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Masked Stranger Slips Out After Playing a Piano With DO NOT PLAY Sign - Antique Store Owner Tracks Him Down
Uplifting News

Masked Stranger Slips Out After Playing a Piano With DO NOT PLAY Sign - Antique Store Owner Tracks Him Down

Antique stores can have a reputation for being stuffy stores with uptight owners. "Don't touch that" or "you break it, you buy it!"Well, one Massachusetts antique store owner is adding his own spin to that narrative.He vowed to track down a mystery man after he ignored a "DO NOT PLAY" sign and gave the whole store a shocking and unsolicited performance!His Simple Impromptu Performance Shook the RoomIt was a seemingly regular day at ReMARKable Cleanouts when shop owner, Mark Waters heard the familiar beat of Journey's iconic Don't Stop Believin' play throughout the store. "He started playing and the place lit up!"Mark Waters, OwnerThe special antique piece specifically had a "DO NOT PLAY" sign displayed on the top of instrument. Waters, who runs the family-owned business knew the piano was delicate and had the potential to be damaged by un-serious customers.But when the mysterious young man — who would later be identified as John Thomas Archer — asked one of the shop girls if he could play a song on the piano and she gave him a shot (and he totally scored)!Customers were so impressed by the play-by-ear performance, one person even managed to get the whole thing on camera. Watch The Mystery Piano Player's Performance Below:Even though the crowd went wild (or as wild as you can go, when you're in an antique store), the young man didn't stay for an encore. He quietly packed up and slipped out the door before store owner Mark Waters could get his contact information.Thankfully, the third-party footage would be key in tracking him down, which is just what this antique store owner planned to do.The Search for the Mystery Piano PlayerReMARKable Cleanouts/FacebookWith virtually no leads, Waters did the only thing he could think to do. He turned to his local community for help — and the internet did not disappoint!He quickly posted the video of the mystery player on his Facebook page. He asked if anyone could help identify the young masked man. He had a special surprise for him!The mystery piano player was found by Julie McDonald at WBZ Channel 4 who interviewed him on the newscast three days later!He Taught Himself How to Play-By-EarCredit: Renee ThomasThe mystery piano player was identified as 23-year-old college student, John Thomas Archer.The Northeastern University student told WBZ he saw the clip of himself playing on a local news station. Truthfully, he felt compelled to respond to make sure he wasn’t in trouble.Thankfully, he couldn't have been more wrong!"My girlfriend sent me a text that the media was looking for me," he said. "I didn't know so many people would be affected by watching me play. I am just baffled."John Thomas ArcherArcher told WBZ that he was just an "amateur" musician. The "Journey" hit was the first song he ever learned to impressively play-by-ear (without sheet music).Even though he loved to play, he couldn't afford to have a piano at home. Instead he made-do with a portable keyboard. So Waters brought him in again, and gave him the timeless gift of music — literally.Returning for an Encore!ReMARKable Cleanouts/FacebookUpon request, Archer returned to the store the next day. True to his words, antique store owner Mark Waters personally gifted the impressive Steinway piano."[John] went into tears and it brought tears to my eyes. It was one of those feel good moments."Mark Waters“I love playing piano. I love when I’m pressing down on the keys,” Archer told WBZ. “It’s more about my emotions and my feelings. As long as people still feel the joy out of my music, I’m happy.” Archer celebrated the win by giving a sweet performance of All of Me by John Legend.“I’m a helper. A giver. I like to give. When I give to you and you smile, that makes me feel good. If you can make somebody else happy, bring a little joy in their heart," Waters, who has owned the store for a decade, told WBZ. “That’s what life’s about.”Giving for Giving’s Sake"I just wish there was more stories like this with everyone opening their hearts," Waters told Good Morning America. "I'd like to donate something every day if it brought people into a good mood."Sure, we may not all have an antique Steinway piano lying around. But what's meaningful to one person is different than what's meaningful to another. Yes, this antique store owner had a gift that would "rock" this musicians world (pun intended), but each and every one of us have a gift that would totally rock someone else's.Mark Water's story is a poignant reminder that we all have something we're holding onto that we can afford to let go — free of charge. Giving for giving's sake is the gift that keeps on giving — did we say 'giving' too many times?!

