subject: Should An "american Idol" Do More Than Sing? [print this page] McKenna Pope, a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey, campaigned to have the Hasbro Company make their Easy Bake Ovens in gender-neutral colors. Because the toy ovens were available only in pink or purple when she tried to buy one for her 4-year-old, chef-wannabe brother, Pope put a petition online. By December 12, 2012 she had more than 40,000 signatures. Even celebrity chef Bobby Flay supported her cause. As a result of her determined efforts, Pope is going to Pawtucket, Rhode Island on December 17 to discuss her suggestions with Hasbro - and I am sure the executives will be "oven-ready".
Rony Delgarde, a 38-year-old immigrant from Haiti, arrived in the U.S. with $5 and a Bible. When he saw the brightly painted houses in Miami, he wanted to buy paint for Haiti. From that idea "Global Paint for Charity" was born in 2010. While working full-time as a health care consultant in Atlanta, Delgarde started a non-profit that collects leftover paint from businesses and residences, processes it and donates it to organizations in third-world countries. Considering the Environmental Protection Agency estimates the U.S. has 64 million gallons of leftover paint yearly, Global Paint for Charity is a very "bright" idea.
Lawrence DePrimo was seen by a tourist in New York City's Times Square as he gave boots to a shoeless beggar on a cold, November night. DePrimo found out the man's shoe size, bought a $75 pair of all-weather boots in a nearby Sketchers store and then helped the man put on socks and the boots. The tourist sent a note and picture to the NYPD and it posted the picture on its Facebook page. Yes, the good Samaritan was a 25-year-old, 2-year veteran of the NYPD - and an inspiration to "police" ourselves about performing acts of human kindness.
Twenty-one Trappist monks needed a new roof for St. Sixtus Abbey in Belgium. To pay for the roof they are selling their celebrated "Westvleteren 12" beer at selected retailers. The beer, previously available only at the abbey, will sell for $84.99 a six-pack. The monks have brewed the same amount of beer every year since 1945 - about 3,800 U.S. barrels. According to experts, Westvleteren is a heavy, dark, sweet beer. When the roof is paid for, the beer will again be available only at the abbey. In a perfect world a fixed roof would mean drinks could be "on the house".
