It’s Friiiiiday! And also May Day, which marks the end of the uncomfortable wintery half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. So why don’t we celebrate the warmer seasons and the beginning of a new month with a little good news (like we need a reason to hear good news ;)?

In today’s report, you’ll find Do Gooders using pedals to clean up their town, Craigslist to help people in need and a formally abused dog who has become a surrogate mom to several different species of baby animals.

Good News Links For May 1, 2009:

1. Pedal People Put the Cycling in Recycling. (Source: Yes Magazine)
2. Pittsburgh Do Gooder takes a ‘Pay it Forward’ weekend trip to Chicago using Craigslist to find 5 people in need. (Source: The Windy Citizen)
3. Jasmine, an abused Greyhound, welcomes and nurtures new animals to sanctuary, from pups to chicks and even a fawn! (Source: HelpOthers.org)
4. Woman opens home and feeds town on a weekly basis, caters local fundraisers and events, too. (Source: IndyWeek.com)
5. Five stories of kids helping kids, some with parental guidance and some who influence their parents to Do Good. (Source: Reader’s Digest)

To share your feel-good stories, email us at goodnews {at} dailychallenge {dot} org.

Almost 1 month after Pay it Backward Day and many of us still glow in the rosy aftermath of that event. Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman, fellow Do Gooder and friend, was there and pointed out there are many great movies about the power of giving. This post is part 1 of Emmanuel’s 6 part series on movies that inspire giving.

When you practice the power of giving your whole world will change. It’s about understanding that positive energy can flow from person to person. So when you give something of yourself to others you become part of a flow of energy that can energize you as well.

The book “How Full Is Your Bucket?” by Tom Rath and Donald Clifton is all about the power of giving. It’s based on the theory that everyone has an invisible bucket that fills or empties with every social interaction. So you are either energized or depleted with every person you encounter during your day.

Focus on energizing others and filling their bucket whenever you can. Give a compliment to a stranger, say thank you or acknowledge them in a kind way. Think about how you can make someone’s day. And when you least expect it you’ll feel a rush of energy because your bucket will be filled from the appreciative smile you’ll get in return!

Many movies demonstrate the power of giving. Here is a list of 15 favourite movies of mine that can inspire you to be a more thoughtful, altruistic person:

1. As Good As It Gets 1997
2. Bed of Roses 1996
3. Bicentennial Man 1999
4. Evan Almighty 2007
5. Ghost Town 2008
6. Groundhog Day 1993
7. Meet John Doe 1941
8. Millions 2004
9. Mr. Deeds Goes To Town 1936
10. Ocean’s 13 2007
11. Pay It Forward 2000
12. Peaceful Warrior 2006
13. The Shawshank Redemption 1994
14. The Ultimate Gift 2006
15. Yes Man 2008

In the next 5 blog posts I will write why each of these movies will inspire you. And if you have a favourite movie that motivates you to give, please let me know!

Emmanuel Lopez a.k.a. Motivatorman is an award-winning illustrator, recording artist and motivational specialist. The Washington Post has featured his blog as a recommended resource for motivational tips and inspiring movie examples. Emmanuel offers empowering keynotes and seminars to organizations to help build optimistic mindsets during the current economic challenges. More info: www.motivatorman.com

Come back to the Do Gooder Daily one week from today for Part 2 of 15 Inspiring Movies About Giving.

A truly moving short film, “Chicken a la Carte” by Ferdinand Dimadura grabbed the honour of “Most Popular Short Film” in a 2006 competition between of 3,600 filmmakers. The film aptly depicts the difference between the lives of the weathly and poor.

While the beginning is slow, your patience will pay off. The short is a total of 6 minutes and it will break your heart:

It’s Friday and here’s some good news to make sure you end the week feeling fine. In this week’s Daily Challenge Good News Report, you’ll find Do Gooders in Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and West Michigan:

Good News Links For April 24, 2009:

1. Investment banker pays-it-forward full-time and educates girls in Southeast Asia. (source: Wall Street Journal)
2. A father’s story about a noble sacrifice his 8-year-old daughter made. (source: HelpOthers.org)
3. Two anonymous Do Gooders run amok in Michigan doing good - video. (source: CNN)
4. Bringing peace to the middle East by building schools and bridges, one penny at a time. (source: CBS news)
5. One people, one family. A man’s dream for a united planet. (source: HelpOthers.org)

To share your feel-good stories, email us at goodnews {at} dailychallenge {dot} org.

Come Join the first ever Living Green Ribbon event in Toronto!

The green ribbon is the internationally recognized symbol for organ and tissue donation. By using people to form the ribbon shape, we symbolize the life-giving and life-enhancing affects of organ and tissue donation. Each person who makes up the ribbon represents those on waiting lists across the province and country. It also symbolizes the donors and donor families who have given so generously to help others.

Together we can deliver a strong message all Ontarians that organ and tissue donation works, saves lives, gives sight, eases suffering and provides a second chance to many who feared that chance would never come.

