A few weeks later, after he returned home to El Paso, Texas, he penned a letter to the eatery, Langer’s Deli.

On Aug. 14, the 79-year-old establishment posted the letter from Andrade, which sings the praises of one of its servers and, by extension, restaurant workers everywhere. It also included $50.

“This letter made our whole week,” the post reads.

“Here’s a little backstory to why there’s $50 in this,” Andrade wrote in the letter. “As usual, the food was great. I’m from El Paso, Texas, and I’ve eaten at Langer’s the last two times I’ve visited Los Angeles; that’s how much I enjoy it.”

Andrade explains that instead of splitting the bill with his two friends, he just paid the whole thing to make it “easier.” But after they left and he drove toward Johnny Tapia’s mural in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and later, Muhammad Ali’s grave in Louisville, Kentucky for ESPN, he kept asking himself one question: “Did I leave a tip?”

“I’m about 75% sure I did,” he wrote. “Of course, that leaves a 25% chance I didn’t and honestly, that’s been bothering me for the past few weeks.”

Andrade then lists all the details he could remember about his visit: what time of day it was, where he and his friends sat down, and the person who served them. (He couldn’t remember her name but included a physical description.)

“Sending cash in an envelope is probably not my smartest idea, but I figured it was the easiest way to get this resolved,” Andrade concludes his letter. “I kindly ask that you give these $50 to our waitress along with my apologies.”

“He used to bus tables and wait tables himself. His sister did too. He knows exactly what that money means to the person carrying the plates,” Langer’s wrote in its post. “We found her. She got it. And she was floored.”

Commenters applauded Andrade for his “outstandingly kind and thoughtful” and “fantastic” actions to get his server her fair share.

“There is hope for the human race,” one person wrote.

It wasn’t just Andrade who forgot whether or not he left a tip — neither the owner, Norm Langer, nor the server, Sue, could remember either.

“When I got the letter and I let Sue read it, and I gave her the $50, she was so taken aback,” Langer tells TODAY.com. “She really didn’t remember the whole interaction. Don’t forget, she waits on several customers every day, and this letter didn’t come in till a week later.”

Because Andrade has worked as a waiter and a busboy, he says he understands how important tips are.

“I do remember it sticking with me when somebody would not tip, or when they would undertip,” he tells TODAY.com. “You always remember the rude customers, and it really bothered me. I didn’t want to be that for somebody.”

Andrade says the letter was so detailed because he was trying to make sure the tip went where it was supposed to.

“I wish that more people would treat life and other human beings the same way he did with this gesture that he made,” Langer says. “I think it’s something to be commended.”

Readers may notice one important detail was left out of Andrade’s letter — what he ordered.

“The number 19,” Andrade says. “That’s what they’re known for.”

The sandwich features hand-cut pastrami, house-made coleslaw, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese on double-baked rye.

“Our claim to fame,” confirms Langer.

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On June 20, NBC affiliate WLBT3 first spoke to Sak Yiengjuntuek, who owns Lemongrass Vietnamese Pho & Thai Cuisine in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, about the “shock” of finding the stash in an old cabinet and his attempts to return the money to its rightful owner.

“The money was very thick,” Yiengjuntuek tells TODAY.com, before explaining how he came upon the cache of cash earlier this month.

Back on New Year’s Day, a neighboring Wholesale Furniture Gallery caught fire, with the origin traced to an electrical room, causing several businesses, including his, to lose power for months.

Yiengjuntuek says when the power was restored earlier this month, he used the opportunity to deal with some furniture left behind by previous tenants.

“Two cabinets that belong to the previous owner,” he says. “Kind of junk. We have to put it in the back.”

While cleaning out one of the cabinets that had been sitting outside, he spotted a sunglasses case and decided to be a little nosy.

“I saw the sunglasses case and then, you know, of course, when you see something like that, you want to open and look,” he says, adding that there was a stack of $100 bills filling the case to the brim.

“I was so shocked,” Yiengjuntuek says. “I knew right then that it belonged to the previous owner.”

Yiengjuntuek says he had difficulty reaching him because the number he had on file had been disconnected.

But, while on-air with WLBT3, he remembered he had another number for the owner. Yiengjuntuek says the relief felt in the “oh my god” heard on the other end of the line was palpable.

Yiengjuntuek says the news was particularly timely because the previous owner has been dealing with a serious and costly health battle.

Yiengjuntuek says that people around Myrtle Beach have recognized him and let him know he did a good deed.

