Updated: June 23, 2009

Positive & Inspiring News from Around the World
D.C.-based program prepares youth to become triathletes Source: USA Today Mayor Adrian Fenty is doing his part to help bring the sport of triathlon to the city's youth. Fenty, 38, completed an age-group triathlon Sunday in 2 hours, 17 minutes, 54 seconds, finishing 16th in the elite male category. Age-group triathlons were held in conjunction with the ITU World Championship Series, which drew 130 elite male and female triathletes competing at the Olympic distance -- 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike and 10K run Read the full article.
More Inspirational News Stories
Postal Kitty Gets New Owner, SWAK Source: The Boston Globe A kitten abandoned in a city mailbox last week has a new home and a new owner now. After narrowing the list of potential adopters, the kitten, who was given the moniker "Postina" after she was found inside a Boston neighborhood mailbox, has a new family which was chosen by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or MSPCA. Read the full article. Church hands out cash in 'faith stimulus': Alabama congregation asks that money be spent to help others Source: MSNBC On a recent Sunday, members of Bay Community Church each were given envelopes stuffed with cash. Inside was $20, $40 or $100, depending on luck of the draw. No ordinary handout, the $50,000 gesture was billed as a "faith stimulus." Church members were told to spend it helping others, a novel approach to religious outreach during tough economic times. Amid the worst recession in generations, religious organizations are taking a variety of approaches to help struggling families and laid-off workers: Food is being grown on church plots, job and home foreclosure counseling are on the rise, and free haircuts and oil changes are offered. Read the full article. Manicurist sells house, car to build school Source: CNN When Washington manicurist Lidia Schaefer returned to her native village in Ethiopia, she was troubled by what she saw: children walking three hours each way to attend classes held not in a school, but under a tree. When she learned in 1998 that one of the girls she'd met -- Medhine -- had been attacked and killed by a hyena after falling behind other children during the long trek home from school, Schaefer knew she had to act. She began setting aside a third of her salary and all of her tips, and later sold her house and car, to raise enough money to build a school for the village. Read the full article. Superheroes Get Real Source: CBS News In closets around the world, their tights and capes are tucked away. They have day jobs and lives, but when night comes, they become...Dark Guardian! Life! Civitron! Citizen Prime! And many other superhero identities. These people are average citizens-turned-crime fighters, regularly suiting up to do good deeds. CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller reported on The Early Show Thursday that there may be as many as 200 superheroes keeping watch in communities everywhere. And they're taking on crime right where it lives. Read the full article. 'Mindfulness' meditation being used in hospitals and schools Source: USA Today Challenges are landing fast and furious on Capitol Hill. So Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, feels he has to arrive at the top of his game every day. And Ryan says he has found a way to do that: He meditates for at least 45 minutes before leaving home. Ryan, 35, sits on a floor cushion, closes his eyes, focuses on his breath and tries to detach from any thoughts, just observing them like clouds moving across the sky -- a practice he learned at a retreat. Read the full article. Julia Roberts Keeping Newman's Dream Alive Source: CBS News Julia Roberts has a brand new role: philanthropist. The starlet is reaching out to children -- and keeping the dream of another beloved Hollywood star alive. On The Early Show Monday, Roberts discussed her involvement with Hole in the Wall Camps, a charity for ailing kids started by screen legend Paul Newman, who died last year. Roberts called Newman "a giant human being." Read the full article. Music as medicine: Docs use tunes as treatment -- Researchers explore how melodies can help regulate heart, boost hormones Source: MSNBC As Victor Fabry napped in his hospital bed, a quiet symphony filled his room. The steady pulse of a cardiac monitor marked the progress of his mending heart. Over that beat, the swaying strains of a Brazilian guitarist pumped nearly nonstop from a CD player on the shelf. For nine days after his surgery at the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute in Morristown, N.J., Fabry soaked up that tranquil, wordless strumming. And while he praised his surgeon, he raved about the musical score that accompanied his recovery. Read the full article. Mom's Exercise Helps Baby's Heart: Most Women Should Keep Active While Pregnant, Experts Say Source: ABC News It's natural that a woman might be skeptical about exercising while she's pregnant. So many changes are occurring in her body, it makes sense to have second thoughts about whether exercise might harm her or her unborn child. But it turns out that a thoughtful exercise program is good for both mother and child, according to medical experts. Read the full article.	Archive Scientist Say Blue Whales Returning to Alaska Waters, Likely Establishing Old Migration Route Opera helps visually impaired kids find their voice Atlanta Man Gives Habitat for Humanity a $100 Million Gift Texting for a cause once again Movie stars help Titanic survivor Fla. boy, 11, walking to D.C. for homeless kids Animals Shown to "Dance" to Music: Scientists Determine Birds and Maybe Elephants Feel the Beat; But Not Dogs, Cats or Chimps MacArthur annual grants go to 9 nonprofits: Chicago organization that runs car-sharing service among winners More older Americans signing on to volunteer abroad Maya nut changes lives while aiding the rain forest Healing A (Literally) Broken Heart Every Chinese Village To Get Health Clinic Rare Dolphins Found Near Bangladesh Wal-Mart donates $423 million for fiscal year Famed artist paints huge guitar for charity: 10-foot fiberglass 'Miami Heat' sculpture will be auctioned off Surgeon heals patients and their violent ways Gates Foundation Gives China $33 Million to Fight Tuberculosis Wade gives jersey to disabled boy 17 years after divorce, a kidney reunited them: After his ex-wife helped save his life, they fell back in love and remarried 'Spiderman' Saves Autistic Child in Thailand Chain Results in 10 Kidney Swaps Among Strangers 7 Million Pounds of Beach Trash Collected: 400,000 Volunteers Picked Up Litter from 17,000 Miles of Coastline on One Day Last Year Optimists live longer and healthier lives: study Circus turns touchy-feely for visually impaired kids First lady Michelle Obama serves mushroom risotto to homeless at soup kitchen near White House Woman Wins House In Raffle After Husband Laid Off 'Miracle' recovery astounds man's family: Hypothermic treatment contributes to revival Bird brain? Animal smarts surprise experts: The term 'bird brain' should be replaced by 'brainy birds,' say researchers House of CNN Hero gets an 'Extreme Makeover'

