Latest news with #Mendoza
NDTV
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Teen Flips Burgers In Graduation Cap And Gown, Internet Goes Wild With Rs 1.5 Crore College Fund
A high school teenager in the US state of Georgia who immediately went to work at Burger King after collecting his diploma at the graduation ceremony has been receiving kindness from the internet. Mykale Baker, 18, was back flipping burgers, dressed in his graduation clothes, when his story caught a local mom's eye who secretly set up a fundraiser for his college education. The "From Burger King to a College Dream" fund started for him has skyrocketed to nearly Rs 1.5 crore ($176,000) as of Monday (Jun 2) morning. The online fundraiser was intended to raise Rs 51.3 lakh ($60,000) only, but inspired by Mr Baker's humble attitude towards work and studies, it exceeded the goal within days of being set up. "I feel happy. I just want to say thank you to my parents and all the people that see the good in me and believe in me, and donated all that money to me," Mr Baker told 11 Alive. Mr Baker graduated from Mills Creek High School on May 21 and was seen hours later at the Burger King in Dacula to cater to the late-night rush. He was still wearing his graduation stole and medals while donning plastic gloves to bag orders at the fast food joint. Mr Baker's quiet demeanour and work ethic caught Maria Mendoza's eye, who was in the outlet at the time. She recorded a video and posted it on social media, where it instantly went viral. "While many graduates spent the night celebrating with friends and family, one young man quietly showed the world what determination looks like. Just after receiving his diploma, still proudly wearing his medal, he reported to his shift at Burger King," read the GoFundMe page description, set up by Ms Mendoza. "He didn't do it for attention. He doesn't even know his story went viral. But thousands of people were moved by his dedication, humility, and work ethic," it added. A few days later, Ms Mendoza returned to the Burger King and showed Mr Baker the thousands of dollars raised for his future. The teen was brought to tears over the generosity of the kind stranger and the internet and offered hugs to both his mother and Ms Mendoza in a second heartfelt video.
New York Post
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Juan Soto knows there's ‘still a long way to go' to fixing slow Mets start after snapping homer drought
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free Juan Soto snapped his 17-game homerless streak with a fourth-inning blast in the Mets' 8-2 win over the Rockies on Saturday. He hadn't gone deep since May 9 and his slow start to his Mets tenure has been in the spotlight of what's otherwise been a good start to the season in Queens. Advertisement 'I knew it was gone,'' said Soto, who's reached base in four of his last seven plate appearances. A day earlier, he acknowledged he'd been struggling. Asked Saturday if it was a relief to break his homerless stretch, Soto said, 'There's still a long way to go. It feels good, but we've got to keep working.' Juan Soto reacts after hitting a home run in the fourth inning of the Mets' 8-2 win over the Rockies on May 31, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post Advertisement Brandon Nimmo also homered immediately before Soto and said Soto's ninth homer was 'a sign of good things to come.' 'When he goes the other way, that's when he's at his best,'' said Nimmo, whose performance at the plate has improved since his return from a stiff neck. Nimmo left the game in the eighth inning with a cramp in his right calf. Advertisement Juan Soto celebrates after homering during the Mets' win over the Rockies. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post 'I'm not worried about it,'' Nimmo said. He's 8-for-19 in five games since returning after breaking out of an 0-for-17 funk. Advertisement After president of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday the team is 'paying attention' to Ronny Mauricio's play at Triple-A Syracuse after coming back from a torn ACL, Carlos Mendoza added to the praise Saturday. 'We're watching,'' the manager said. 'The reports are really good. It's not so much the results, it's just how he's moving, running on the bases, moving in the infield, his first step going after balls.' Still, it's the results that have garnered plenty of attention. Entering Saturday, in seven games since being promoted to Syracuse from Double-A Binghamton, Mauricio was 14-for-25 with four extra-base hits, including three homers. 'He's impacting the ball from both sides of the plate,'' Mendoza said. 