Everyday Hero Stories

Where did your values come from?

We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.

Tell Us Your Story
INSPIRATION
SUFFER TO GAIN I cherish my life in the small suburb of New Takoradi, popularly known as "New York" in Ghana, all because of what this small suburb thought me as a child. New Takoradi is situated in Sekondi-Takoradi, also called "Twincity." For a fact, most part of my values in life was shaped by my earlier years of growing...
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STRENGTH
DR JOHN L My father is an example of the "American Dream." With $105 in his pocket, he immigrated from South Korea during the Korean War to the USA. He won a scholarship during the 1950's to East Tennessee University when segregation was predominant. My father also did not speak English which made it harder for him to...
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CHARACTER
RAYMOND SR. Y My father has always been my hero. He died on May 31st 2009. Tragically his life was ended too soon. He was such a magnificent man, so much so, that he willed his entire home and contents worth $315,000.00 to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. I am so proud of that and as executor to his estate honored to...
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CARING
GRANDMOTHER When I was only four years old my mother died. It was hard for all of us in such grief. My dad's mom (my grandmother), as the loving person she is, came from her house eight hours away to take care of us. At first, my brother and I hated her. I would call her mean things and scream at her, and make her go up...
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CHARACTER
ALLISON H In 1987 Allison was hit by a car suffering a traumatic brain injury. She has since recovered but has a physical disability and trouble with her speech. Allison volunteers two days per week at our local homeless shelter she also volunteers at the local veterans hospital doing bingo with our veterans. Allison is an...
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PERSEVERANCE
SIMPLE WORDS OF WISDOM I am going to be honest. I am only ten years old, but why can't I make a difference too? I have been told many things in my life so far, simple things like "Eat your salad" and "Don't climb that." Half the time I don't even know those things are making an impact on my life. And sometimes, it's the other way...
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HARD WORK
AJARN DONALD P Our hero is Ajarn Donald (Ajarn is teacher in Thai and full name is Mr. Donald Patnaude). I said "our" hero because I am speaking on behalf of the more than 5,000 students aged 3-60 years old whom he has taught English to as an ESL (English as a second Language). He has taught English to more than 5,000 students...
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DEDICATION
NANCY M Mothers these days don't seem to get the kind of credit they are due. My friend Nancy was a stay-at-home mother until all of her four children got into elementary school. Then, she took a retail job to earn spending money to take the kids to museums and on small trips around her state. She made sure she got a job...
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COMMITMENT
VANESSA B Vanessa B is my mother she is so amazing to me because she has always been there for us. We have been through some very hard times when we had no food or shelter, but she was always a good and caring mom. She would give her life for us. That's why she is so amazing; because she is so strong. I hope my kids feel...
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CHARACTER
MARSHALL B My hero is my Daddy. With a 6th grade education, he went to the Pacific theater in WWII, earned the sharpshooter award and a Purple Heart, became a supervisor of a manufacturing plant, and in his sixties earned his high school diploma. He is gentle and generous, tough as nails and kind as a mother's love. He's...
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VOLUNTEERING
JOANN B My mother has spent the past 9 years working with Special Olympics. But her story of love, compassion, and patience doesn’t start there. It started 20 years ago when my younger sister, Natalie, was born. You see, my sister is mentally delayed and has always required extra help; help that my mother never hesitated...
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OPTIMISM
CONNIE G My Grandma, Connie, is just amazing. Even though she has MS, she always looks at the bright side of things and makes everyone around her hopeful. My grandma always lifts my spirits and something about her makes me want to give SO much of myself everyday. She has never let anything get her down. I just wanted to...
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ENCOURAGEMENT
KIM P My hero is my wife. I am a 41 year old colon cancer survivor. She did not let me feel like a victim, and her love helped me persevere. She was strong when I couldn't be. She gave me hope when I thought the worst. She let my cry, but didn't cry herself. It was only after my ordeal was over, did I understand how...
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RISING ABOVE
THOMAS M My uncle is an inspiration to me and the world. While I was growing up, I watched in horror as my aunt and uncle lost their two sons in separate auto accidents within a short period of time. My cousins were like brothers to me and despite the paralyzed feeling I had, it couldn't come close to my imagination of...
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CHARACTER
EDWARD H My grandfather is a "foundation Hero" in my life and my family’s lives. He told me many, many truths and two of these I will share with you. He said, "The most valuable gift anyone can give you is an introduction to a truly good person." He said, "The most valuable material thing you will ever own is your...
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PREPARATION
