Latest news with #Hatboro-HorshamHighSchool
CNN
22-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
A Sports Bar Where Barriers (and Brackets) Are Broken - CNN 5 Good Things - Podcast on CNN Audio
Krista Bo 00:00:00 Hey there. I know the world can feel a little cruel sometimes, but kindness is actually more common than you might think. Don't believe me? Well, I have the data to back it up. This year's World Happiness Report from the U.N. says 7 in 10 people worldwide did at least one nice thing for a stranger in the last month. Hundreds of high schoolers in Pennsylvania are learning just how far a small gesture can go. Kristina Ulmer 00:00:26 I think it's important to know that not only are people out there doing kind things, but that kids are doing fine things, and that these kids are going to grow up and be the adults that are running our world. Krista Bo 00:00:36 Plus, how justice and dessert was served to a four year old with a sweet tooth. From CNN I'm Krista Bo and this is Five Good Things. Krista Bo 00:00:50 Having a heart of gold is ideal. But an Australian man is living proof that having a titanium heart could be a real lifesaver. Prof. Chris Hayward 00:00:59 This isn't the first time that someone with a total artificial heart of this sort has gone home in the world, and so really, it is world leading. Krista Bo 00:01:08 St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney says an Aussie in his 40s, is now the first person to live 100 days with an artificial titanium heart. Facing severe heart failure, the man got the surgery back in November and left the hospital in February. Doctors say he was living at home until a donor heart became available earlier this month. Professor Chris Hayward is one of his cardiac specialists. Prof. Chris Hayward 00:01:30 This kind of technology is a real game changer. Our patient is up and about. He's walking around. He is doing things that he has been able to do for many years. Krista Bo 00:01:39 'The U.S. has also had some success with the new technology. Five patients in an FDA trial received titanium hearts, including a 58-year-old man in Texas who was sustained for eight days last July until he received a transplant. Krista Bo 00:01:53 The World Health Organization reports cardiovascular diseases claim 18 million lives globally each year. And in the U.S., federal data shows only a fraction, about 3500 people received donor hearts last year. Professor Hayward predicts that within a decade, these artificial hearts could become a vital alternative for those waiting for a lifeline. Krista Bo 00:02:17 'If someone gave you $20 to make someone else's day, what would you do with it? Well, students at Hatboro-Horsham High School in Pennsylvania certainly understood the assignment. 'Hatboro-Horsham High School Students 00:02:29 So for the $20 challenge, we decided to combine all of our money. 'Hatboro-Horsham High School Students 00:02:33 And we're here to target getting toys for little kids in the hospital. 'Hatboro-Horsham High School Students 00:02:37 Yup. Let's go. 'Hatboro-Horsham High School Students 00:02:38 Our $20 challenge. We made goodie bags for hygiene items for the homeless. We made truffles and distribute them to all the teachers, and we planned to do it until we graduate. Krista Bo 00:02:47 That's just a taste of how hundreds of teams over the last seven years have turned $20 bills into ripples of kindness. Their English teacher, Kristina Ulmer, started the $20 Kindness Challenge in memory of her sister Katie, who tragically died in a car crash in 2014 after finishing her shift as a waitress. When Christina arrived at the scene, she asked the police officer if she could go home with her sister's purse because she didn't want to leave without something of Katie's to hold on to. Kristina Ulmer 00:03:15 And she had a wallet and it was stuffed full of cash, you know, dollar bills and fives and tens. I just sat there with the money and I thought, what do I do with this money? I don't know what to do with this. But I knew I had to go to something good because my sister, from the time we were little, always wanted to help people in like, their worst moments. Krista Bo 00:03:35 Kristina stashed the purse and its contents in the back of a closet. Fast forward to 2018, she assigned her students Ray Bradbury's 1953 classic, "Fahrenheit 451." The novel is set in a world where everyone is glued to their screens and lacked empathy. Kristina Ulmer 00:03:50 And so we were talking a lot about dystopian novels are their warnings to us. And so what can we do to prevent our world from becoming that world to this very eerily similar. Krista Bo 00:04:01 That was her light bulb moment. Use her sister's money to create the $20 Kindness Challenge. Kristina Ulmer 00:04:07 And my only requirement was that they record a little reflection. And then I compiled it in a big video just for me to share with them, so that we could all watch it and see what everybody did. 'Hatboro-Horsham High School Students 00:04:15 We combined our $20 to make cookies for people at a retirement home. 'Hatboro-Horsham High School Students 00:04:19 We helped to buy presents for one of the kids in our school district. 'Hatboro-Horsham High School Students 00:04:22 We went to the animal shelter, bought them a bunch of toys and gifts for them. Krista Bo 00:04:27 And thanks to donations. She's been doing it twice a year ever since with her classes. Kristina Ulmer 00:04:32 They start to realize I can do things that show that I'm thoughtful, and I'm thinking about someone without really spending a dollar. Krista Bo 00:04:39 She finds comfort in the fact that these acts of kindness keep her sister's memory alive while planting seeds for a better future. Kristina Ulmer 00:04:46 These kids are going to grow up and be the adults that are running our world. And so the fact that they're doing it as teenagers, my hope is that they continue doing it into adulthood. Krista Bo 00:04:57 March Madness fans, your time has finally come. The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament has officially kicked off, and for the next few weeks, dozens of teams will battle it out to get to the championship game in Tampa, Florida on April 6th. And if you're looking for