Four Years Ago, He Was A Starving Artist - Today, He's Earning $1M And Giving Most Away
Motivation

Four Years Ago, He Was A Starving Artist - Today, He's Earning $1M And Giving Most Away

After four years of making under a living wage, the playwright of "Slave Play" on Broadway finally signed a couple of big contracts. Then, he decided to give hundreds of thousands away.Keeping theater aliveIn four years of making theatre, Jeremy O. Harris told The New York Times his total commissions amounted to just $22,000. But despite the pandemic in 2020, Harris signed a fashion deal as well as a two-year contract with HBO. He made nearly $1 million and immediately started giving it away.So far, he's contributed to a fund that gives two Black women playwrights $50,000 to work on a project, helped produce streamed versions of the plays "Heroes of the Fourth Turning" and "Circle Jerk," donated a collection of plays written by Black writers to 53 libraries, and offered 152 microgrants of $500 each to US-based playwrights. He's also taken up the cause of helping theater survive the pandemic by contributing to a relief fund and campaigning President Joe Biden to revive the Federal Theatre Project, a Great Depression-era program to fund live art. Harris said he wants to make sure we all have theater to return to when the pandemic is over.“Some might call it philanthropy, but I call it upkeep or maintenance."He's supporting diverse artGrowing up, Harris enjoyed the works of white writers, but wondered if anyone who looked like him had had success. As it turned out, they had, but few people he spoke to talked about Black writers."It was so exciting to see myself in Tennessee Williams, in Beckett and Caryl Churchill. But there came a point where I was like, “Wait, have Black people never done anything like this?” he told The Times. "And when I discovered that not only had they, but so many had done it to wild acclaim, and yet no one I talked to remembered that acclaim or knew those people, I knew that something had to be done about this cultural amnesia."So, with his freshly earned money, Harris wanted to support Black playwrights like him, including by helping two of them work on a project without having to do a side hustle."I wanted to give someone a living wage in New York," he said. "I wanted someone to feel excited about spending a year and a half, maybe two, working on one play, and not feeling compelled to work in a coffee shop or to write in a [television] writers’ room."He isn't exactly richThe money Harris made in 2020 is a lot for many Americans, but not much compared to other elites in the art world, especially when factoring in how little he made in the four years before this. He also doesn't know if this money will continue coming in, but he wanted to give the money away anyway."I don’t know if this money will be the only money I make for the next two years -- I don’t know what the decade will bring for me," he told The Times. "But I felt no qualms about giving this much of it away, because it is more money than I ever imagined I would make, and it’s also more money than I need. And so it feels imperative for me to work and imagine new ways to take care of the people around me."When asked if he considers himself a hero for helping others so soon after making it big, he said 'no.'"I would never say that about myself," Harris said. "For me it’s not heroic -- it feels like the obvious thing that a young artist without much to lose should be doing for their community."An inspiration for all Despite being a fresh entry into the million club, Harris took a huge risk. He doesn't know if he'll make a million next year, or even anything at all. Yet, he still chose to give. Contrary to what he says, he is a hero for doing this, and many others who are much richer than he is should take his lead. If they do, it'll undoubtedly help the world become a fairer place. More uplifting stories:Abandoned By Dad, Penniless Teen Vows To Support Mom – Now He’s A MillionaireThis Boss Just Gave $10 Million in Holiday Bonuses to His 198 EmployeesDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

How Billionaire CEO Jack Dorsey Is Giving All His Money Away Before He Dies
Uplifting News

