Hard to beat this feeling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QXW4l0auLg&feature=player_embedded

As small thinkers continue to focus on attaining depreciation, big thinkers continue to set the bar high.

Donating Star Wars Billions Will Make George Lucas One Of The Biggest Givers Ever George Lucas introduced the world to Star Wars back in 1977, and he profited handsomely from it. Now, after selling the mega-franchise to Disney for $4.05 billion, Lucas is preparing to give back in a big way. In a statement released to The Hollywood Reporter, a Lucasfilm spokesperson said that once the sale is final, the Hollywood billionaire will donate most of the haul to charity: ”George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors.” The move isn’t a complete surprise (although the sale may have been). Lucas signed on to Bill Gates and Warren Buffett‘s Giving Pledge back in July of 2010, promising to give at least half of his wealth away by the time of his death. Disney Purchase Boosts George Lucas' Net Worth By More Than $700 Million Dorothy Pomerantz Forbes Staff Forbes 400 Biggest Gifts Edwin Durgy Forbes Staff In Pictures: Billionaires Who’ve Signed The Giving Pledge “I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education,” Lucas wrote in his pledge letter. “It is the key to the survival of the human race. We have to plan for our collective future — and the first step begins with the social, emotional, and intellectual tools we provide to our children. As humans, our greatest tool for survival is our ability to think and to adapt — as educators, storytellers, and communicators our responsibility is to continue to do so.” Lucas founded the George Lucas Educational Foundation and the website Edutopia to reform and improve K-12 education. The foundation emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning over plodding devotion to standardized tests and traditional textbooks. It highlights innovative teaching efforts that are already working in classrooms. You can read more about Lucas’ efforts in a Q&A with Forbes’ Luisa Kroll. While Lucas may choose to donate the billions he made from selling Lucasfilm to a broader range of efforts, it is likely that a large portion will be distributed to this cause. And when Lucas does make that donation official, he will have placed himself into rarified company among philanthropists. Only a select few billionaires will have given away as much as he plans to. While his $4 billion won’t get him as far as Gates or Buffett, who have donated more than $45 billion combined, Lucas is following their example and should reach the next tier of biggest givers. George Soros has given over $8 billion and Intel founder Gordon Moore has donated more than $6 billion. The wealthiest man in the world, Carlos Slim Helu, has reached $4 billion and counting. Lucas will also join other major philanthropists like Eli Broad, George Kaiser, and Michael Bloomberg among those giving back more than a billion dollars total to charitable efforts.

Young Girl's Death Inspires Thousands to Give, Fulfill Her Goal

Family and friends remember Rachel Beckwith as a very caring and generous girl who wanted to help others. Before her June 12th birthday, Beckwith told those she loved that she only wanted gifts in the form of donations to be made to Charity Water to help bring clean water to an African village. She wanted to raise $300 by her birthday. The 9-year-old eventually reached that goal but was not alive to see it.


Beckwith was killed in a 13-car accident on Interstate 90 in Bellevue, Wash., last week, reports the Seattle Times.

Upon hearing about her untimely death, many people reached into their pockets and donated to the charity via the young girl’s fundraising page: mycharitywater.org/rachels9thbirthday.

By Thursday night 17,317 people had donated, amounting $593,819.

According to the Times, Rachel had only raised $220 by her birthday and closed her fundraising page. Ryan Meeks, a pastor from her church, had the page reopened to help achieve the young girl’s dream of helping people. The Times reports that by Tuesday night Rachel’s goal had “been surpassed more than 1,000 times over.”

"I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday," Rachel wrote on her page. "And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations."



Rachel’s mother, Samantha, posted on the website Monday night: I am in awe of the overwhelming love to take my daughter’s dream and make it a reality. In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope. Thank you for your generosity!

I know Rachel is smiling!

Contributors are allowed to post comments when they contribute to the cause and many took the time to express their sympathy for the family as well as their awe for such an inspiring little girl. One woman wrote:

“Rachel, you are a sweet little angel that has touched more lives than imaginable.”

According to The Lookout, Rachel was on life support after the accident. Her church is raising money to help the family pay their medical bills.

So hard to have excuses these days.

A Winnipeg-based, legally blind commercial photographer is the winner of the CNIB Eye Remember national photography competition.
Tara Miller, 39, was the only legally blind photographer among the five finalists and she was the top vote-getter in the national public voting contest that ended June 30.
The CNIB held the contest to promote public awareness of glaucoma.
Miller was born with congenital rubella syndrome — which leads to cataracts — and developed glaucoma at 16. her eye sight deteriorated to the point where she was legally blind at 33.
Miller’s winning photo — a shot of a lightning storm over a field of sunflowers at sunset, called Fortuitous Twilight, was taken last August between Headingley and Starbuck. The same photo won best in show and best colour print at the 2011 Red River Exhibition Photography Salon.
She’s been working as a commercial photographer for three years.
"Yes, I’m legally blind but I want to take that extra step and be known as that legally blind commercial photographer," Miller said. "I like the idea of recognition."
Miller and her husband operate 100 Acre Woods Photography.

heroes

"Unfortunately we will never meet or hear about most of the world's biggest heroes".outlived
Watch "Secret Millionaire"if you get a chance.

speechless

Air Traffic Controller skills make for a happy landing.