a place to watch the games, Jenny Nguyen suggests finding a spot that champions women's sports. Like The Sports Bra. Jenny Nguyen 00:05:21 So The Sports Bra is the world's first sports bar, 100% dedicated to women's sports. We support women. That's that's our tagline now. It's like a double entendre. It's funny, but it's also true. Krista Bo 00:05:33 Jenny is the founder and CEO of the Sports Bra, or just "the bra," as it's affectionately called, located in downtown Portland, Oregon. It's got four screens, a bar top custom made from NCAA tournament hardwood floors and walls covered with sports jerseys and memorabilia. Jenny Nguyen 00:05:50 We were seeing record numbers like hours and hours of waits. People like lining up around the block, and that's when it was just like, oh, you know, I feel like we've tapped into something really important and really special. Krista Bo 00:06:02 Opened in 2022, Jenny says her secret sauce was just being inclusive and community centered. Jenny Nguyen 00:06:09 I opened a place for a lot of people, whether they were women's sports fans, sports fans in general, or not. Krista Bo 00:06:16 I'm sure you remember last year's Women's March Madness tournament was so popular it broke TV viewership records, which meant Jenny's Sports Bra had to keep a waitlist. Jenny Nguyen 00:06:25 I feel like people were calling in sick to work to come watch their teams play in March Madness, like brackets were legit. Krista Bo 00:06:32 'This year, Jenny says she's expecting the same energy and attendance, especially during the evening games. When the big dance is over, jenny expects business to keep booming, along with the popularity of women's sports and the number of bars where you can watch them. And with some help from Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams husband and Reddit co-founder, Jenny plans to franchise for The Sports Bra. She hopes to open three new locations by the end of the year. Krista Bo 00:07:01 'When Mary Cooper was sorting through her late mother's belongings, the 81-year-old stumbled upon an unexpected treasure - a library book that was way overdue. Sherri Taliercio 00:07:12 Mary had said, you know, you're going to want to take a look at this. You know, it's 99 years late. Mary Cooper 00:07:17 And I find the dates and I'm thinking this had to have been taken out by my grandfather. Krista Bo 00:07:23 Mary's grandfather's name was Charles Tilton, a boat builder and craftsman who checked out the book from the Ocean County Library in New Jersey back when Calvin Coolidge was president in 1926. Krista Bo 00:07:34 The book was called, "Home Made Toys for Girls and Boys" by A. Neely Hall. Published in 1911, it taught readers how to make toys from wood, metal, and household items. Mary says her grandfather used to build toys for her mom when she was a kid. The toy boat in the book looked just like the one her mom used to have. Mary Cooper 00:07:53 I said, I have to return this book to the library. I was sure they would like to have it back. Krista Bo 00:07:59 And Sherri Talierico from the library said the timing of the book's return couldn't have been more perfect. Sherri Taliercio 00:08:05 What a serendipitous thing to happen that during our 100th year is when this book got returned. Such a throwback to a different time, a simpler time. Krista Bo 00:08:15 Mary was worried about getting charged a late fee, which the library said would have been $18,000 if they still charged fines. FYI, you won't be able to borrow this book. The library is going to keep it in a special case to preserve it. Sherri Taliercio 00:08:28 It's finally in its home for years to come. Krista Bo 00:08:36 'A four-year-old called for backup after his mom did the unthinkable and stole his ice cream. Up next, hear how he got some sweet justice for a sweet tooth. Krista Bo 00:08:52 'A four-year-old in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, accused his mom of committing the ultimate crime - eating his ice cream. Unwilling to let this injustice slide, CNN affiliate WTMJ reports the little boy called 911 for backup. Emergency Operator 00:09:07 What's the address of the emergency? Four Year Old 00:09:10 My mommy's being bad. Emergency Operator 00:09:12 Okay, what's going on? Mom 00:09:15 I ate his ice cream, so that's probably why he's calling 911. Emergency Operator 00:09:19 Okay. Krista Bo 00:09:20 Officers showed up at the family's house just to make sure everything was okay. And they were met with the pint sized prosecutor who doubled down on his case for his mom's arrest. Police officer 00:09:29 Did you call the police? Four Year Old 00:09:31 Yeah. Police officer 00:09:31 Why? Four Year Old 00:09:32 Tell my mommy to go to jail. Police officer 00:09:35 Why do you want mommy to go to jail? Four Year Old 00:09:37 Because she's being bad to me. Police officer 00:09:41 Should we take her to jail for eating your ice cream? Four Year Old 00:09:43 Yes! Police officer 00:09:44 I agree. Mom 00:09:44 I would let you arrest me, I think. Krista Bo 00:09:47 Instead of mom doing the time for the crime, officers struck a plea deal. Police officer 00:09:51 Okay, you got to be good for mom, okay? And then you get some ice cream. Can you say yes ma'am. Four Year Old 00:09:56 Yes ma'am. Police officer 00:09:57 Okay. Krista Bo 00:09:56 In the end, cooler heads and sweet treats prevailed. 48 hours later, the officers surprised the young whistleblower with two scoops of ice cream topped with blue sprinkles. Case closed. Krista Bo 00:10:13 All right, that's all for now. Join us tomorrow for the next edition of One Thing. All about the problems Tesla is facing right now amid Elon Musk's DOGE efforts. Krista Bo 00:10:23 Five Good Things is a production of CNN Audio. This episode was produced by Eryn Mathewson and me, Krista Bo. Our senior producers are Felicia Patinkin and Faiz Jamil. Matt Dempsey is our production manager. Dan Dzula is our technical director. And Steve Lichteig is the executive producer of CNN Audio. We get support from Joey Salvia, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, Jon Dianora, Leni Steinhardt, Jamus Andrest, Nichole Pesaru, and Lisa Namerow. Special thanks to Wendy Brundige. And thank you for listening. Take care. Till next time.