How Billionaire CEO Jack Dorsey Is Giving All His Money Away Before He Dies

The world is an extremely unequal place, and Twitter/Square CEO Jack Dorsey wants to use his riches to help change that -- ideally, within his lifetime.He wants to ease pain in the worldSimilarly to billionaires such as Mackenzie Scott, Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey has been making good on his promises to give his money away.During the first wave of the pandemic on April 7, Dorsey, who is worth $11.9 billion according to Forbes, pledged $1 billion worth of Square stock to fighting the global pandemic relief. After COVID-19 is defeated (fingers-crossed), the money will be used for girls' health and education as well as the fight for universal basic income. Dorsey told former Democratic presidential hopeful and current prospect for New York City mayor Andrew Yang on his podcast "Yang Speaks" that he can't comfortably make money without giving it away.“I live by the principle of everything is connected, so if someone is in pain, I’m in pain, ultimately, over time,” Dorsey said. “I want to make sure that I’m doing whatever I can in my lifetime to help that through my companies’ works, through my own personal giving."Gratitude through actionDorsey, 44, said he never envisioned he'd be this rich when he was younger. But he's happy now that he has the money to help others.“I’m in a situation that I never imagined when I was a kid or [even] when I was 25,” Dorsey told Yang. “I didn’t have any aspect of what money would mean until I was, probably 35.”“I’m so grateful, but part of gratitude is not just saying I’m grateful, it’s doing."Jack Dorsey said.Dorsey added that he doesn't just want to give away a small percentage of his wealth to philanthropy -- he is willing to give it all away, seemingly forgoing any inheritance for his family (he appears to currently be single and has never married). “I want to give out all my money in my lifetime. I want to see the impacts, selfishly, in my lifetime,” Dorsey told Yang. “I want to make sure that we’re helping people.”And unlike many other billionaires, Dorsey isn't giving away money via a philanthropic organization — a lot of money gets wasted on overhead for those, he says. Instead, he's giving the money away himself and publicly tracking where it goes via a Google Doc. At latest count, the Square stock he contributed back in April has ballooned to more than $3.3 billion and about 10% of that money has been disbursed to charities fighting against COVID-19 and for social justice, UBI, and girls' health and education.Giving feels goodOf all the problems with Twitter, many of which Dorsey has condemned, when the social media network first got big he couldn't help but feel great. “When you build something like a Twitter or Square, the greatest value is actually seeing someone else use it. That’s what drives us. It feels electric,” Dorsey said. “The first time we saw tweets from Iran, it felt electric. It felt amazing.”And it feels just as great to be able to give away his earnings.“That electricity that I feel in those moments is the same that I’m feeling right now when I give and when I know that these organizations that we’re giving to are focused on real impact and doing things that are bigger than all of us and especially me,” Dorsey told Yang.Going above and beyondWith his actions, Dorsey has proven that it is possible for billionaires to give more, which is something they unquestionably should do. Still, he could give more -- 10 percent of the money being disbursed in nearly a year isn't great.Hopefully, his actions will influence other billionaires and even millionaires to give more of their money away. Not to be too hyperbolic here, but the fate of the world may depend on it.More uplifting stories:Abandoned By Dad, Penniless Teen Vows To Support Mom – Now He’s A MillionaireThis Boss Just Gave $10 Million in Holiday Bonuses to His 198 EmployeesDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Millionaire Shocks Neighbors By Inviting Homeless Couple To Live In His $4M House
Motivation

Millionaire Shocks Neighbors By Inviting Homeless Couple To Live In His $4M House

