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.

 
Putting the Pieces Together – NEW

Putting the Pieces Together – NEW

Dr. Doreen is giving autistic children a world of possibilities.

Mutton Bustin – NEW

Mutton Bustin – NEW

Fast and furious, this American tradition features tiny tots riding woolly wonder beasts.

Kaotic Drumline – NEW

Kaotic Drumline – NEW

Jamie Poindexter’s drumline is bringing together a tough neighborhood with a joyful beat.

The Gift of Life – NEW

The Gift of Life – NEW

A barista gives a kidney to a complete stranger, giving her the ultimate pick-me-up.

The Zumba Craze – NEW

The Zumba Craze – NEW

Beto Perez’s fitness party is changing the way people think about exercise.

Rocket Man – NEW

Rocket Man – NEW

Raised by migrant farm workers, Jose Hernandez used hard work and a big heart to reach the stars.

Little Black Pearl – NEW

Little Black Pearl – NEW

Monica Haslip’s afterschool program is creating artists and serious entrepreneurs.

My Secret Radio – NEW

My Secret Radio – NEW

Jorge Gomez and Tiempo Libre dreamed of America from the rooftops of Havana.

Fallen Heroes Proj. – NEW

Fallen Heroes Proj. – NEW

Michael Reagan and his Fallen Heroes Project provides closure for the families left behind.

Elizabeth Sobol – NEW

Elizabeth Sobol – NEW

A gifted pianist gives up her dreams to champion other artists.

World Class Shine – NEW

World Class Shine – NEW

This shoe shine man is changing the world through his Clean Water Foundation.

A Perfect Fit – NEW

A Perfect Fit – NEW

Her parents left everything behind, so Mae Joo could follow her dreams.

A Family Legacy – NEW

A Family Legacy – NEW

Through hard work and perseverance, Mila Apostol created the little store that could.

Global Soap Project NEW

Global Soap Project NEW

A refugee survivor, Derreck Kayongo is saving the world, one bar of soap at a time.

Rachel Grusse

Rachel Grusse

A bi-lateral amputee, Rachel leads her teammates with a truly inspiring attitude.

Spread the Magic

Spread the Magic

A cancer survivor, Chad Juros performs miracles through the gift of magic!

Robledo Family Winery

Robledo Family Winery

Reynaldo Robledo turned a $12  job into a million dollar operation.

Tasty Pastry

Tasty Pastry

A harrowing escape from Iran, a fight for freedom, and the little bakery that could.

Kwame James

Kwame James

He went toe-to-toe with the shoe bomber and became a hero in the sky.

Back On My Feet

Back On My Feet

Anne Mahlum starts a running program that helps homeless men reclaim their lives.

Melinda Doolittle

Melinda Doolittle

This American Idol finalist defied all the odds on her way to stardom.

Air Guitar

Air Guitar

Some call air guitar part perf. art, pro wrestling and rock’n’roll. Whatever it is, it sure is fun!

The Phillie Phanatic

The Phillie Phanatic

This lovable mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies brings imagination to life.

Hyde/Model Rugby

Hyde/Model Rugby

A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.

Hyde/Model Rugby – (CC)

Hyde/Model Rugby – (CC)

A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.

Rick’s Picks

Rick’s Picks

Pushing the limits of pickling by bringing lots of taste to the traditional mason jar.

Project Healing Waters

Project Healing Waters

Bringing wounded vets fly-fishing to heal their mind and soul.

New Haven Pizza Wars

New Haven Pizza Wars

New Haven’s battle over brick oven supremacy.

Operation Proper Exit

Operation Proper Exit

Taking wounded vets back to Iraq to provide emotional closure.

The Sphinx Organization

The Sphinx Organization

Aaron Dworkin brings classical music to the inner city, and opens up a world of possibilities.

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

This July 4th patriotic pig out is rooted in love of country.

Fireworks by Grucci

Fireworks by Grucci

A family’s unbelievable story of courage, love and perseverance.

Tova Friedman

Tova Friedman

A Holocaust survivor, she was one of five children that survived from her town.

Dogfish Head

Dogfish Head

Owner, Sam Calagione overcame adversity to create, a bigger, bolder American beer.

Pat’s and Geno’s

Pat’s and Geno’s

Can it get any more American than steak, onions and cheese whiz on a homemade bun?

Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner

He talks about his journey from homelessness to financial freedom.

Tom Clarke

Tom Clarke

He talks about seeing the last two 9/11 survivors being pulled from the wreckage.

James Martinez

James Martinez

An Iraq War veteran, James talks about surviving a suicide attack and serving our country.

Giuliana Rancic

Giuliana Rancic

She talks about coming over from Italy as a child and the chances America has given her.

Gary Szabo

Gary Szabo

A firefighter who helped with the rescue efforts at the WTC after the 9/11 attacks.

Ken Krimstein

Ken Krimstein

He took his son to his first day of Kindergarten in NYC on 9/11.

Tara Deckard

Tara Deckard

She’s following in grandfather’s footsteps, paying it forward, and living up to her good name.

Teuta Dedvukaj

Teuta Dedvukaj

Her parents left Albania so she could grow up with the freedom to live out her “American Dream.”

Wayne Hosmer

Wayne Hosmer

An Iraqi veteran, he talks about the price of freedom.

