How One Person Can Make A Difference

[TBF]

I've talked about Brandon before (the blogger who does Humans of NY and has the very popular Facebook page). Today he accomplished something really special by highlighting a hard-working principle in one of the most crime-ridden areas of NYC.

‘Humans of New York’ blog raises over $350K to send inner-city kids to Harvard
By Nicole Bogart Tech Reporter Global News

TORONTO – The “Humans of New York” blog has been sharing stories of New York City residents for over four years. But now the blog is helping provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences for inner-city youth.

An Indiegogo campaign started by Humans of New York creator Brandon Stanton has raised over US$350,000 to fund a trip to Harvard University for sixth graders from Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

The initial goal of the campaign was US$100,000 – enough to fund one trip a year for three years.

That goal was met in less than an hour.

It all started when Stanton posted the portrait of a young boy on his blog. When asked who has influenced his life the most the boy responded, “My principal, Ms. Lopez.”

“When we get in trouble, she doesn’t suspend us. She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built,” the boy told Stanton.

“And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter.”

Much more here: http://globalnews.ca/news/1789515/humans-of-new-york-blog-raises-over-350k-to-send-inner-city-kids-to-harvard/

HUNY website: http://www.humansofnewyork.com/

[TBF]

1. Morning update ~ over $500K raised for this school in Brooklyn

My editorial comment would be that as a society we should be funding ALL schools adequately on a federal level (it should not be left to localities because the tax base varies so widely). But these days I'll take what I can get. Thanks to Brandon Stanton for rallying the troops (11 million folks have liked his Facebook page so he has a wide audience). Job well done.

https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/let-s-send-kids-to-harvard/x/4729132

[lovemydog]

2. She sounds like a great principal!

Thanks for your post.

[marmar]

3. K/R

[Phentex]

4. a great story!

Many of us have that one person who made a difference. I'm glad these kids have someone who cares and it's heart warming to see that people want to help.

[TBF]

5. I think many want to help -

and via social media it is getting done. It's too bad we have the big blockage aka repugs in Congress blocking this kind of good work. We could have this kind of good stuff going on all over if we weren't so fixated on feeding the war machine.

[TBF]

6. The campaign lasts until Feb. 5th -

and I would be very surprised if it doesn't hit $1M. Currently it's at: $665,937USD

So excited for this neighborhood in Brooklyn - and to see what we as humans can do if we hear the stories of others and have some compassion.