“The post office girl said, ‘Hey, that’s my boy, I saw you on the news, you did the right thing,’” he recalls. “I said, ‘Yeah, I will be proud of it.’ I like to be a good part of the community.”

While he’s surprised by the attention he’s getting for his kindness, he hopes his actions can inspire others.

“I just want to say: Do the right thing,” Yiengjuntuek says. “Don’t give up honesty.”

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Her father, Doug Chard, who died in 2018 at age 72 after a long illness, had been one of her closest companions.

Mia describes her father as “tough and tender.” Friends often thought he looked intimidating, she says, but he was patient, caring and one of the gentlest people she knew.

“I considered him one of my best friends,” Chard, a 43-year-old social worker in Utah, tells TODAY.com.

Growing up, her mother, Susana, owned a wedding business. They spent countless hours arranging flowers, decorating venues and helping other couples celebrate milestones, even as Chard wondered whether she would ever have one of her own.

“I felt very insecure about my ability to find a partner or have relationships,” she says.

She had spent most of her life single, something she spoke about openly online. One of those videos caught the attention of Sam Perez, a 41-year-old film and video editor. He reached out. She responded.

Before long, they were building a future together.

As she and Perez planned their May 2 wedding, memories of her father seemed woven into nearly every decision.

“There was so much of him in everything we were doing,” she says.

One choice felt especially important.

Her mother hoped one of Chard’s brothers would walk her down the aisle. Her oldest brother was already officiating the ceremony. But Chard couldn’t bring herself to replace the role she had always imagined her father filling.

“If it’s not Dad, it’s no one,’” she remembered thinking. “I’ll do it myself.’”

See Chard’s TikTok here: A Wedding Memory: My Dad’s Spirit Captured on Film.

Before the ceremony, she made sure to bring something that belonged to him: a camera.

It was a vintage Rollei film camera her father had purchased in the 1970s. He carried it through different chapters of his life.

After his death, Chard began bringing the camera to take photos at birthdays, family gatherings and trips, as “a way to keep him on adventures with us,” she says. She continued using it regularly.

On her wedding day, she handed it to one of her brothers and asked him to photograph whatever caught his eye. Then she forgot about it.

Nearly a month later, the developed images arrived by email.

Chard opened the gallery expecting wedding photographs. Instead, the first image left her stunned. It was a photo of her father and mother together … from an occasion years ago.

“And I’m like, ‘What is this?’”

As she continued scrolling, she realized something unusual had happened. Images from her wedding day had been overlaid with photographs from a family gathering decades earlier. The older images appeared to date back to her brother’s graduation in 1999.

At first, she was disappointed. Then the more she studied the photographs, the harder they were to dismiss as simply damaged film. Family members appeared layered across wedding scenes. In one image, Chard noticed how the overlapping exposures framed her as she walked down the aisle.

“It felt meant to be,” she says. “It truly felt meant to be.”

For Chard, who admits she has often been skeptical of assigning meaning to unusual events, the experience felt different. She believes in something beyond this life, she says, but she has also lived with doubt. Unlike some family members who speak openly about sensing her father’s presence, Chard says she rarely experiences those moments herself.

“There have been instances where I feel like he connects with me through music,” she says. “And I feel like he connects with me through pictures in some ways.”

The mystery of the film only deepened that feeling. Chard remembers purchasing new film and believing that was what had been loaded into the camera.

Although she had been using the camera for years without incident, Chard says she believed she had loaded a new roll of film several months before the wedding. Instead, when the images were developed, she realized the roll already contained photographs taken decades earlier.

“I just can’t explain how in the world that roll of film was in my camera,” she says.

Right before Chard stepped down the aisle, she thought about her father.

“I wanted him with me,” she says.

Weeks later, when she opened the gallery and saw her parents staring back her from the first photograph, she felt she had her answer.

“And he was.”

In a TikTok video, Chard reflected on the discovery, writing that it felt as though “the one person I had wanted at my wedding was trying to tell me he had been there all along.”

She believes her father was “right beside ‘his girl’” as she walked down the aisle.

“He’s alive in my memories, he’s alive in my heart,” she wrote. “The man who showed me how to love is alive in every act of love that comes from me.”

She ended the post with a simple conclusion:

“Of course he made it to my wedding day. I want to believe I have the pictures to prove it.”

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More than 80 years after high school, Ray Svejnoha, a World War II veteran, recently attended his first prom — at 100 years old.

