We asked people to participate in Real American Stories and were astonished by the responses we received. From people we stopped on the sidewalk to household names eager to tell their unique and inspiring American stories.
Fast and furious, this American tradition features tiny tots riding woolly wonder beasts.
Jamie Poindexter’s drumline is bringing together a tough neighborhood with a joyful beat.
A barista gives a kidney to a complete stranger, giving her the ultimate pick-me-up.
Raised by migrant farm workers, Jose Hernandez used hard work and a big heart to reach the stars.
Monica Haslip’s afterschool program is creating artists and serious entrepreneurs.
Michael Reagan and his Fallen Heroes Project provides closure for the families left behind.
This shoe shine man is changing the world through his Clean Water Foundation.
Through hard work and perseverance, Mila Apostol created the little store that could.
A refugee survivor, Derreck Kayongo is saving the world, one bar of soap at a time.
Some call air guitar part perf. art, pro wrestling and rock’n’roll. Whatever it is, it sure is fun!
A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.
A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.
Aaron Dworkin brings classical music to the inner city, and opens up a world of possibilities.
An Iraq War veteran, James talks about surviving a suicide attack and serving our country.
She talks about coming over from Italy as a child and the chances America has given her.
She’s following in grandfather’s footsteps, paying it forward, and living up to her good name.
Her parents left Albania so she could grow up with the freedom to live out her “American Dream.”
A 1st grade teacher talks about teaching the Pledge of Allegiance to her students.
She raised nine children and talks about overcoming adversity and following your dreams.
As devoted parents, they provided a safe and loving environment for over 40 foster babies.
She shares her ancestors’ sacrifices and struggles for the freedoms we enjoy in America.
Inspired by wounded soldiers, he’s in med school training to become a doctor in the U.S. Army.
Julie Smith & Joyce Hogan have served our nation through their husbands’ military service.
They adopted two children from Russia and share how the experience changed their lives.
Vietnam Vet who talks about how service changed his life and his feeling for this country.
He compares football to unity and talks about the importance of America coming together.
She’s a 3rd generation American who talks of fulfilling the dreams of our founding fathers.
A Vietnam Vet, Anthony talks about surviving a vicious attack, and the costs of freedom.
The couple talks about raising their kids and the freedoms we cherish in this country.
A teacher who credits her ancestors for giving us the freedoms we share in this country.
A Cuban American who talks about how her father risked his life to bring his family here.
Married for 52 years, they talk about growing up and raising a family in a small town.
He came from India to become an engineer and is currently applying for U.S. citizenship.
The award winning country music group talks about performing for the troops in Iraq.
Anne,
Thank you for what you are doing to benefit homeless men. I have worked with them to a degree and know something of the deep needs they have.
Read further at your own peril. It gets religious.
I do wince a bit when someone identifies them self as “not a religious person” but claims ” a calling”. I don’t think our society and its current leaders have come to grips yet with what a complete loss of belief will mean. Pat Buchanan put it well when he said “when a religion dies, the culture that it produced dies”. Somehow we believe that we can have western culture (and its charity) and extract the Christian belief system that created it. “Non-sense” many will say , “Anne is doing the right thing like many many others who are doing so and have no religious motive” True, but they are coming from a culture that has be saturated in Christian thought for 2000 years. The after glow of a culture doesn’t die immediately but it does die.
If you replace the Christian society we have had with another religion, you get the society that religion creates. Islam gives you Saudi Arabia, Hinduism gives you India, Buddhism gives you Tibet, secularism gives you the USSR, North Korea, China and Albania.
The USA seems more than willing to go the secular route with Scientific Materialism as god. OK but with that you get “man-as-machine” and you will concur with rising evidence that when you are having a conversation with another (homeless?) person and you look eye to eye and you think you have a “connection”, remember that in reality it is only one set of chemicals in stimulus-response with another set of chemicals. Nothing is really “alive” in the sense we have previously thought.
Let that sink in deeply for 2000 years. What then will we be? I certainly don’t know but I do surmise.
At any rate, thanks to Anne for what she is doing, religious person or not.
Bill in Dallas
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing and inspiring us all. We can ALL make a difference and bring Hope and Life to others! You are sure doing just that.
Great program Anne. I hope you and your program helps many many people.
What a great story, your sharing your most valuable asset your time. All of us could learn from you.
What a truly great story…good to see!!! God bless all of you!!!
GREAT! Very Inspirational!!
Anne, wow once again your wonderful story is getting out on the fox news page. I first heard about it on the abc news with charlie gibson. I did recognize you when I ran the philly half last month. And I am sorry if I startled you when I ran by you and mention the person of the week thing! But I think that you are doing a great job! I have ran all of my adult life and really enjoy it and really like how you share that with people! I spent 12 years in the Army and loved the running and PT programs that we had there. Keep up the good work and God bless! Tom DiJohnson
This is such an inspiration. I want to do this in Toledo when my back heals up. She’s got a pure motive. Look at how she is helping men and women find discipline. Look how it’s teaming up employed people with those not employed. This is a really good daughter. Her father must be proud of her!
Can this happen in Toledo Ohio?
You should REALLY look at runtellmanrun.com
This guy is really rich and “runs” in some pretty big circles {Sir Richard Branson for example}.
He is running across America BAREFOOT! He is raising money for homeless youth. He’s not just raising money but is helping out all along his run.
VERY INSPIRING!!
Thanks, Grant