For a decade, Greg Dunston and Marie Mckinzie were among the 8,000 people experiencing homelessness on the streets of San Francisco. At least they were, until millionaire Terry McGrath invited them to stay with him in his home.Down on their luckSan Francisco has an infamous issue with homelessness. While being the richest city in America with a largely liberal population, many avert their eyes and refuse to support measures to remedy the issues causing it.But instead of waiting on others to do something, Terry McGrath did his part to help. He read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle about Greg Dunston and Marie Mckinzie, a lovely couple who defied the stereotypes of the type of who live on the street. They weren't alcoholics or drug addicts and they didn't have mental health issues. They did have disabilities -- Dunston is blind in one eye and Mckinzie has a disease that makes it a struggle to walk -- but mainly they were down on their luck."The thing that struck me and got me right away was the love between Greg and Marie and how it was able to survive in probably one of the harshest environments on earth," McGrath told ABC News. "I could feel it."So, McGrath did something unbelievable -- he invited them to stay with him in his $4 million home."There was no decision, there was no thought, there was no judgment. I was just like 'this is done,'" said McGrath, who was divorced and an empty nester so he had plenty of extra room. "I didn't vet them. These are human beings and they're not serial killers. They want to get in out of the weather. They want a roof over their head. They want to be warm."Dunston and Mckinzie were thrilled about McGrath's hospitality."We wanted to do that," Dunston said about moving into McGrath's home. "There are a lot of people out on the streets but they have no choice.""I don't want to live on the streets. A lot of people do, but I want to get in. I love to cook a lot so I wanted a kitchen, bed and shower."Marie Mckinzie Discriminatory neighborhoodWhen the couple moved in, Taylor warned the local police force in his upper-class neighborhood that they were there with his permission. It was a good thing he did, because shortly after their arrival a neighbor called 911 on the couple simply for existing."I just pulled into the driveway and there's some strange folks hanging around the house," the neighbor said.Another called police to say, "I just wanted to notify you that this woman is sitting at Lexford and Hampton ... She's smoking a cigarette -- could be drugs."When McGrath heard one of the neighbor's complaints, he couldn't believe his ears. "I realized when she mentioned the word 'situation' that she was referencing Marie and Greg. And I said, 'What situation?' Are they vandalizing cars? Are they burglarizing homes?'"He continued, "I just said, 'This is one of the most offensive conversations I've ever had.'"According to a local journalist, Piedmont's residents are 74 percent white, 18 percent Asian and less than 2 percent Black.Welcome to stayAt the time the article was released in early 2020, the formerly homeless couple had been living with McGrath for a year, and he had no plans to kick them out. "They're like family. There's no way I'm going to let them go back to the street," he said. "Most people who know me well know it's easy to start and it's hard to finish. And I'm never not going to finish."We can eliminate homelessnessSan Francisco's homeless situation is truly a national disgrace, and those who say nothing can be done simply need to see this story for proof that individual acts of kindness are possible and will help. No matter who they are or what decisions they've made in their life, everyone deserves a roof over their head if they want it.More uplifting news:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

'The Rock' Surprises Man Who Took Him In When He Was Homeless With A $30K Truck
Uplifting News

'The Rock' Surprises Man Who Took Him In When He Was Homeless With A $30K Truck

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson lets no good deed go unappreciated.Johnson had just $7 in his pocketWhile he might be a world-famous Hollywood hunk and legendary wrestler, Dwayne Johnson started from humble beginnings.After being evicted from his home in Hawaii, Johnson was sent to Nashville, Tennessee to live with his father, but someone else took him in.RELATED: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Rejects a Teen’s Prom Invite – What Happens Next Shocks Her"Sh*t happens, plans change and that’s the way it goes," Johnson wrote on Instagram. "Instead, I [was] told I was gonna live with a guy named Bruno [Lauer]. Who at the time lived in a tiny room at a spot called the Alamo Plaza motel.""Bruno could’ve (and should’ve) said hell no, I’m not takin’ in some kid who I don’t know. But he didn’t. He took this punk kid in and we became lifelong friends."Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Nine years later, Johnson had just $7 in his pocket and was again in need of a place to stay. So Lauer took him in again -- this time to live in his trailer in Walls, Mississippi.Johnson also credits Lauer for buying him his first car at 15 years old for $40.A big thank you from a big guyOn New Year's Eve, Johnson posted a video of him meeting with Lauer again. In the video, Johnson tells Lauer how much he loves him for taking him in as a teenager. Beyond giving thanks and hugging (with a mask on), Johnson revealed that he bought Lauer a $30,000 Ford F150 for Christmas."Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before," said a teary-eyed Lauer. "I can't believe it.""I love you, brother," Johnson wrote in the post. "Your kindness and heart - helped change my life’s trajectory. And when you’re ready to retire from 'the business' you just say the word. I got you covered. We’ll go 'downtown.'"Showing appreciationWhile Johnson is clearly on top of his game now, he didn't get there on his own. Lauer was surely among many who helped Johnson along the way, and every successful person has undoubtedly had help along their journey as well. So this is a reminder that as you become successful in your life, it's never too late to show appreciation to those who helped along the way. And while a $30,000 truck is a nice gesture, a heartfelt 'thank you' will do.More inspiring celebrities:Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant Are More Than An Unconventional CoupleWhy Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith Felt Like They Didn’t Know Each Other After 22 YearsKelly Clarkson Had Never Felt Attracted To Anyone Until She Met Her HusbandKate Winslet Suffered Two Major Heartbreaks Before Finding ‘The One’