CBC
18-03-2025
- General
- CBC
This teacher gives each of her students $20 to spend on an act of kindness
Kristina Ulmer says people have the wrong idea about teenagers. For seven years now, the Pennsylvania Grade 9 English teacher has been running a "$20 Kindness Challenge" with her class, giving each student $20 US from a pool of donations, and asking them to do something kind with it. And every year, she says, the teens in her class bring her to tears with their creativity, empathy and generosity. "A lot of people stereotype that age, and they say they're self-centred or, you know, they don't see outside of themselves. And I just don't see that," Ulmer, a teacher at Hatboro-Horsham High School in Horsham, Penn., told As It Happens host Nil Köksal. "Part of the reason why I love doing this project is because it allows others to see what I see every day." Inspired by her late sister The project goes back to 2014, when Ulmer's sister, Katie, died in a car crash at the age of 29. She'd been working as a waitress at the time. In the wreckage of her vehicle, police found her purse with about $100 in cash, tips from that morning's breakfast shift. Ulmer says her sister had no savings, and this pile of loose bills was all the money she'd left behind. "I knew it had to do something worthwhile with it," Ulmer said. Katie, she says, was special. At her funeral, person after person stood up and described her as their best friend. "She really, really was everybody's best friend. She just took care of everybody," Ulmer said. "From the time we were little, [she] was always concerned with people who are struggling or people who seem to be less fortunate than we were." Ulmer says her sister wanted to do something with her life that would make a difference, but it took her some time to figure out what. Ultimately, she decided to become an emergency medical technician, or EMT. She'd completed her training shortly before she died. "She was going to work on an ambulance and, unfortunately, she passed away when she was looking for a job," Ulmer said. It also took Ulmer a few years to figure out what to do with her sister's money. Then, one day, it dawned on her. "I had this really amazing group of students in front of me, and we were reading a dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451. And in the world of the novel, everyone's obsessed with their screens. They walk around with ear buds in all day long. They lack empathy toward each other. Everyone's anxious," she said. "Yeah, sounds very familiar." She realized there was a lesson to be learned about the importance of caring about other people. So she converted the tips into crisp $20 bills, topped it off with some of her own money, and gave her students one bill each. Their assignment? Do something kind with the money, and make a video about it. "I want them to make connections to the people around them…. I wanted them to notice that, you know, people around them could possibly be struggling," she said. "I like that they can see the true meaning in doing acts of kindness, and understand the impact that something like a small act of kindness could do." 'Anyone can make a difference' The project was a huge success, and she's kept it going each year using money donated to a fund set up by the school. The kids, she says, have chosen to do all kinds of things with the money. Some have made care packages for military members. Others baked cookies for first responders, or bought food for a local food bank. Her favourite projects, she says, are ones where students tap into their own specific skills. One student, she said, crocheted little hats for premature babies in neonatal care. Another sewed fun and colourful pillowcases for kids in the hospital. Sydney Cassel, 16, told the Washington Post that she's done the $20 Kindness Challenge five times, even though she's no longer in Ulmer's class. The first year, she bought holiday cards and wrote personalized messages in them for residents of a veterans' home. In the years since, she and a classmate have teamed up to make cookies for teachers. "The first time I participated in the challenge, I didn't think it would be possible to make a difference with $20, but I learned that's really not true," Sydney said. "You don't have to have millions — anyone can make a difference." WATCH | The 2024 Kindess Project: Each year, Ulmer stitches together the students' videos into one big presentation. And each year, she says, it makes her cry. It has also helped her grieve her sister. "I discovered that as I started to do this project … that a piece of me that was missing from my sister kind of started filling in a little bit," she said. "I kind of felt like she was still here because the things that the students are doing are things that she would have been doing."