“I have had surprises before but nothing like this. These young people did it,” Svejnoha said.

Students from the Tech Connect service club at Matea Valley High School in Aurora regularly visit Svejnoha at Independence Village in Naperville where he lives, and they formed a bond over recent months.

When the students learned Svejnoha never attended prom because he deployed a few months ahead of graduation, they decided to make things right and invite him to their prom on May 8.

Several area businesses donated everything from the tuxedo to flowers and transportation.

 “He always wanted to go to prom, and I am happy we were able to give him the experience,” said student Medha Kotagiri.

“We have known Ray for a couple of months now…Ray…deserves this,” said student Prakriti Kashya.

Through it all, Svejnoha has expressed great appreciation.

“You hear a lot of bad things about teenagers, well, this is a good thing about them,” Svejnoha said.

The 77-year-old lives in a Virginia town with a population just above 10,000.

“I said, ‘You wouldn’t believe it, I’m doing cooking shows now,’” he says. “They go, ‘Yeah, right, sure.’”

He’s sitting in the kitchen of his 38-year-old neighbor Tyler Butterworth, whose family farm has two houses for his family and his parents, as well as a barn, stables and a newly built content studio space.

“I’ve always thought Rudy’s a good person, and I’ve always wanted to be able to help Rudy in any way I can, for him and his family,” Butterworth tells TODAY.com.

They’ve known each other for a decade and, over the years, helped the other with farmwork, paperwork and, now, at Neish’s request, cooking.

“We ran into each other at the little shopping center and I was telling Tyler that I’m just tired of popping this processed food in the microwave for my wife,” Neish says. “I wish I knew how to cook better, give her better meals.”

“That’s how the conversation went, and it was just as simple as Tyler says, ‘Well, I love to cook, won’t you let me teach you to cook and we’ll film it.’”

Neish says his wife, Linda, handled the cooking until her health declined. They’ve been married for 26 years.

“She has dementia, and she’s had both hips replaced,” Neish says. “I’m a full-time caregiver now, as opposed to being a farmer. I’m kind of a part-time, sometimes farmer, so my full-time job really is taking care of her.”

Butterworth is already well-known on social media; he racks up millions of views for his humorous videos on life with a wife and kids, as a farmer, in military and law enforcement. He has more than 5 million followers across platforms.

“He’s a go-getter,” Neish says.

Butterworth first posted about his neighbor’s request in late February.

“My 77-year-old neighbor asked me to attend a cooking class with him, which I just got out of. I’m now at Walmart buying an Instant Pot to teach him how to use it,” he said in the video. “I hope you’ll stay with me on this journey.”

The first cooking video, in which they made chili, was a hit with viewers, who sent words of encouragement.

One wrote, “Please protect Rudy at all costs. He’s everything we need right now!”

Another said, “We are seated 🪑. We are prepared to love Rudy. Please continue.”

“Normally, I try to do it so that it’s as easy as possible and it’s not to insult Rudy’s or anybody’s intelligence, but it’s the ease of use in making it,” Butterworth says, adding that he made Rudy a binder with all his recipes. He also shares them in the captions.

“Me and potatoes have gone way back,” Neish joked while making chicken potpie soup, which Butterworth filmed in a longer format for YouTube. His studio may be where they film future lessons.

Butterworth has taught Neish to make quite a few dishes now, including marinated pork tenderloin, kale salad and peri-peri chicken.

“As I learned to cook better meals, more nutritious ones, my wife is doing better as a result,” Neish says, but he’s shocked to learn he’s made fans through this endeavor.

“One thing that amazes me is the amount of people that are on a phone and watch this stuff,” Neish says. “On one video, people were asking me my opinion on things, and I’m going, ‘I don’t know about that.’”

Outside, Butterworth snacks on a leaf of lettuce while making a face like Garfield with lasagna. He points out snap peas grown for his daughter to sneak off the vine, and potatoes and kale to use in future “Cooking with Rudy” videos.

“I’m sure we will do a lot with vegetables because of getting stuff out of our gardens,” Neish says.

Butterworth adds, “Rudy and I are going to continue to be friends and continue to help each other.”

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A group of students from Louisa County High School near Richmond, Virginia, are the magic makers who have been repairing used cars to gift to local single moms.

These students are enrolled in a special trade program where the school is partnering with a local non-profit, “Giving Words,” that fixes used cars and donates them to single moms at no cost.

