stroke. I will never forget when we got a phone call from my mom telling my dad that he needed to get…

Joe C.

The Extra Mile (or 20) One cold, winter evening last March after a shopping trip at the mall 25 miles from our rural home, my husband and I and our 3 kids headed home to bed after the mall closed at 9 pm. Nearing the turnoff to a long stretch with no houses or businesses, our engine started losing power…

Dr Ethelyn S.

My hero would never consider herself as such. Her name is Dr. Ethelyn Smith. She lives in a small town in North Mississippi. Now well past retirement age, she spends her free time fishing local lakes and enjoying raising butterflies by the hundreds in her old home. For many years this lady has helped the poorest people get medical care,…

Sanjay G.

Sanjay Gupta is a physician and a CNN newscaster who covered the news in Haiti and went to Haiti during the earthquake. He is a physician first and a newscaster second and he saved many lives and provided free services to the injured while he was in Haiti and spent more time treating the injured than reporting the news, although…

Don F.

Don Ferrarese, a 15 year veteran of professional baseball, has dedicated himself to community and charitable service since retiring in 1962, most notably starting the Don Ferrarese Charitable Foundation. Since starting the foundation in 2005, the organization has empowered our local youth by awarding forty-six (46) $4,000 scholarships to college bound seniors based solely upon their charitable and community service.…

Becca C.

She feeds the poor in our area once per month by buying food from the Montgomery County Food Bank with her own family funds; she has a heart to serve others.

Mary Ruth B.

My mom has always been my best friend and the most loving mother and grandmother to my children. She is now caring full-time for my daddy who has lost his mind to Alzheimers. She is not even recognized by him and still performs loving service to care for him daily. I don't think I even know how difficult it is,…

Diana H.

She is always doing kind things for others, whether it be at home for her parents or her job. She is kind, generous and full of compassion for her clients. She takes care of special needs children and she is an awesome human being.

Matthew L.

Matthew is the bassist for a band that I adore. At the end of June, he was walking to get a drink someplace when he saw a woman being hit by her significant other. Matthew told the man to stop and called the police. The man turned on Matthew and started beating him. Matthew suffered from broken bones and was…

Luc J.

Luc is an angel. A selfless soul on this earth who gives his time, money, and energy the last 10+ years to a cause that is all but ignored: the country and people of Laos. A forgotten people after the Vietnam War, he founded the "Laos Foundation" to build schools for the blind. Medical facilities for the sick. Fresh water…

Natalee M.

My daughter watched her parents marriage almost fall apart. She witnessed many stressful horrible situations. She also has to work with the person who caused our family great pain. She is very strong and has turned to God to give her strength. She has also made a decision to devote her life to helping others in different mission fields. She…

Andrew G.

My father was raised in the projects of West New York where he met my mother. He gave up his dream of being a veterinarian to become a truck driver in order for my sister and I to have a chance at a decent life on Long Island. My father is also a volunteer firefighter and on 9/11 he and…

Corinne G.

Corinne is on a campaign to teach positive social skills, character and values in schools across the nation. It is a solitary mission, but she is making headway. In EVERY school where her SocialSmarts program has been adopted, bullying has all but been eliminated, teachers are getting more time to teach because classroom distractions from unruly students has been eliminated,…

Karen M.

She has worked with people with disabilities for over 20 years. She is tireless and advocates for them all the time. She is also a person with a disability. She is my boss and is a wonderful one to have. She makes a difference in people's lives everyday and she also takes in all kinds of animals.

Salvatore De Vito Jr. D.

I would like to share a heroic deed by my father, Salvatore DeVito Jr., during a family vacation to Florida. The action he did was not for fame but as a deed out of unselfishness and kindness. As you see, we were driving past a magnificent resort called the Gaylord Palms when we saw two women driving out of the…

Maxine Gorman G.