Jillynn Rasmussen

Jillynn Rasmussen

A 1st grade teacher talks about teaching the Pledge of Allegiance to her students.

Gidgett Lovingood

Gidgett Lovingood

She raised nine children and talks about overcoming adversity and following your dreams.

Fred & Tina Sayers

Fred & Tina Sayers

As devoted parents, they provided a safe and loving environment for over 40 foster babies.

Rachel Castaneda

Rachel Castaneda

She shares her ancestors’ sacrifices and struggles for the freedoms we enjoy in America.

Joe Dannenbaum IV

Joe Dannenbaum IV

Inspired by wounded soldiers, he’s in med school training to become a doctor in the U.S. Army.

Leeza Gibbons

Leeza Gibbons

Like her mother, she teaches her children that in America, anything is possible.

Military Wives

Military Wives

Julie Smith & Joyce Hogan have served our nation through their husbands’ military service.

Ken & Guen Williams

Ken & Guen Williams

They adopted two children from Russia and share how the experience changed their lives.

Charles Ward

Charles Ward

Vietnam Vet who talks about how service changed his life and his feeling for this country.

Val Lofgreen

Val Lofgreen

He looks back and remembers what NYC was like on the day they buried JFK.

David Tyree

David Tyree

He compares football to unity and talks about the importance of America coming together.

CEO Jack Welch

CEO Jack Welch

Chairman and CEO of GE from 1981-2001, he talks about following your dreams.

Fran Drescher

Fran Drescher

She’s a 3rd generation American who talks of fulfilling the dreams of our founding fathers.

Anthony Lassiter

Anthony Lassiter

A Vietnam Vet, Anthony talks about surviving a vicious attack, and the costs of freedom.

Peter & Dea Bauer

Peter & Dea Bauer

The couple talks about raising their kids and the freedoms we cherish in this country.

Alp Gurpinar

Alp Gurpinar

He emigrated from Turkey to go to college and follow his dreams.

Launa Costley

Launa Costley

A teacher who credits her ancestors for giving us the freedoms we share in this country.

Jimmie Sue Blose

Jimmie Sue Blose

She remembers the Oklahoma City bombing and how Americans stand together.

Thais Prado

Thais Prado

A Cuban American who talks about how her father risked his life to bring his family here.

Walter & Janet Loy

Walter & Janet Loy

Married for 52 years, they talk about growing up and raising a family in a small town.

Oleg Haskel

Oleg Haskel

He’s a Russian immigrant who talks about coming to America and achieving his dreams.

Andria Mellon

Andria Mellon

She talks about her ancestors’ hard work and sacrifice emigrating here from Greece.

George Padavil

George Padavil

He emigrated from India and talks about the opportunities America has given him.

Utkarsh Sata

Utkarsh Sata

He came from India to become an engineer and is currently applying for U.S. citizenship.

Stella Kozanecki

Stella Kozanecki

Her family has celebrated a family reunion every year for the past 70 years.

Montgomery Gentry

Montgomery Gentry

The award winning country music group talks about performing for the troops in Iraq.

8 Responses to “Fran Drescher”

  1. Miguel said:

    Hi!
    Just wanna say that even though i`m not american, i like these stories very much, since they show how american people are all proud to be what they are: members of a great nation, whether they come from one state or another. We should all be proud of our origins and culture wherever we are, don`t you think so?

    Me, as a spanish 16-year-old boy, i think i`m proud of being spanish, and i like learning about other cultures all around the world, so i can understand the way they live, as well as the way they think, which i think is very important. Spain and the USA, are quite different, but that doesn`t mean that one of them is better than the other; they`re (and we are) just different, neither better nor worse than the other.

    Un saludo desde España!

  2. Gary R. said:

    Fran Drescher is a lovely, funny comedian, who is quite striking most times on The Nanny.

  3. victoria landry said:

    hi, i just wanted to say fran is an amazing woman….loved her american story…im an american too…and im proud to be one…she is an inspiration to women all over…i love her new song that she sings….who would have thought a chubby girl from queens can sing so beautifully…love you fran.

    victoria

  4. Lotus Knapp said:

    Fran, your shows have always given me so much happiness. I can feel bad and watch one of your shows and see the light again. They were all about family and love, despite the sarcastic humor. The world is a better place because you are here.

    Lotus

  5. Sloane LLLLL said:

    Fran is my favorite woman in the world i wish she was my mom i watch The Nanny every night on nick at nite Fran if you are reading this i am your #1 F-A-N fan some times i do your voice and …………… OY was that to much well bu bye F-R-A-N FRAN FRAN GO GO YOU ROCK HARDYOU ARE AWESOME

  6. Ellen Robinson said:

    I am a 2 year uterine cancer survivor.. I am curious as to the type of cancer fran had and what stage she had.

    I would also like to be active in Rhode Island as all I hear about is breast cancer.

    If you receive this, please let me know if anyone is active in Rhode Island in this movement.

    thank you

  7. Ayanna said:

    Hey,
    Just wanted to support Fran and her story…It’s actually great that she wanted to share her story with us about how her family got to America!!..

  8. Jimmie Heaven said:

    Fran Drescher Rocks! XOXO

Leave a Reply