The charity was founded in 2018 by Eddie Brown and his wife, Ginny, who knew that single moms needed help with many things.

“What we learned was transportation was the first thing,” Brown said. “Without transportation you don’t have access to a job, you don’t have access to education, you don’t have access to medical needs.”

From there, the charity that started in Brown’s driveway grew across the state with more than 60 donated cars received to date. Giving Words partners with local dealership Carter Myers Automotive to coordinate the donated cars.

And now, students Owen Yarrington and Stephen Smith are two of the students helping repair these donated cars.

For Smith, this work isn’t about the grade; however, there is pressure to ensure these vehicles are ready for people to operate.

“So it is a lot of pressure because you had to do it right and you have to make sure everything’s torqued to spec so nothing falls apart,” Smith said.

Amid the high stakes, Smith said that he and Yarrington find joy in their work: “It’s a lot of fun too,” Smith said.

The experience is also emotional for the students, seeing the large impact their work has on these moms firsthand.

“When they tear up and cry it makes you want to tear up and cry,” Yarrington said.

The students are led by a teacher who once walked the same halls. Shane Robertson, an alumnus of the program, knew from his high school days that he wanted to be an auto teacher and recognizes the true meaning of a car.

“It’s not just a car,” Robertson said. “It’s not just nuts and bolts. It’s literally the difference between someone making it and someone not.”

One lucky woman, Jessica Williams, a single mother of three, was the next to enter the driver’s seat with a new free car.

Williams had been trying to provide for her family by working as a grocery store cashier, and now she’s unlocking a new road to her future.

“I can further my education now,” Williams said. “I can go to college, I can get a better job. Just all of it, more time with my family.”

Williams also expressed her gratitude towards the hard-working hands that gifted her a new car.

“So many people had a part in this and I’ll never forget it,” Williams said. 

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It was Feb. 13, and the 22-year-old Bronx mother quickly realized her baby was coming far sooner than she’d expected. By the time she’d made it downstairs outside her apartment building that evening, her contractions were intense and close together. There would be no making it to the hospital.

As the situation grew more urgent, Legette’s sister spotted a police cruiser parked nearby and took off running. Within moments she returned with officers from the NYPD’s 42nd Precinct, who rushed over just as Legette realized it was already time to push.

A discarded couch — sitting near the sidewalk — was hardly ideal, but there was no time to think about that. Legette climbed onto it.

“It was either that or on the ground,” Legette tells TODAY.com.

The officers quickly stepped in, surrounding her and coaching her through the delivery— telling her when to breathe and when to push. One officer stood near her head, holding her hand.

Neighbors began leaning out windows and cars slowed as people gathered along the street.

“People were calling out ‘Congratulations!’” Legette recalls. “I’m like ‘Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Is this really happening right now?’ I was so embarrassed.”

Surrounded by officers and a small crowd of curious onlookers, Legette delivered a healthy 7-pound, 11-ounce baby girl.

“I was so relieved,” she says.

Legette says the experience shifted how she viewed the NYPD and police. “It helped me realize there are good ones out there,” she says. “I’m not going to lie— it did change my perception.”

Still, one gesture in particular stayed with her. As the chilly February air settled around the newborn, Officer Roddmy Remy quickly removed his jacket and swaddled the baby inside.

“That was a fast act,” Legette says. “We didn’t have any covers or anything. For him to give her his coat, that was a blessing. I appreciated that. He didn’t have to do that.”

The act was small, but for Legette it meant something lasting. Moved by the kindness of the 30-year-old Remy, she decided to make it a permanent part of her daughter’s story —naming the baby Zenovia and giving her the middle name Remy in his honor.

When Remy later came to the hospital to retrieve the jacket he had wrapped around the newborn, Legette thanked him for his quick thinking and told him what she had decided to call her daughter.

She says he was visibly stunned.

“I was in shock,” Remy, a father of two daughters, told WABC, calling it “probably the coolest thing that’s gonna happen in my career.”

The NYPD did not respond to two requests from TODAY to arrange an interview with the officers.

The officers had been stationed outside Legette’s building to keep watch over the neighborhood. That night, instead of responding to trouble, they found themselves helping to welcome a new life. Now, every time Legette says her daughter’s name — Zenovia Remy — she’ll remember the kindness that helped bring her into the world.

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A red fox somehow slipped onto a cargo ship that traveled from Southampton, England, to New York, where the animal is now in the Bronx Zoo’s care.