My wife, Maxine, a nurse, is my hero. She's 24x7x365 devoted to the needs and care for others. She's responsible for the health care of 70,000 students in Prince George's County, Maryland. She's up at 5 AM and makes sure that there's staffing at 215 different health rooms. She's off to work at 8 AM and mentors to her Nurse…

Michael A.

Michael Anthony is an extraordinary human being who has devoted his entire adult life to helping make this a better world and helping individuals be more positive. He does it for free through his wonderful book which can be downloaded at his website www.howtobehappy.org. Disappointed at a young age with the unethical, lying and negative ways of humanity and business,…

Kyle I.

My hero is a man that doesn't know he is my hero. He is taking care of me from what happened to me in the past with my health. He is going way out of his way for me and he cares for me in a way that makes me feel good, that someone can do so much for you…

Adrienne And Don D.

My parents have almost always been there for my sister and I but there have been times they haven't been. Adrienne and Don are actually the parents of a friend of mine and every time my parents couldn't be there or just failed to be, Adrienne and Don just said, "Come over". We had done nothing for them, my mom…

Grampa And Grandma W.

My heroes are my great-grandparents. They were kind and simple hardworking people who came up from Georgia to give their children a better life. They weren't rich, sometimes Grandpa had work two jobs, they came from varied background and faced hate all their lives, but they were still kind to everyone. They weren't pushovers though, my grandma once broke an…

Dana S.

While visiting our river cabin after a flood, that added 10+ feet of water to the river, an elderly woman, who was confused, and her husband, backed their car off the edge of a small highway into the muddy brown swirling water. Police and emergency people were around directing traffic and other things, but someone from the crowd went in.…

Shawn H.

Shawn, a veteran, is an older man who has had a very hard life and struggles financially but has the spirit of Christmas all year long. He helps every person from fixing kids bikes to tearing out tree stumps for strangers. He feeds all the stray cats everywhere. He never says no to anyone and yet he needs help himself.…

Carolyn L.

When my daughter was in high school we went to an open house where we and all the other parents sat in our children's classroom listening to the teacher. She told us a story of a kid who she'd noticed was ostracized for being "slow". He had no friends and didn't do well in school. She hatched an unusual plan.…

Barry F.

My husband, Barry Fishman, is an extraordinary man who does extraordinary things every day. He is no stranger to tragedy, yet he has incredible strength and courage, and is an inspiration to many, many people. He is honest, sincere, compassionate, generous and thoughtful. He is definitely a hero. I met my husband Barry when we were each 17 years old.…

Richard A.

My Dad was very involved in the lives of his children. He was a volunteer on the Cub Scout and Scout committees for our church. He wanted the best education for his children so he ran for and was elected to the School Board in our district. He always went to school, church, and scout events. He used his vacation…

Unknown

My wife and I were on vacation in France. We got on to the wrong expressway heading south out of Paris. We stopped to ask directions from a young 20 year old eating lunch under a shade tree. He didn't know English and I didn't know French, but he motioned for me to follow him. He drove 15-20 minutes through…

Greg S.

I was at O'Hare Airport to find my business flight had been delayed by over two hours. While sitting at the gate I noticed that an elderly Japanese couple that seemed confused, as their flight had been changed to another terminal. The gate agent didn't speak Japanese. The couple could read English but could not speak it. I got up…

My Fellow Man

Our present economic debacle succeeded in thrusting me into the dark place which is an all out struggle to maintain the mere fundamentals of survival. I began to know fear intimately on a moment to moment basis. It was easy to be cynical about the world. To blame various politicians and complain bitterly about the hated bankers and wall street.…

Gloria C.

First off, I want to say I looked at the values that best described my hero, to be honest I think they all fit her. My hero happens to be my mother, the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and a genuine angel. My Father passed away when I was just 10 months old. This was way before anybody…

Bill B.

I am just a 14 year old. My dad does not have a disease or anything like that but he is my hero. He grew up the oldest of his 3 siblings. He lived in a small town, 3 miles from one end to the other with his parents. He lived a hard life. He got let go from his…

Rhonda T.

