All People Making a Difference
Environmentalists work to save a precious patch of Texas blackland prairieA tiny 10-acre parcel of native blackland prairie is an important piece of Texas history that supports endangered and rare species.
Difference MakerWhen Tom McNichol saw swirling trash he launched his Clean Up BoatTom McNichol is the unofficial garbageman of the Charles River, beautifying Boston's iconic strip of water.
Judy Wicks makes 'food, fun, and social activism' her businessPhiladelphia restauranteur Judy Wicks says a business transaction can be 'one of the most satisfying, meaningful, and loving of human interactions.'
Volunteers give a 'potential paradise' in Puerto Rico a 'mega cleanup'A volunteer effort collects thousands of pounds of garbage – refrigerators, tires, shopping carts, toys, and countless plastic bottles – from San Juan, Puerto Rico, estuaries.
Zeer pots: a simple way to reduce food wasteThe nonprofit group Practical Action encourages the use of earthenware storage coolers called zeer pots to help prevent food waste.
Saudi women say they will keep pushing for the right to driveActivists are asking Saudi women to go on driving in public and posting online photographs or films of themselves doing so.
Pakistan's women police fight criminals, militants, and scornShazadi Gillani battles bandits, earthquakes, and militants but must wear a burka outside the police station.
Difference MakerHoward Buffett seeks lasting solutions to the world's food and water crisesThe philanthropist and farmer travels the world looking for how his Howard G. Buffett Foundation can help solve the biggest challenges.
Arthur Morgan founded Gather Baltimore to bring unsold produce to hungry familiesGather Baltimore uses volunteers to collect fruit and vegetables donated by local farmers and food distributors, then transports this healthy food to low-income families.
Online mapping aims to stop harassment of women in EgyptTech startup HarassMap is taking a stand against sexual harassment in Egypt by allowing victims to text, tweet, or email reports of assaults and map them online.
Wayne Kursh and Races2Run give a leg up to charitiesRaces2Run has organized more than 3,000 running and walking events that benefit a wide range of charitable causes.
Dallas mosque feeds the hungry at a 'Day of Dignity'Through its Beacon of Light community center, Masjid al Islam mosque in southeast Dallas serves more than 15,000 free meals per year, mostly to non-Muslims.
How do I raise a kind son?A new father thinks about how to bring up his son to treat women with respect. The group Men as Peacemakers offers education for boys and men aimed at preventing violence against girls and women.
Difference MakerSally Sampson makes cooking fun to fight childhood obesityChopChop magazine offers nutritious, easy-to-make recipes that appeal to kids and parents alike.
Justin Auciello turns Facebook into journalism with Jersey Shore Hurricane NewsJersey Shore Hurricane News, a platform on Facebook, is a 'two-way news outlet' that combines the crowdsourcing power of social media with the watchful eye of an editor.
Edward Zellem publishes proverbs to promote Afghan literacyUS Navy Capt. Eward Zellem’s new book of Afghan proverbs provides a step toward greater literacy for many Afghans.
Shutdown EPA workers clean up a river anywayIn response to the federal government shutdown, a group of Environmental Protection Agency staffers in Georgia made cleaning up a local creek a 'do it yourself' project.
Donors pay death benefits to military families during shutdownThe Fisher House Foundation and private donors will pay military family death benefits during the government shutdown. And other philanthropists are helping keep Head Start programs running.
Difference MakerGlenn Paige's simple idea: a 'nonkilling' worldAfter a flash of inspiration Glenn Paige wrote a book on 'nonkilling,' and now his concept is gaining momentum worldwide.
Pakistani teen Malala Yousafzai wins EU human rights prize16-year-old Malala Yousafzai, the education advocate who won the European Union's annual human rights award Oct. 10, is also a favorite to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
