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
HELPING OTHERS
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...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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DEDICATION
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 there helping...
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RIGHT CHOICES
ALLEN S Allen is my older brother and one of the most important people in my life. In my eyes he has always been a hero. Now that he is a daddy and a marine. He has served in Iraq and been a marine for just a short time...but he has given his all. He is not just a hero in my eyes but now in the eyes of his three-year-old...
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CARING
CAROLE M A year ago I had fallen into a deep depression. As I drifted further and further into despair, I began to have thoughts of suicide and suffered severe anxiety. I developed severe insomnia, had gone a week with only about six hours of sleep. I felt like I was losing my mind. I went online one day and my old...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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HELPING OTHERS
NICHALOS D Nick has raised over $800.00 dollars this year and last year in school selling bracelets for "The Swim" fighting cancer. It 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....
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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HELPING OTHERS
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...
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HARD WORK
AMY G Amy and her family moved into the house beside mine when I was only in the fifth grade. They were avid surfers and socialites - a completely new class to my family who had lived in the neighborhood 17 years and knew maybe two neighbors by name. Amy was, and still is, a nurse and spent a good chunk of time in and...
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HARD WORK
MICHA P I would like to nominate Micha because he is one of the most hard working, nicest people I know, and he has the worst luck of all time. He doesn't have a lot of money, but anytime a friend, or even a stranger is in need, he is there to help. He works a job he hates but is always in a good mood when he gets home....
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HARD WORK
RAM DEO M My father Ram is my hero in life. When his parents died at the age of 14, he chose to work while educating himself. Teaching became his profession and he carried on forward. He would work until late, often having one meal a day. His cycle was the only possession he had. Trees became his abode, under them he often...
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HARD WORK
AUSTIN T He was a quiet man, small in stature. No outstanding features or great accomplishments other than raising ten children, working three jobs at times to support them and giving them a Christian start. There was always plenty of love to go around though sometimes not enough money. I recall one time just before...
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HARD WORK
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 life....
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HARD WORK
ASHLEY A This dedication is in reference to your pass it on campaign. Each time I read your billboards I am inspired. I however am so inspired by a young woman I go to school with. This young woman, Ashley attends the same university as I do. She however attends this university by paying for it herself. When I see the...
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HARD WORK
IDA C I would like to nominate my mother, Ida, for her love and hard work. When my dad passed on eight years ago, he left nothing. I was only in high school doing my 9th grade. Yet my mom has worked so hard to educate all of us out of a small salary. She didn't give up on us even when we were so difficult to love and...
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COURAGE
JAMES R My eight-year old son Jay saved his three-year old cousin Alexandria on Easter Sunday from drowning. We were at Jay's grandmother's house having an Easter brunch and celebration. If it weren't for his fast actions and bravery, we might not have Alexandria with us today. Jay understands that he did something good,...
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FRIENDSHIP
ANKUR S It really does matter how you perceive heroism. Heroism is not all about brave and hearty deeds but more about any act done with a good heart and Ankur has much more than that. Ankur is a friend to me, or should I say that he is my soul sharing buddy, somebody who, I know, will stick by me through thick and...
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FRIENDSHIP
MIRANDA R J My hero is my best friend Miranda. She is the sweetest person, not only to me, but to everyone she meets. She has changed my life for the better and keeps on changing other people's lives as well. There's not a moment that she's not there helping me or caring for me. She is a beautiful person on the inside as...
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FRIENDSHIP
MUHAMMED A A H I went to Dubai alone to work. I met this man the day I was applying for a job. He dropped me back home without asking me anything except my name. After three or four months, he came up for some work in the Department where I work. That is when I saw him for second time. Then, after two months, he became my...
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FRIENDSHIP
LINDSAY H When I was 5, my mom and biological father divorced. A year after, mom remarried to Tim. I am so grateful that he is my father. But two years ago, my mom and dad divorced. I was devastated. He was everything to me. I had the hardest time accepting their divorce. It took me over a year to become strong...
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FRIENDSHIP
LAURA F We met in February on an exchange and then again in April the same year. There was something between us that just clicked; we got on like a house on fire. Even though there was a big language barrier, we didn't let it get between us. Saying goodbye was so hard as we had become such good friends. The distance does...
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FRIENDSHIP
DANA M When I first met my best friend, I noticed how caring she was to me and how honest she was too. I used to keep everything inside me so I knew and felt how caring and understanding she was to me. She touched my heart with her advice and care. She showed me the right way from the wrong way. I followed everything...
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FRIENDSHIP
LINDSEY J I am writing this on the behalf of my best friend. She has been there for me through everything that my life has throw at me. Without her, I don't know what kind of person I would be today. She has helped me deal with so much. From family issues, to personal problems. She is always putting me before herself. When...
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FRIENDSHIP
MATT H They say you can't please everyone, but my hero is of a most rare magic. Matt, who is a devoted husband and father of four, not only goes out of his way to provide for his family; he goes the extra mile for his friends also. I am the best example of this since not long ago I went through the most trying times of...
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FRIENDSHIP
TIM F I have known Tim for over 20 years. During our friendship, I was the best man at his wedding and he was in the bridal party at my wedding. We helped each other through our kids' births and late nights. That sounds like a great friend, right? Well, Tim showed me what friendship really is in May 2004. I had an...
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FRIENDSHIP
ESTHER K My hero, my best friend, my guide is how I describe Esther. I grew up in a family filled with lies, cheating and fights. It was normal for me to not listen to my inner feelings and my deeper thoughts. But the older I got, the more I got lost, and started to drink and use alcohol because I couldn't handle my...
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FRIENDSHIP
SUSEJ S Susej has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. He was always there for me to listen to my troubles and never once let me down. Whenever I cry, he is some one who always listens. One time I fell into a horrible depression. I would cry myself to sleep every night. But I also wanted this to remain...
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FRIENDSHIP
MARTHA D Mrs. D's teaching (biology/physiology) style for her classes is very challenging. By this I mean it was my hardest class and I never learned so much in just one class. Mrs. D. always showed love and support to all of her students. She would give the shirt off of her back for one of us. She has little inside jokes...
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