Rhonda helps everyone. At the expense of her own finances, health, and even mental well being at times. She always goes out of her way to help her children, grandchildren, family, and the ones she loves. She is fiercely loyal, and is hard to anger. I love my mother, and hope one day to be as helpful, loving and forgiving…

Gloria S.

My hero, is my friend Gloria! Our life paths crossed about 22 years ago, while working with the phone company. During those years, of working together, I began to know what she really wanted to do in life and that was to help women, children and the homeless. Gloria spent many hours working with a local coalition that sought to…

Dickey L.

My hero is my father. He grew up a country boy in West Virginia and learned a lot about life through his hard work on the farm. My mother would often tell me, "You know your father can do anything, you need to pay more attention to the things he does." It was not until I was older that I…

Mr. A.

Coming home with 2 inches of snow and counting, my car got stuck going up a hill. I managed to pull into a driveway. The man who lived there came out to see if I was okay. I was shaken up, not sure how I was going to get home. He calmed me down and even invited me inside until…

Maurice S.

My hero is my father. Many may think, "Well he's your father, of course he will be a hero" but he is different. He fathers other youth and helps them overcome obstacles. He mentors them when they are in need of help. He has cared for the youth in his community. He brought youth together to create a clothing drive…

Dave G.

No wish too large. No hero too small. Wish Upon A Hero was first conceived by founder Dave Girgenti, shortly after the September 11th attacks on New York City. From his home in NJ, Girgenti watched as thousands of people posted pictures of missing loved ones throughout the city. He thought there had to be a faster, more organized way…

Miss Tillie K.

Miss Tillie is a wonderful lady who spent 20+ years with AT&T as a trainer and lived in several locations around the world, including Africa. When she retired, she became involved in consulting and working with shelters and homes for women who were battered, abused and often times addicted. She observed that the women were fine as long as they…

Tony L.

My father was an Air Force pilot. While on assignment out of the country, his office was near the runway. One day as he was looking at paperwork he watched a US plane overshoot the runway and crash, the end of the runway had a large drop off. He knew he needed to get there quickly to help. He jumped…

Pam T.

Pam Tomlinson is the founder of Kids Defense Team. She is disabled and cannot work. I see her in pain everyday. Sometimes she stays in bed and works. She helps children all over the USA. She says she does not want to sit around and do nothing. She uses her own money to pay for the organization and pay for…

Charles J.

Charles "CJ" Johnson, North Dallas High School grad from the Class of 1988, and for the past 15 years, a security guard. He has my vote for angel, Superman, and hero. Just a few of the reasons: * CJ began and is the sponsor of the three culture clubs at North Dallas: the African American , Asian American, and Latin…

Harold B.

My Fiancee Harold is my hero! I have never met a man with such a genuinely kind heart and so willing to help anybody in need without reservation, hesitation or expectation of anything in return. Whether it's a family member or friend or simply a stranger on the street he is simply there for people and he uses this amazing…

Betty T.

My grandparents are my heroes and a lot of other kids'. My grandparents are foster parents and they have had more then 50 kids! They are my heroes because they gave a chance to these kids and they gave these kids homes. All foster parents are heroes, they save childrens lives. They made a difference in one of their foster…

Sandra L.

This is about an amazing lady name Sandra La Day of People Supporting People in Port Arthur, Texas. She started this 15 years ago with just the pay check of her husband and the little money she was making and about 4 people in giving things. She took in children for free until the parent/parents were able to take care…

Nancy W.

My teacher has done many great things, but what she has done for me is amazing! Mrs.Whitehead (as I call her) taught me that I can do anything. She always believed in me, made me feel great, helped me improve everything from good to great, while still being an awesome teacher of 23. I wanted to share that with everybody…

Ismael Feneque

About three years ago in New York my then boyfriend and I were waiting for the #1 train on 191 st. It was the day before we celebrated Thanksgiving Day with family and friends. We were talking about our future and Thanksgiving dinner plans. All of a sudden we heard a woman scream "Oh my god"!! As I looked in…

Joshua D.

