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Melvin Cole: Saving Kids Just Like Me (Pt 2)

In Melvin’s family, you were either a drug dealer or a junkie. At 8 years old, he remembers choosing between these two options and joined his family’s cocaine ring that was arguably the largest in West Tennessee history. It led him to one of the most desperate situations you could imagine and making a deal with God to get out of it. He promised to save other inner-city Memphis kids just like him and that’s exactly what PURE Academy has done. 

Don’t Be A Turkey Person

We’ve launched a campaign called “Don’t Be A Turkey Person” to challenge all of us this Thanksgiving and holiday season, and it isn’t about not eating turkey. Coach Bill Courtney shares one of the most important life lessons he’s ever learned and it was from one of his 17-year-old football players.

John Currence: Saving Willie Mae’s

After Hurricane Katrina struck his hometown, Chef John Currence knew he had to do something and he quickly found it in saving the restaurant/home of an 89 year-old News Orleans woman named Willie Mae. He thought renovating Willie Mae’s Scotch House, whose fried chicken has been called the best in the world, would only take a few weeks. But John and an army of volunteers ended up rebuilding it for 16 months. And John, heroically went back and forth almost every single week, between his adopted home of Oxford, MS and his native New Orleans, which was 5 hours away. 

Enrique: I’m Giving Back To St. Jude For What They Gave To Us (Pt 1)

Enrique’s 3-year-old daughter Arianna was diagnosed with an incredibly rare brain cancer and they were told that she would never turn 4. Arianna was then accepted as a patient by St. Jude, the leading childhood cancer hospital where families don’t pay a dime, and they gave her an additional 4 years of life. Enrique is so grateful to St. Jude that he’s now working for their awareness and fundraising organization. 

Enrique: I’m Giving Back To St. Jude For What They Gave To Us (Pt 2)

Enrique’s 3-year-old daughter Arianna was diagnosed with an incredibly rare brain cancer and they were told that she would never turn 4. Arianna was then accepted as a patient by St. Jude, the leading childhood cancer hospital where families don’t pay a dime, and they gave her an additional 4 years of life. Enrique is so grateful to St. Jude that he’s now working for their awareness and fundraising organization. 

Rodney Smith Jr: The 50 Yard Challenge (Pt 1)

When he saw an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn, Rodney felt called to pull over and finish it for him. This single act of generosity transformed Rodney’s life forever, inspiring him to challenge kids to cut 50 lawns for free for the elderly, single parents, veterans, and those with disabilities. And his “50 Yard Challenge” has been accepted by 4,948 kids from 8 countries! 

Rodney Smith Jr: The 50 Yard Challenge (Pt 2)

When he saw an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn, Rodney felt called to pull over and finish it for him. This single act of generosity transformed Rodney’s life forever, inspiring him to challenge kids to cut 50 lawns for free for the elderly, single parents, veterans, and those with disabilities. And his “50 Yard Challenge” has been accepted by 4,948 kids from 8 countries! 

Luke Mickelson: No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town! (Pt 1)

In 2012 Luke was inspired to build and donate a bed after learning about a 6-year-old girl in his community who slept on the floor. Realizing how widespread the need was, Luke founded Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a volunteer-driven nonprofit whose 285 chapters have built around 140,000 beds for kids without them. But there’s many more areas that need chapters and there’s many more kids without beds.