BEING PREPARED This is the story of Western Emergency Management Association. (Commonly known as WEMA by the locals.) We are a group of volunteer Local Emergency Management coordinators from 7 small municipalities in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. In late 2001 we signed an agreement to work together as a group to back each...
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SACRIFICE
CHARLIE B My son is an amazing young man. We brought his paternal grandparents into our home when grandpap was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He and his sisters worked tirelessly to cook and care for the grandparents while I attended school and worked two part time jobs. When he was only 16, his youngest sister was diagnosed...
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LOVE
MY BEAUTIFUL ANGEL MOMMIE In August of 2000, my mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She was a fighter and a survivor and became stronger and more beautiful than ever. However, in the early morning hours of March 3rd, 2009 her fiance called me as I was coming in from Starbucks. My mother had brain cancer. Surgery was done,...
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LEADERSHIP
ORRIN H I'm blown away by someone who's doing the hardest job of all--trying to reach kids and put them on the right track. I taught school, so I know. Kids hear you. But do they listen? This man, Orrin Hudson, is MAKING them listen! I've seen him in action. He works up a sweat, putting his heart and soul into...
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REACHING OUT
SGT. JUAN A "The Write Stuff" my middle school group of Random Acts of Kindness Kids sent over 500 homemade letters and gifts to wounded American troops this year. One soldier was so touched, he traveled by bus from Walter Reed Medical Center with a 3 inch bullet in his leg to meet the kids and tell them they made a...
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LOVE
MELANIE Melanie... the REAL American Dream This story is dedicated to my awesome little sister Melanie! (aka Herbie. That’s what I call her) Melanie is the kindest, sweetest, gentlest, person I know and has a heart the size of Texas. I was about 10 years old when Melanie was born. My Dad came home from the Hospital...
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SACRIFICE
GREY IS A FIGMENT What I’ve learned from my wife would astound you! It’s theoretically simplistic, emotionally hygienic, morally sincere, and spiritually uplifting. She never went to college and reading books is not her passion. Her repertoire doesn’t consist of greed, disrespect, or ego. Bridget can’t stand up. She can’t...
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LOVE
TONYA C My mommy has been there through everything. She has never backed down, away, or ran when times got rough. She showed me that love is the only solution to fear. Once we allow love to control our situations, nothing can harm or control our minds any longer. She taught all three of us this truth...we fear no one,...
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CARING
STELLA P Stella was born the sixth of 12 children and grew up in very simple living conditions. She has been in the country music business for many years and had several hits and received awards. But what's not common knowledge is, that just like her sister Dolly, Stella devotes much of her time to causes like domestic...
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LIVE YOUR DREAMS
FIND YOUR MISSION! Sixteen years ago I set out on a path of writing a life skills book for young people and creating a foundation to donate this book to youth organizations and schools. As a high school basketball coach my “Mission” was to teach and inspire kids around the world to “Achieve Straight A’s in the School of Life!” I...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
TIMOTHY H Growing up, we often imagine a hero wearing a cape, moving faster than a speeding bullet, or climbing walls with the ease of a spider. Sometimes it is hard to imagine that a hero can be a person you see everyday in the most normal of circumstances. I did not realize until after I'd grown out of childhood that my...
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LOVE
KENNETH AND JOAN B About 13 years ago, my mother and father decided to split up. Neither one of them were financially stable or ready to raise four kids by themselves. My grandmother and grandfather so graciously agreed to raise my three siblings along with myself. For 13+ years now, my grandparents have raised us four kids, and...
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HELPING OTHERS
A GOOD CHARACTER Three friends and I were driving on the highway, my close friend being the driver. While we were going at least 50 miles per hour, we passed a car stopped on the side of the road that had broken down. My friend slowed down, made a U-turn, and pulled up behind the other car. He got out of the car and before I...
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STRENGTH
PAMELA S My late sister Pam Summerhayes was and will always be the greatest heroine of my life. Her 26 year battle with Cystic Fibrosis was extraordinary to witness and be part of. Here is part of her legacy to me and the world: THE FIVE PILLARS OF PAM’S LEGACY WE CAN’T CONTROL LIFE BY BEING AFRAID OF IT So often...
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
DWAYNE C A couple of days ago the maintenance worker for our building, Dwayne, approached a coworker and I as we were chatting in the morning. Our building has a little restaurant in the basement and the woman who works at the checkout, Bertha, had recently lost her home and was about to be put out on the street after the...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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FRIENDSHIP
MY SPARK IN LIFE Growing up wasn't easy for me - I was a very mean and aggressive person because of my disorder. When I was twelve years old my counselor gave me medication to help me with my behavior, but I still lacked one thing and that was motivation. I did not have anything to look forward to. That all changed during my...
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