Positive & Inspiring News from Around the World

D.C.-based program prepares youth to become triathletes

Source: USA Today
Mayor Adrian Fenty is doing his part to help bring the sport of triathlon to the city's youth. Fenty, 38, completed an age-group triathlon Sunday in 2 hours, 17 minutes, 54 seconds, finishing 16th in the elite male category. Age-group triathlons were held in conjunction with the ITU World Championship Series, which drew 130 elite male and female triathletes competing at the Olympic distance -- 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike and 10K run

Read the full article.

More Inspirational News Stories

Postal Kitty Gets New Owner, SWAK

Source: The Boston Globe
A kitten abandoned in a city mailbox last week has a new home and a new owner now. After narrowing the list of potential adopters, the kitten, who was given the moniker "Postina" after she was found inside a Boston neighborhood mailbox, has a new family which was chosen by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or MSPCA.

Read the full article.

Church hands out cash in 'faith stimulus': Alabama congregation asks that money be spent to help others

Source: MSNBC
On a recent Sunday, members of Bay Community Church each were given envelopes stuffed with cash. Inside was $20, $40 or $100, depending on luck of the draw. No ordinary handout, the $50,000 gesture was billed as a "faith stimulus." Church members were told to spend it helping others, a novel approach to religious outreach during tough economic times. Amid the worst recession in generations, religious organizations are taking a variety of approaches to help struggling families and laid-off workers: Food is being grown on church plots, job and home foreclosure counseling are on the rise, and free haircuts and oil changes are offered.

Read the full article.

Manicurist sells house, car to build school

Source: CNN
When Washington manicurist Lidia Schaefer returned to her native village in Ethiopia, she was troubled by what she saw: children walking three hours each way to attend classes held not in a school, but under a tree. When she learned in 1998 that one of the girls she'd met -- Medhine -- had been attacked and killed by a hyena after falling behind other children during the long trek home from school, Schaefer knew she had to act. She began setting aside a third of her salary and all of her tips, and later sold her house and car, to raise enough money to build a school for the village.
Read the full article.

Superheroes Get Real

Source: CBS News
In closets around the world, their tights and capes are tucked away. They have day jobs and lives, but when night comes, they become...Dark Guardian! Life! Civitron! Citizen Prime! And many other superhero identities. These people are average citizens-turned-crime fighters, regularly suiting up to do good deeds. CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller reported on The Early Show Thursday that there may be as many as 200 superheroes keeping watch in communities everywhere. And they're taking on crime right where it lives.
Read the full article.

'Mindfulness' meditation being used in hospitals and schools

Source: USA Today
Challenges are landing fast and furious on Capitol Hill. So Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, feels he has to arrive at the top of his game every day. And Ryan says he has found a way to do that: He meditates for at least 45 minutes before leaving home. Ryan, 35, sits on a floor cushion, closes his eyes, focuses on his breath and tries to detach from any thoughts, just observing them like clouds moving across the sky -- a practice he learned at a retreat.
Read the full article.

Julia Roberts Keeping Newman's Dream Alive

Source: CBS News
Julia Roberts has a brand new role: philanthropist. The starlet is reaching out to children -- and keeping the dream of another beloved Hollywood star alive. On The Early Show Monday, Roberts discussed her involvement with Hole in the Wall Camps, a charity for ailing kids started by screen legend Paul Newman, who died last year. Roberts called Newman "a giant human being."
Read the full article.

Music as medicine: Docs use tunes as treatment -- Researchers explore how melodies can help regulate heart, boost hormones

Source: MSNBC
As Victor Fabry napped in his hospital bed, a quiet symphony filled his room. The steady pulse of a cardiac monitor marked the progress of his mending heart. Over that beat, the swaying strains of a Brazilian guitarist pumped nearly nonstop from a CD player on the shelf. For nine days after his surgery at the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute in Morristown, N.J., Fabry soaked up that tranquil, wordless strumming. And while he praised his surgeon, he raved about the musical score that accompanied his recovery.
Read the full article.

Mom's Exercise Helps Baby's Heart: Most Women Should Keep Active While Pregnant, Experts Say

Source: ABC News
It's natural that a woman might be skeptical about exercising while she's pregnant. So many changes are occurring in her body, it makes sense to have second thoughts about whether exercise might harm her or her unborn child. But it turns out that a thoughtful exercise program is good for both mother and child, according to medical experts.
Read the full article.