'He's a good player. We'll continue to watch him, but right now, we want him to continue to get everyday reps.' But if his current production continues, Mendoza knows they won't be able to keep Mauricio in the minors. CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND KNICKS STATS Advertisement 'I'm pretty sure we'll get to a point where he's gonna force us [to bring him up],'' Mendoza said of Mauricio's future, 'But in the meantime, let him play.' Mark Vientos was out of the lineup again versus a right-hander, with Brett Baty at third base and another left-handed hitter, Jared Young, at DH. Prior to the game, Mendoza said Vientos was 'going through it' and while he'll continue to get significant playing time, the young third baseman would also have to adjust to occasionally sitting. Advertisement Sean Manaea is scheduled to throw another live batting practice Monday, this one two innings, according to Mendoza. Advertisement The lefty threw his first live batting practice Thursday and reported no issues as he comes back from a strained oblique. A rehab outing is possible after Monday. Mendoza added that Frankie Montas (lat) is slated to pitch his third minor league rehab start Tuesday, the location of which is still to be determined, depending on the weather.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Mykale Baker? Georgia teen working at Burger King in graduation gown gets nearly $130K in donations
A teenager from Georgia received nearly $130,000 in donations after going to work at Burger King in his graduation outfit. Mykale Baker, 18, had a big reason to celebrate on May 21. The senior from Mill Creek High School had just graduated, wearing medals he earned through hard work. But after getting his diploma, Baker didn't take a break. He went straight to his job at Burger King in Dacula, Georgia — still wearing his graduation clothes. His quiet dedication didn't go unnoticed. Maria Mendoza, a local resident, noticed what he was wearing and filmed a short TikTok video. She wanted to show others how Mr. Baker chose work over a well-deserved summer break. Like Ms. Mendoza, many people online were impressed by his strong work ethic. Her 20-second video went viral, getting more than 3 million views. Because of the huge response, Ms. Mendoza started a GoFundMe page for Mr. Baker. So far, it has raised nearly $130K. Also Read: Burger King drops fiery How to Train Your Dragon menu ahead of movie release: Here's when you can get it The Gofund me post reads, 'Help This Humble Graduate Chase His College Dreams Went to his job found out his name is Mykale..' The post adds, 'While many graduates spent the night celebrating with friends and family, one young man quietly showed the world what determination looks like. Just after receiving his diploma—still proudly wearing his medals—he reported to his shift at Burger King. He didn't do it for attention. He doesn't even know his story went viral. But thousands of people were moved by his dedication, humility, and work ethic.' The post adds, 'We're starting this GoFundMe to help him take the next step: college. Let's get together as a community and support this young kid. All funds raised will go directly toward helping him with college tuition, books, supplies, and other educational needs.' The post concludes, 'Let's show him that the world is watching—and rooting for him. Even if you can't donate, please share this campaign to help us bless someone who truly deserves it.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
'He inspired me': Stranger's TikTok helps teen worker at Burger King raise over $130K for college
A Georgia teenager who clocked into his Burger King shift just hours after graduating high school saw his college hopes transformed, thanks to an outpouring of generosity that has raised over $130,000 (£102,000) and counting. Mykale Baker, 18, became the face of quiet determination when a stranger spotted him working at a Burger King in Dacula, Georgia, still wearing his graduation stole and medal. That moment, shared by Maria Mendoza in a TikTok video she posted 'without thinking,' captured hearts online, and sparked the creation of a fundraiser called 'From Burger King to a College Dream'. The campaign had a goal of $60,000, but smashed through that target in just ten days. Fuelled by thousands of donations, most from complete strangers, the total climbed past $130,000 by Saturday afternoon. 'I feel happy,' Baker told 11 Alive. 'I just want to say thank you to my parents and all the people that see the good in me and believe in me, and donated all that money to me.' The teen said he had been unsure about his next steps after graduation due to financial constraints, and had hoped to attend trade school. Now, those dreams look within reach. Mendoza, who started the fundraiser, said she was struck by Baker's kindness and work ethic, The New York Post said. 'He was so kind, so polite,' she recalled. 'Radiating joy, even after such a big day. His dedication and quiet strength really moved me. I felt called to do something to recognise that.' One anonymous donor left a note with their contribution, writing, 'Remember, this money is for you. Not for mama, the church, or others in need. It's an investment in your future. Invest it in yourself wisely and you'll have much more to share with others down the road!' When Mendoza returned to the Burger King days later to share the news of the donations, Baker was overwhelmed and brought to tears. 'I'm just grateful I got to do something for him,' Mendoza added. 'He inspired me.'
