On the last Friday of each month We Are the World Blogfest invites bloggers to join together in promoting positive news. If you would like to join in, please check out the rules and links below.
This month I am sharing a story of a philanthropist who paid off the college loans for almost 400 students at an estimated cost of approximately $US40 million. All that Robert F. Smith (a self-made millionaire through investments in technology) asked of the students was that they “pay it forward”.
Click to read the whole article:
Billionaire to pay off entire graduating class’s student debts
As stated by #WATWB, “There are many an oasis of love and light out there, stories that show compassion and the resilience of the human spirit. Sharing these stories increases our awareness of hope in our increasingly dark world.”
I think the world could do with some more light at the moment. Please join in and share positive stories to lift the clouds.
Here are the guidelines for #WATWB:
1. Keep your post to Below 500 words, as much as possible.
2. Link to a human news story on your blog, one that shows love, humanity, and brotherhood. Paste in an excerpt and tell us why it touched you. The Link is important, because it actually makes us look through news to find the positive ones to post.
3. No story is too big or small, as long as it Goes Beyond religion and politics, into the core of humanity.
4. Place the WE ARE THE WORLD badge or banner on your Post and your Sidebar. Some of you have already done so, this is just a gentle reminder for the others.
- Help us spread the word on social media. Feel free to tweet, share using the #WATWB hashtag to help us trend!
Tweets, Facebook shares, Pins, Instagram, G+ shares using the #WATWB hashtag through the month most welcome. We’ll try and follow and share all those who post on the #WATWB hashtag, and we encourage you to do the same.
The co-hosts for this month are:
Damyanti Biswas,
Simon Falk,
Shilpa Garg,
Mary J. Giese ,
and Dan Antion.
Please pop over to their blogs to read their stories, comment and share.
Click here to join in and enter the link to your post. The bigger the #WATWB group each month, the greater the joy!
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your comments. Please share your thoughts.
I think it’s scandalous that anyone can BE a billionaire when some people in the world don’t have enough to live on. But commendable that this one is willing to share it around and encourage the recipients of his bounty to do likewise. Nevertheless, I believe taxation is a fairer system.
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I agree with your first statement, second statement and third statement, Anne. I don’t even understand what benefits could come from being a billionaire. Surely only so much ‘money’ is necessary for a happy life.
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I agree, after a certain amount that enables you to live comfortably, what’s it for? Big cars, jets that exacerbates the climate crisis, I think.
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I agree.
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I saw this on TV last week and like the students I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears! Student loans takes years and years to pay off and to have this hanging like an albatross around one’s neck is disheartening. Let’s hope that other philanthropists take note and help out! Thanks Norah, great post 🙂
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How wonderful it would be if others followed suit. Thank you for reading and commenting, Susan.
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That’s incredible and so good to hear such positive news. If only all the students loans could be repaid in such a way. Lovely share Norah. 🙂
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Thank you, Marje. It is a very special gift, isn’t it?
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The best gift. 🙂
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That was in our news here too Norah and an amazing gift to these young people not to have that debt hanging around their necks for so many years..Education should be free for all as well as health care if Government are really concerned about the future of our planet.. great share. x
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Wonderful share Norah. I saw a video clip of this lovely man on the news the other day. 🙂
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It took a little while for his news to sink in, didn’t it? What a generous and wise man – someone who knows the true value of education and leads by example.
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Amen! We need so many more than him. 🙂
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We do!
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That is one lucky class of graduates. I read about this and am inspired by a man who knows how to spend his money!
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What a great investment in our future.
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Hi Norah – I too saw this in the news and thought how wonderful – and I certainly hope those 400 will pay forward … there should be some generous outcomes for other students, or people in need. Just lovely to see here and to know that philanthropy is still around .. cheers Hilary
http://positiveletters.blogspot.com/2019/05/we-are-world-blogfest-25-lemon-tree.html
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Thanks for popping over to read and comment, Hilary, and for leaving the link to your beautiful post. The story you share is not only a great one for #WATWB, it is perfectly timed for World Environment Day on 5 June.
Hilary, I was very impressed with the beautiful presentation of your blog and post. It is tended as carefully as a well-loved garden. ❤
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Yes I was very happy to read it in the headlines … hope those kids take full value of such a gift and do pay it forward!
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I hope so too. That is where the real value will lie. 🙂
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indeed and if they don’t repay his kindness at his request …
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Mmmm, that would be sad.
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What a wonderful thing to do.
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It is!
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Wonderful!
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I thought so! 🙂
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I loved it when this hit the national news big time here in the States. Finally, some positive and WONDERful news about the power of giving back, and paying it forward. xo
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It’s wonderful news. Should be more of it! 🙂
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This is a good news story Norah – I especially like the ‘pay it forward’ aspect. Thanks for sharing it.
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Thanks, Pauline. I’m pleased you appreciate it too.
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