The zoo said Wednesday that the 11-pound male fox appears healthy after early examinations.

“He seems to be settling in well,” Keith Lovett, the zoo’s director of animal programs, said by phone. “It’s gone through a lot.”

It’s not clear how the animal got on the ship full of automobiles, which left Southampton on Feb. 4, according to the zoo. The ship arrived Feb. 18 at the Port of New York and New Jersey, and officials brought the fox to the zoo the next day. He’s estimated to be 2 years old.

Zoo representatives weren’t sure how and when the fox was discovered. Messages seeking those details were sent to government agencies involved with the port.

The species, formally named Vulpes vulpes, is widespread in Europe, Asia, North America and parts of Africa. A long-term home for this fox will be found once he clears some more health screening.

For now, he’s in the zoo’s veterinary center. Being an omnivore, he’s getting a diet of produce, proteins and some biscuit-like items.

It features a pear wearing a sweater depicting a house in the same picture, and it’s dedicated to a local talent — a knitter named Sam Barsky.

Barsky, who has been a longtime customer at that Trader Joe’s, is known on social media for creating sweaters for himself based on landmarks, Jewish holidays, landscapes and other points of interest, often traveling to those locations for a very meta photo opp.

Trader Joe’s did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment on the mural, and the Pikesville store manager couldn’t reveal who painted it or when it was painted, but an associate says it’s been there for at least a year.

Previously, a representative for the grocery chain told TODAY.com that every neighborhood store chooses its own artwork. For one location that opened in Harlem, New York, in 2024, nearly all of the art in-store was created by crew members, which is also likely the case with the one dedicated to Barsky.

“There are some people who work at that Trader Joe’s and they’re fans of mine, so they know me personally,” Barsky, who has been knitting for over 26 years, tells TODAY.com. “After they were done, I got tipped off about it.”

The Pikesville location is covered in art depicting local historical figures like Babe Ruth, Billie Holiday and Edgar Allen Poe, as well as Baltimore landmarks like the Inner Harbor. And with this mural, Barsky has now been cemented in Trader Joe’s history as a living legend.

Barsky appreciates the attention on his craft, which has led him to show at the American Visionary Museum and the Renwick Gallery. He says he “never imagined” something like a mural would be created in his honor.

“I’ve enjoyed all the travels that I’ve done over the years,” Barksy says, adding that knitting has opened so many doors for him. “I had no idea when I started it would define my life.”

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Ed Bambas, an 88-year-old veteran who works full-time at a Meijer outside of Detroit, was given an oversized check for a whopping $1.77 million, which was the result of an extraordinary fundraising effort by a social media influencer.

During his visit to the U.S., influencer Samuel Weidenhofer visited the Meijer store in Brighton where Bambas is employed and recorded a video for his 7.7 million TikTok followers. In the footage, Bambas shared why he continues to work, explaining that he retired as a salaried employee from General Motors in 1999, but in 2012, he lost his pension due to the company’s bankruptcy measures.

The Old General Motors offered lump-sum payments to about 42,000 retirees and their surviving beneficiaries that year, as they aimed to cut 24 percent from their U.S. pension obligation, NBC News reported at the time. NBC Chicago has not been able to confirm if Bambas was a part of those offerings.

Bambas’ life changed dramatically in the years after losing his pension when his wife became ill, he took on the role as her caregiver and medical bills began piling up.

“The thing that hurt me the most was when my wife was really sick, and when they took the pension, they also took the health care coverage and all but like $10,000 of my life insurance,” he shared.

So, he sold the house, the property they had and “made it through.”

Bambas said his wife died seven years ago, and since then, he has been trying to reestablish himself.

The veteran hoped to live a little of the life he was hoping for, but he hasn’t had enough money to do so and instead has needed to work eight hours a day, five days a week to make ends meet.

Thanks to the power of social media and the generosity of strangers – that won’t be the case much longer.

Weidenhofer, who is traveling the world to help make a difference for those in need, launched an online GoFundMe campaign, urging people to help Bambas.

The response was overwhelming, with more than 15,000 people donating anywhere between $10 and $10,000.

In its first day, the fundraiser generated more than $800,000. By Friday, that number climbed to more than $1.7 million.

Weidenhofer’s efforts began after a message from Lexi Wallace, 26, who used to be a regular customer at the Meijer store before moving away; she went on the influencer’s Facebook page and urged him to find the beloved grocery store worker.