Student Raises $28,600 For Homeless Man Who Offered To Pay Her Taxi Home
Everyday Heroes

Student Raises $28,600 For Homeless Man Who Offered To Pay Her Taxi Home

Dominique Harrison-Bentzen wanted to get home after a (pre-pandemic) night out, but she'd lost her bank card and couldn't afford a taxi home. A man experiencing homelessness swooped in to save the day with an extraordinary act of kindness -- and his good deed ended up being rewarded many times over. Robbie to the rescueThe night had wound down for Harrison-Bentzen, a then 22-year-old student at the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom, and she needed to get home. But she noticed something was missing -- she'd lost her bank card and was out of cash.All of a sudden, a homeless man named Robbie approached her with an offer to pay for her taxi ride home.“I suddenly realized that I had no money and a homeless man approached me with his only change of £3 ($4 USD)," she told the Guardian. "He insisted I took it to pay for a taxi to make sure I got home safe.”What goes around comes aroundHarrison-Bentzen declined the offer, but after she got home she decided to do something to repay Robbie.So, she set up a donation page and asked people to donate £3 -- the cost of a taxi ride -- to help Robbie get back on his feet.“I was touched by such a kind gesture from a man who faces ignorance every day, so I set on a mission to find him," Harrison-Bentzen wrote on Facebook. "The more I spoke about him the more kind gestures I learned, such as him returning wallets untouched to pedestrians and offering his scarf to keep people warm."Harrison-Bentzen added that Robbie had been homeless for just seven months and can't get work because he doesn't have an address. "So that’s when I decided to change Robbie’s life and help him, as he has helped many others."Dominique Harrison-Bentzen said.The goal was to help Robbie find permanent accommodation, but it ended up going much further. The campaign went viral and pulled in over £21,000 ($28,600 USD).Harrison-Bentzen and Robbie decided to help other homeless people and local charities as well. “This is not only going to change Robbie’s life, but [the lives of] an incredible amount of homeless people in Preston," Harrison-Bentzen, who slept out in the street for 24 hours as part of the fundraiser. "Yes, we were cold and yes, we were hungry, but people endure that 365 days of the year, so for 24 hours we didn’t complain.”Rewards for kindness aren't necessary, but they don't hurtWe don't do kind things because we know we'll get a big reward afterward -- kindness is simply a good thing to do. But sometimes, when we least expect it, our kind deeds get rewarded and when they do they make the most heartwarming stories.More uplifting stories: 4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimWoman Raises $32,000 For Teen McDonald’s Worker Who Paid For Her Family’s MealBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Homeless Man Returns Lost Wallet, Gets Rewarded For His Integrity By 12-Year-Old Girl
Everyday Heroes

Homeless Man Returns Lost Wallet, Gets Rewarded For His Integrity By 12-Year-Old Girl