DW
a day ago
- General
- DW
Is the Philippines' reforestation drive coming up short? – DW – 05/31/2025
The Philippines launched one of the world's largest reforestation efforts. But satellite data and field reports raise questions: Is the program really restoring forests? Marlo Mendoza is the architect of one of the world's most ambitious regreening programs. His office at the University of the Philippines in Laguna is crammed with books about trees and nature conservation. Hunched over his desk, he flicks through a glossy government brochure praising his project's successes, with 1.8 billion seedlings planted over 2 million hectares (approximately 4.9 million acres) across the Philippines. Millions of native trees have been replanted and are now growing into forests, sequestering carbon and supporting wildlife. Indigenous and farming communities cultivate produce among the forests and former timber cutters now manage tree farms. Communities sidelined in reforestation effort This is what Mendoza dreamed of — however, he admits it is far from the reality on the ground. "We mobilized the entire citizenry to plant, but where are all the trees planted?" Mendoza told DW. "I made the manual; many provisions were not followed." The Philippines National Greening Program (NGP) was launched in 2011 as an ambitious response to decades of deforestation, which had become a huge issue during the 1970s and '80s. But the NGP struggled with natural resource plundering, which depleted the Philippines' forest cover and replaced community and indigenous forests with plantations of invasive exotic species. An analysis of millions of satellite images suggests that as many as one in every 25 hectares of NGP land experienced a major deforestation event: that is, instead of barren sites being reforested, the opposite occurs: forests are cleared right before or during regreening efforts. The sites are more often than not managed by communities with only short-term access to the land. They are required to grow single cash crops tied to the volatile global commodity markets, which do not provide a steady income. A group of environmental investigators that carried out the analysis said the results expose a new pattern of "greenwashing" — a marketing tactic used to make a product or service appear better for the environment than it is. The most common commodities grown on the sites, including timber and fruit, have a green stamp of approval, potentially eligible for export across the world. This includes the EU, despite the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires traders to prove that products do not come from land which was deforested after 2020. Much of the EUDR's attention has focused on small farmers' challenges with proving that their land has not been associated with previous deforestation. Investigators said the image analysis suggests commodities on these sites have been falsely grown under the sustainable banner. Native trees cleared to grow cash crops Additionally, the analysis suggested that forest loss on NGP sites may be more widespread than previously understood. The clearing of forests included communities trying to take advantage of NGP funds. Eduardo Corona, a forest ranger in Palawan, an area of the Philippines covered in re-greening program sites, said that one of the most frustrating parts of his job was seeing the NGP used to clear native forests and being powerless to stop it, despite trying to raise the alarm. Restoring sacred forests in India To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Corona was able to obtain one of the complaints he filed with his superiors, which relates to the UNESCO-recognized Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape. The DENR Forest Management Bureau (FMB) told investigators that some forest clearing occurred as part of site preparation, particularly in areas dominated by invasive species. They claimed the clearing was a necessary step taken under technical supervision to allow native species to thrive. The bureau also explained that the monitoring of the program beyond the three-year planting contracts is limited by the scale of the program and budget constraints, with site inspections done by sampling rather than full verification. In cases where sites failed to meet survival rates, they attributed the underutilized funds to community partners' non-compliance, rather than flaws in program design. The investigation said independent audits and field reports suggest that deeper issues — including poor site selection, limited community support, and weak long-term sustainability planning — remain unaddressed. A community regreening program 'too complex' for communities to secure tenure A major selling point of the re-greening program is that local communities would be given unused land to grow crops, so they would no longer need to chop down forests to survive. But the process for applying is so complicated that most communities give up seeking long-term tenure and only get access to the land for three years. Mendoza recounted cases where community groups were given access to land but not harvest rights. Many became overwhelmed with the application process and finally gave up on trying to get long-term access. This led to despair and sometimes illegal logging activities. "The [community group] may get frustrated then [they] enter into illegal selling transactions and [are] forced to cut trees illegally," he noted. Monoculture undermines sustainable livelihoods The regreening program was also designed so that communities would be able to grow local produce for their own consumption. Instead, most are forced to grow risky cash crops for export, including exports to the European Union. According to Mendoza, communities would need both time and choices to make NGP work as intended, to figure out a sustainable mix of crops to guarantee income for their families. They got neither. For those who did manage to secure tenure, which guarantees 25-year access to the land, the government's usual mandate for community groups to grow a single cash crop often precluded any hopes for successfully living off the land. Single crop sites — often fast-growing, cheap timber trees — are vulnerable to market crashes, disease and all the other problems that monoculture brings with it, including the loss of biodiversity. Just over half of the 1 million hectares of designated production sites are tenured. Six out of 10 hectares are monoculture — sites that are growing just one commodity crop — which is widely considered unsustainable for local communities. A third of land under the NGP is both untenured and growing a single commodity crop, the least sustainable combination of all. The forgotten native forests The regreening program was also intended to regrow and protect native rainforests. Of the 130,000 sites covering over 2 million hectares across the Philippines, some sites designated as protection areas — where indigenous rainforests and the biodiversity that accompanies them were meant to thrive — have little to no tree cover. According to the latest satellite imagery, over a third of those sites have no tree cover at all. Reporting supported by Journalismfund Europe and the Environmental Data Journalism Academy, a program of Internews' Earth Journalism Network and Thibi. This article is part of the Forest Fraud investigation, which uses remote sensing technology, global supply chain tracking, and ground reporting to expose the drivers of deforestation across protected areas in Southeast Asia. Edited by: Keith Walker