“I thought his name was Bob. He never corrected me,” Wallace said. “I would love going to Meijer to see him.”

Bambas and Weidenhofer met again on Friday, where the Australian influencer said he had a “little surprise.”

It was anything but, however.

Weidenhofer revealed everything he and his followers had raised in what he said was one of the largest individual fundraisers in GoFundMe history.

“If you want, you will be able to retire, because we’ve raised you $1.77 million,” he said.

 “Thank you. Oh, my God,” Bambas said as he wiped away tears and sniffles.

“It’s something that dreams are made of, trust me,” the 88-year-old said.

When it comes to his cashier post, Bambas isn’t leaving just yet.

“I’ll probably work another month or two and shut things down,” he shared.

George Pogatsia is one of those actors who often is cast as a possible suspect or seedier character, as he has done on “Law & Order” and “The Sopranos.” But he will never forget the real crime he thwarted outside his Jersey City home.

“This guy was just insistent on trying to get this girl to go with him,” he told NBC New York.

Pogatsia said he saw a 19-year-old girl stumbling down the street with her cousin, visibly intoxicated, along with a strange man who looked like he was about to kidnap her.

“She was under 5 feet [tall] herself. This guy was probably about 6’2 and he took them by the hand and pulled them down the street,” Pogatsia said.

On 911 tapes obtained by TMZ, Pogatsia can be heard telling the operator that the man was running down Hancock Avenue, and then he threatened the man, who Pogatsia said was dressed all in black.

“Where you going mother—–? Where you going?” he can be heard saying.

It was his wife who first noticed something wasn’t right, and told Pogatsia to follow them.

“He said to her…’don’t let them call the police because they will detain you.’ Basically he was threatening ICE would come and deport her,” Yolanda Pogatsia said.

George Pogatsia said when they got to Bowers Street, the man hoisted the teen girl onto his shoulder. That’s when Pogatsia knew things had escalated for the worse.

“That’s when I demanded to the guy, I told him to put the girl down, demanded that he put her down,” Pogatsia said.

On the 911 recording, Pogatsia told the operator, that both women said they didn’t know the guy.

“He dropped her like a sack of potatoes…then he ran back [down the street] and and I chased after him,” the actor said.

By then, police had arrived and the girl was OK, but the man got away. Pogatsia is being hailed a hero, even getting a letter of appreciation from President Donald Trump.

“I usually play a bad guy, you know? But it’s a lot more rewarding to be a real life good guy,” Pogatsia said.

“We went to the ultrasound, and the doctor came in and she was like, ‘Well, you’re gonna have this baby today,'” said Jayla’s mom, Timeshay Brown.

But when Jayla was born so early, all of that had to wait, as caring for their little girl took top priority.

“She definitely puts things in perspective,” Parrish said. “I get to watch her grow.”

“Her being safe, her getting here the right way, was always the main objective,” he said.

Amid Brown and Parrish’s long nights in the NICU, they knew they still wanted to be husband and wife.

That’s when Brown had an idea.

“And I was like, hmm, we could just get married here,” Brown said. “And my inside thought became an outside thought, and the nurses took it and ran with it.”

It didn’t take long for the team at Fairfax Inova to whip up a wedding.

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Many of the nurses had cared for Baby Jayla and wanted to make sure she didn’t miss her mom and dad’s big day.

On Wednesday, Brown and Parrish exchanged vows in front of their daughter — and the doctors and nurses who saved her life.

“Because of you, our daughter will never have to wonder what real love looks like,” Brown told Parrish. “She’ll see it in the way you love me, and the way you protect her.”

Parrish, in return, promised Brown he’s committed to “always being a place of comfort and safety that you can rest your heart in completely.”

Their story is proof that life — and love — will always find a way.

“I’m happy,” Parrish said. “I hit the lottery.”

A baby girl is alive and recovering Thursday thanks to the heroic, quick-thinking response from a grandfather and Upland police officers.

“Is the baby breathing? Please, I’ve never dealt with this. Please save my baby!” the worried mother is heard in a video released by Upland PD.

The body cam footage shows officers on Monday, around 2 p.m., responding to a call of a baby not breathing near 13th Street and Campus Avenue.

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“I noticed she wasn’t moving. I turned her around and grabbed her and mouth was purple and she wasn’t breathing. Her whole body was limp,” said Desiree Martinez, the mother of baby Beya. “It’s the scariest thing any parent can go through.”

Martinez says she’s thankful her family was home and jumped in to help before first responders got to the residence.