Both Mikayla Gounard, a 12-year-old girl, and Sean Currey, the homeless man who returned her grandmother's lost wallet, prove that the world is filled with kindness.A moment of inattention Evelyn Topper went to a coffee shop in Los Angeles to pick up a chai soy latte for herself and a bubble tea for her soon-to-be 12-year-old granddaughter, Mikayla Gounard.When she returned home, she realized she didn't have her wallet. "In this little wallet was everything," Topper told NBC Los Angeles. "Every credit, debit, medicare card. Everything I own. I was distraught."A stranger saves the day The next day, Topper received a call from Sean Currey, a man who had been experiencing homelessness for the last five years. Currey said he had been looking through the dumpster behind the coffee shop when he found Topper's wallet. There was no cash in it, but it was full of cards and a friend of Currey's suggested he use them before they were canceled. He refused. Instead, he called up Topper to return the wallet."I did it because I got a heart...That's the way I was brought up."Sean Currey When Topper received the call, she was ecstatic."I was screaming," Topper said. "It's a mitzvah! I asked him if he knew what a mitzvah was and he said, 'No.' I said it's like a good deed."A memorable 12th birthday partyMeanwhile, Gounard was planning her 12th birthday party -- a socially distanced parade down her street. For her gift, she asked people to donate to Currey."I wanted to give to somebody who really needed something," Gounard said.Gounard ended up raising hundreds of dollars on Currey's behalf and gave him the cash the next day."I'm humbled," Currey said. "I'm just blessed. It's hard to express words for it. I'm at a loss. I'm warmed by it, 100%."Gounard said she wanted Currey to have the money to prove that just because he's experiencing homelessness there's still a chance for him to bounce back."I think that it's really important that people who think that because you got pushed down you can never get back up again," Gounard said.The power of kindnessWhile the world can feel dark at times -- it sure has in 2020 -- this is a reminder that everyone is capable of kindness. Sure, the holidays are a good time for this, but kindness can be practiced throughout the year as it doesn't only feel good for the receiver, but also the giver.More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Mackenzie Scott, Ex-Wife Of Jeff Bezos, Is Giving $1 Billion A Month To Charity
Motivation

Mackenzie Scott, Ex-Wife Of Jeff Bezos, Is Giving $1 Billion A Month To Charity

If more billionaires gave away their money, they could solve many of the world's problems. But they sometimes don't give enough, and when they do it isn't fast enough.But Mackenzie Scott, the billionaire ex-wife of Amazon's Jeff Bezos, is bucking the trend. Since splitting with Bezos in 2019, she has given away an astonishing amount of money extremely quickly and plans to continue.$1 billion a monthAccording to Scott, the pandemic has not been "the great equalizer." As many traditionally disenfranchised have seen their incomes plummet and lived flipped on its head, billionaires have gotten richer."This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling. Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires."Mackenzie Scott wrote in a post on her Medium blog.So Scott did something about it. Over the past four months she has donated "$4,158,500,000 in gifts to 384 organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C."This is in addition to the approximately $2 billion she gave to 116 organizations that was announced in July. No strings attachedScott and her advisors initially looked at 6,490 organizations before cutting the numbers down to 822, and again to 384. The point of this was to make sure the organizations had strong evidence of impact, proven management, and are a positive force both in the community and on its employees.After the organization was picked, Scott insisted she doesn't make any demands."We do this research and deeper diligence not only to identify organizations with high potential for impact, but also to pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with full trust and no strings attached," she wrote.The organizations Scott gave to are listed on her blog post, and include various colleges and universities, food banks, Goodwills, United Ways and YMCAs.She'll keep on givingAfter her divorce with Bezos, Scott was awarded $38 billion, which included Amazon shares. Since Amazon's stock price has risen so substantially during the pandemic, her wealth is now worth $55 billion, according to Forbes. In other words, she still has tons of money, and she plans to keep sharing it.Shortly after the divorce, she joined Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in signing The Giving Pledge, a document created by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in 2010 urging fellow billionaires to donate at least 50 percent of their wealth to charity.But many billionaires haven't signed the pledge, including Scott's ex-husband and Google's Sergey Brin and Larry Page.A better world is possibleIf only we had the money to solve world hunger, eliminate poverty, and tip the scales for a more equal world. Just kidding, billionaires do, but some of them appear to continue to hoard their wealth. Scott seems to be an exception and what makes her giving so extraordinary is that she's doing it quickly when people need it the most. Hopefully, other wealthy people will follow her lead.More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Millionaire CEO Retires And Surprises Staff With $13.2 Million 'Thank You' Gift
Uplifting News