Details: Contact Info: Brian Kellow- 416 619 2304

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009
Time: 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Location: Queen’s Park, South Lawn
Street: University and College
City/Town: Toronto, ON
Events Page URL: Click Here

Hey all Do Gooders, Fefe Dobson here. Just like you, I believe in giving my time to help people. I was lucky to be part of the first Earth Hour concert at Nathan Philips Square in 2008 and 411 Initiative for Change.

So I have a new challenge for you today. It’s called ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge sponsored by the Province of Ontario. ChangeTheWorld encourages youth ages 14 to 18 to volunteer five hours during National Volunteer Week which is happening now: April 19-25, 2009.

I believe it’s important to show youth how important social responsibility is to our communities and how everyone can make a difference. Many volunteer centres across Ontario have opportunities waiting to be filled. You should think about this. Here are some facts about how volunteering helps everyone:

•    Over 5 million Ontario volunteers contribute the equivalent of more than 400,000 full-time jobs, worth over $10 billion annually, by volunteering for over 800 million hours a year.
•    Ontario’s volunteers have founded and govern over 45,000 nonprofit groups, of which 54% are entirely run by volunteers.

As Do Gooders, you know acts of kindness make a difference. I challenge you to hook up with your family and friends and contact your local volunteer centre through this website address: http://www.ontario.ca/changetheworld

Help by painting at a community centre, organizing a second-hand clothing shop for charity, or engaging seniors in a game of Wii. It only takes a few hours of you time and you’ll feel great afterwards!

Thanks

Fefe

Lets show the world that social media can be used for the greater good and bring this little girl home to her parents.

5 Steps to help bring Victoria (Tori) Stafford home:

1) Watch this short video and SHARE - http://tinyurl.com/FindTori

2) Email 3+ friends with a link to this blog post.

3) Join the facebook group and SHARE - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78966007726

4) Take today’s challenge and SHARE - http://www.dailychallenge.org/challenges/view.php?id=1125

5) Tell 3 people at work about Tori today.

We know you are all busy but for a moment put yourself in the shoes of her parents who have their world turned upside down. PLEASE take 5 mins out of your day and to help us bring this beautiful little girl home.

Thank you for your help Do Gooders!

We know you guys loved the last pibTO video so here is a slightly shorter, but equally as fun video that our great friend Jon Lim has graciously prepared for us. This video shows Jon’s perspective of our April 04th world record breaking event.

Still brings back a wave of emotions and great memories. Well done Jon!

It’s Good Friday today and what better day to hear some good news around the world?

This week’s Do Gooder Report covers stories from Toronto and New York to the Atlantic Ocean and Kenya. Hopefully these uplifting stories will make your day even better!

Good News Links For April 10, 2009:

1. Toronto pays it backward, raises money for charity and breaks a world record! (one source: Metro.ca)
2. Subway hero saves life. (source: NYTimes.com)
3. Young man rows across Atlantic for cancer. (source: CNN.com)
4. Ancient tortoise befriends rescued, baby hippo in Kenyan animal sanctuary. (source: npr.org)
5. Project Destiny uses chess to help troubled youth. (source: USAtoday.com)

To share your feel-good stories, email us at goodnews {at} dailychallenge {dot} org.

Not sure about you guys, but I have been walking around with a silly smile on my face since Saturday afternoon. The energy from Pay It Backward Day was electrifying and has many of us feeling like anything is possible …and you know what, that was exactly the point. We wanted to demonstrate that when we work together even a small act of kindness, like buying the person behind you a coffee, can can make a BIG impact.

I know breaking a world record for acts of coffee kindness won’t exaclty abolish war or famine or poverty and that our little event didn’t raise enought funds to open a new wing at the SickKids Hospital, but hopfully it did show people that doing good is not only the right thing to do, but that it can also be wicked FUN!

At the end of the day we had an amazing time, brought out lots of great local performers, athletes and celebrity Do Gooders and ended up making history and setting a new world record, all while raising both money and awareness for an amazing local charity.

Over the past few days we have been getting a lot of praise for the event and I wanted to take a moment to recognize the genius team behind the scenes. This event existed because of their dedication and goodwill. I am humbled to have been apart of this amazing event and will never forget all of you beautiful people.

Top Row: Satish Kanwar, Dan Hocking, Benny Banipal Pushpinder (Second Cup owner), Andrew Peek, Jon Lim, Suresh Doss and Bretton MacLean.

Second Row: Verne Ho, Tiffany Storbel, Kamwal Pushpinder, Afshin Mousavian, Pamela Dennis, Erin Bury, Darius Bashar, Idan Nulman Rida Rehmani,

Front Row: Cheryl Ho, Golbarg Tafreshi and Martin Rubio

Not In Picture - Casie Stewart, Nina, Shayan Safaei, Ash Mousavian, Scott Stratten and Tiffany Shum

I also wanted to send a special shout out to the pibTO cheer squad that stuck it out in the ridiculously cold weather and kept all of our spirts up with their warm smiles and hilarious jokes. You guys made the day even more memorable! This city is so full of LOVE that I just can help but ooze with gratitude everytime I think about Saturday!

I think Verne Ho said it best when he tweeted “I love every single person that was a part of #pibto”. #perfect!