“I had a good support system around me. My sister called 911 and my mom called my dad because he knew CPR,” said Martinez.

When officers arrived, they immediately sprang into action and began working to clear the infant’s airway followed by CPR, according to Upland police.

The baby was breathing again by the time paramedics arrived to transport the infant to a hospital.

Officer Trayvon Davis, who provided CPR to the baby girl, says the response was all instinct.

“When a call like this comes, you are nervous and your heart pumps but it was second nature,” said Davis. “This is the reason we do the job to help people and save people.”

Doctors believe the baby girl went into cardiac arrest after choking and the efforts before paramedics arrived may have made the difference in life or death.

“Seconds count and the grandfather doing CPR before the paramedics came was probably one of the most important things,’ said Dr. Merrick Lopez at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

Baby Beya remains in the hospital but is expected to fully recover, according to authorities. Martinez hopes parents can take away from the frightening incident how important it is to learn CPR.

“We were just excited to be able to do something with him,” bride Grace Benway said. “It means a lot to him.”

Dan Benway, Grace’s father, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago that has since progressed to stage four.

Grace Benway and her fiancé, Thomas Decourcey, are set to get married in Colorado next month. Though her father “did really want to try to make it” to the out-of-state ceremony, the rapid progression of his cancer forced them to make other arrangements, she said.

“This week, he has just been in a decline, and all the nurses were nice enough to kind of help us plan something,” Grace Benway said.

Surrounded by lush greenery in the small garden at Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights where Dan Benway is receiving treatment, Grace and her proud father made their way down the aisle hand-in-hand in front of their family and his medical staff.

Dan Benway wanted to physically walk his daughter down the aisle, but his cancer has taken a toll on him, and he instead rolled beside her in a wheelchair.

“I couldn’t be more blessed at all,” Dan Benway said, thanking those who took the time to put the ceremony together on short notice.

Dan Benway also gushed over his new son-in-law, saying he will be a “great man” for his daughter.

“I’m very blessed to have him with her, and they’re going to be a great couple,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for anyone better.”

For Lallo, the moment symbolized victory over Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone and soft tissue cancer.

“I was surprised by how many people were there to support me that day,” Lallo said. “It meant a lot seeing everyone who cared for me along the way.”

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Lallo’s journey began in the summer of 2024, when persistent pain in his right shoulder was initially diagnosed as rotator cuff tendinitis. But as the pain worsened, doctors ordered an MRI that revealed a mass in his neck.

He was diagnosed in November with Ewing sarcoma and immediately began treatment — multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation — over the next seven months.

Dr. Matteo Trucco of Cleveland Clinic Children’s was Evan’s oncologist and said Lallo responded well to the treatment plan but that mobility was still limited.

“The tumor kept shrinking, but he was still struggling with his arm function,” Trucco explained.

That’s when Cleveland Clinic neurosurgeon Dr. Megan Jack stepped in.

Lallo underwent a cutting-edge nerve transfer performed by Jack, one of only a handful of specialists in the U.S. to offer the procedure.

The surgery, paired with ongoing physical therapy, has helped Lallo regain strength in his arm and continues to improve his shoulder movement.

His scans showed no evidence of cancer by June 2025.

He marked his final round of chemotherapy by ringing the Bravery Bell, surrounded by family, friends, and his medical team.

Through it all, Lallo has kept a simple but powerful mantra: “Just keep going” and hopes his story will inspire other young patients facing similar battles.

“I stayed focused on what needed to be done so I could get back to doing the things I love,” he said.

So, on July 29, he took to Facebook to make a public plea.

“Please do not eat out of our dumpster,” wrote Kolstad, the owner of Pizza Man in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. “Nobody deserves that. If you are that desperate for food, please come ask.”

“If you are too embarrassed to ask, find a way to call us and ask if there is a way to leave a small cheese pizza outside the back door or something. You don’t even have to see us,” he continued. “If you are the ones doing so, leave me a note and we will find a way to leave any extras or mistakes out back so you have something to eat without going through the trash.”

Stirred by Kolstad’s act of compassion, people and businesses in the area, like food truck Nozy’s Grill, offered to help. After the post went viral, Kolstad posted a donation link, and by Aug. 3, had raised over $3,000. Minnesota news channel WCCO first reported the story.

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Now, over a month later, Kolstad has raised over $1,000 more, he says.