I met my hero at an air show in Idaho. I was struggling through the end of a serious relationship with a man I loved, who was secretly addicted to pain killers. I had lost love for myself and my confidence level was at an all time low. I had lost myself. I met Joshua and we instantly became friends.…

Nadia N.

My Aunt, Nadia My aunt Nadia was born on March 18, 1960. She is the third of seven kids. Throughout her late elementary and early middle school years, my aunt, Nadia, was bullied on a regular basis. She was made fun of for her ethnicity and physical appearance since she had to wear a back brace for minor scoliosis. She…

Lawrence J.

At 25 years of age, he married a single mom with three young children ages 5,4,3. He adopted the kids within a year and raised them along with the two more that came along 5 and 10 years later. He selflessly worked three jobs for at least twenty years to support his wife and five children. They never wanted for…

Marcia S.

Marcia is my mother. She took care of my father with love, compassion and a sense of humor throughout his illness, Lewy Body Disease, a type of dementia, for many years. After my father died, she began to volunteer for the Alzheimer's Association in Houston, Texas, and was named volunteer of the year. She is an eloquent spokesperson and has…

Everyone Who Has Made A Difference.

The people who are willing to stand out and make a change will always be heroes in my eyes. It seems as though there are only a handful of these people in the world but together, miracles can happen.

St. Germain G.

This story cannot be told in full, nor my name or email revealed, nor the present identity of him whom Voltaire called the man never dies, St. Germain. I work for him in his role of bringing advanced healing, free energy, and basic life saving technologies to the world. Such things as cheap clean water, flashlight battery powered stoves for…

Elsie G.

Elsie was a mom of three boys who also took in foster children. She treated them wonderfully, and each left her care with a little savings account from the funds received for their care. Elsie was also a one woman charity -"could I have that dresser when you are done? How about those curtains?" Never saying they were for someone…

Bill W.

This is a man that needs no recognition. Always lending a helping hand while his other hand jams on the guitar and stirs the gumbo! Past the age of seventy, he is still jamming on guitar and feeding homeless people, hands on - regularly! (Must be close to a quarter million!) Known as the 'Sauce Boss' and his 501, 'planet…

Brendan C.

My younger brother is only 13 years old, and he's already one of my biggest heroes. He's the kind of kid who will drop anything to help you out. Whether it's babysitting for one of our little cousins for no pay when he knows he would rather be at the skate park with his friends, or even helping my mother…

The Best Of The Best

THE BEST OF THE BEST Some people will be born today of a special breed The ones that are born to fulfill a need Ones that were created to save the rest Living for others is their goal and their quest They are the ones formed from a special clay Made of courage and conviction - with a debt to…

Family

Your family is very important and does nice things for you. They help you in times when your down.

Bob S.

Bob is a fireman. One day, a building was burning to the ground. Even the firemen were afraid to go inside. A woman was screaming help and Bob rushed in to the rescue and saved her.

Melanie S.

My ballet teacher is my hero because she teaches me about ballet and life every day. She has helped me become the graceful, persistent dancer I am today.

Unknown

An obviously impaired elderly white man stood waiting to cross extremely busy William Hilton Parkway here in South Carolina as the light turned red. Stopped for the red light, I noticed with heart in mouth as he stepped out heading across four lanes of traffic now waiting for the lights to momentarily go green. With heart in mouth, I feared…

Gudelia D.

She immigrated to this country in 1957 with her husband. Her husband ignored his health and worked himself to death to get ahead. He died in 1963 leaving her with 3 children at the age of 31. She worked in a garment factory for 30 years never making more than minimum wage. She never asked for or received any welfare,…

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