Millionaire CEO Retires And Surprises Staff With $13.2 Million 'Thank You' Gift

Most bosses get a retirement gift from their staff in the form of a 'thank you' card. Rarely do bosses give something concrete to their staff when they call it quits. But one CEO did, and it's a great reminder of the importance of giving back.An amazing startup storyWales-based Admiral started with a staff of just 57, calling people up on the phone to see if they wanted car insurance. That was back in 1991 and since then the company has grown exponentially. In 2004, Admiral went public on the London Stock Exchange and now has 7,500 team members in South Wales and 3,000 in Spain, Italy, France, Canada, the US, and India.Earlier this year, CEO David Stevens, who started the company with his wife Heather, decided to retire at 58 and had a surprise for his staff.'Thank you'Stevens made headlines when he announced that he'd give his employees £10 million ($13.7 million) as a 'thank you' for all the hard work they've put in over the years.Stevens told the BBC he was "proud and fortunate to have worked with such a special group of people.""Saying thank you to all Admiral staff in this way is the right thing to do," he added.Specifically, full-time workers were given £1,000 ($1,320) and part-time staff got £500 ($660)."Their hard work and dedication has allowed Admiral to grow from a start-up to over 11,000 staff worldwide," Stevens said. "And all of this while remaining a great place to work.""Thank you from myself and my wife to everyone at Admiral."David Stevens said.The importance of giving backWe so often hear about amazing startups and CEO success stories -- but no one does it alone. It takes the help of all kinds of people to get a company to the top, especially from the dedicated employees who work hard to make it happen.It's so wonderful to see CEOs like Stevens and Matt Moulding of The Hut Group -- who recently shared $1 billion in profits with staff and frontline workers -- realize the contributions of the people who helped them along the way. As writer and philosopher G.K. Chesterton said about gratitude: "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

CEO Earns $1B, Shares Huge Chunk Of It With Staff And Donates Yearly Salary to Frontline Workers
Uplifting News

CEO Earns $1B, Shares Huge Chunk Of It With Staff And Donates Yearly Salary to Frontline Workers

Imagine you've worked your butt off and it's finally time for your big payday – what would you do with all that cash?If you're British businessman Matt Moulding, the 48-year-old CEO of beauty and health online retailer The Hut Group, you give a lot of it away. Celebrating and rewarding his team The Hut Group went public on the stock market in September and since then its value has soared. As a result, Moulding landed a gigantic £830 million ($1.1 billion) payout, according to Mirror UK.But even before the company went public, Moulding decided to pay those who matter the most – his staff. He reportedly gave £21 million ($28 million) for his 7000 employees to share, which helped some staffers become multi-millionaires."No one in the scheme received less than a couple of hundred grand."Matt MouldingMoulding's personal assistant was so happy with her haul of the profits that she retired at the age of 36."We are delighted with the market reaction to our IPO and that all of our shareholders are benefiting from the strong performance of the business," a spokesperson for the company said. "The equity scheme was put in place when THG was a private company, and we are delighted that over 200 THG staff have already shared in the scheme, worth around £200 million ($267 million) today."Supporting COVID-19 relief efforts As for his own share of the profits, Moulding donated his entire £750,000 ($1 million) annual salary to charity and gave £10 million ($13 million) towards Covid-relief efforts. He's also donated £2 million ($2.6 million) worth of PPE to frontline workers.But Moulding has also used the money to enjoy the fruits of his hard work. He is the proud owner of a Lamborghini and likes to take his wife and four kids on lavish vacations to exotic destinations. He also makes time to take care of his body and has the muscles to show for it.Of course, this success hasn't come easy – Moulding is a dedicated business owner who starts every day at 6 AM sharp and drinks plenty of coffee throughout the day to keep himself going.Pay yourself and others tooThe old dictum of personal finance is "pay yourself first." And that's good advice – you worked hard, you deserve to invest in things that make your life better.But, as Americans celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, it's crucial to also show appreciation for those who helped get you there, as well as use your position of privilege to help make the world a better place. And while "thank you" is great, giving back can be even better. More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others