“Pretty much from day one” of taking ownership of the shop nearly six years ago, Kolstad tells TODAY.com, he’s seen signs of people eating from the dumpster.

He says he knew it wasn’t the work of animals because he’d find pizza boxes with empty water bottles and used napkins nearby. He had left signs out before, but then it started happening more frequently.

The day he posted his offer, his cook told him there was a woman eating garlic cheese bread out of the trash in front of the store.

“You’re sitting outside, you got nothing to eat and somebody’s willing to hand you something hot and fresh as opposed to straight out of the trash?” he says. “I imagine that makes a pretty big difference in your day.”

One of the recipients of donations from Kolstad and Pizza Man was Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA), a nonprofit food shelf also located in Columbia Heights, which has assisted that community, Northeast Minneapolis and surrounding areas for nearly 50 years.

The organization says it has seen a 52% increase in the number of people it’s helped in the area since 2020. In 2024 alone, SACA broke a record by serving 68,106 people in 26,107 families, with 35% of those people being children, and it expects to break its own record in 2025.

“The demand for SACA’s services has increased every year since 2020, and shows no signs of slowing down,” Dave Rudolph, SACA’s co-director, tells TODAY.com. “With food costs on the rise, it’s more important than ever to support local food shelves like SACA.”

Since Kolstad’s viral post, he says he’s helped “close to 100” individuals facing food insecurity with his offer. On Aug. 3, one member of a “large family” wrote a note thanking the shop for anonymously helping her out when her family was in need.

“This is why we do what we do,” Kolstad captioned the post.

Kolstad says he’s been “very fortunate” to never have experienced food insecurity, but he’s been around and worked with people who have.

That’s why, he says, “I can’t sit in a building full of food and watch somebody starve in my parking lot.”

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“He was like, ‘Of course you have permission to marry my daughter — but there are two conditions,’” Zach, 29, recalls in a Zoom interview with TODAY.com. “‘You have to love her for the rest of your life, and you have to learn sign language.’”

Many classes and tutoring sessions in American Sign Language (ASL) later, Zach made good on his promise. During his wedding to Hallie, also 29, in July 2025, Zach surprised her parents, Paul and Gina Kulick, by delivering his vows in ASL.

Soon after the couple wed in the bride’s home state of Alabama, a video of their vows went viral, quickly amassing over 3 million views. In it, Zach takes the time to sign out his vows, ensuring all onlookers — his in-laws included — were included in the ceremony.

Because both of Hallie’s parents are Deaf, Hallie and her brother both learned how to sign before they learned how to talk.

For Hallie, finding a partner willing to learn to sign was a non-negotiable. Signing would be how Hallie, her brother, their spouses and their future children would communicate with their parents and stay connected as a family unit.

“I knew that in order for Zach to have a great relationship with my parents, that it was going to be necessary for him to learn how to sign,” she says, sitting next to her now-husband.

The moment at the wedding “meant the world” to her parents.

“They said that it made them feel like Zach sees them — sees that we’re all a family. They said it made them feel even more confident that Zach was the right choice,” she says.

In a written statement to TODAY.com, Paul and Gina Kulick expressed what the moment symbolized.

“We were completely surprised when Zach began signing his vows. It truly touched our hearts. In that moment, he wasn’t just marrying Hallie, he was reaching out to us, too. He made it clear that he sees us, includes us, and embraces us as part of his family now. That moment meant a lot to us and we are thankful to have him as a part of our family,” the bride’s parents wrote in the statement.

A video also captures a conversation between Zach and the Kulicks after the wedding.

Paul Kulick said Zach followed through on his promises “wholeheartedly,” and “that’s how we knew we weren’t just welcoming a son-in-law, we were welcoming someone who truly understands the meaning of love and commitment.”

Hallie wasn’t surprised by the gesture — she knew Zach was planning to sign his vows all along. He went to class at the local Deaf Action Center weekly and met for one-on-one sessions with the tutor to make sure he had it down. But Zach’s words themselves still came as a surprise. 

“I started tearing up. Every word felt like it came straight from his heart. It wasn’t just romantic — it was really intentional, and it included my parents, which made it even more special. It reminded me why I chose him and will continue to choose him every day,” she says.

Zach credits Hallie’s brother, Michael, with fine-tuning the proposal — and his sister-in-law, Kelsey O’Neal, with the idea. She too surprised the siblings’ parents by signing her vows at their wedding in 2020 in a video that also went viral.

“I think he was very happy to see that the kind of the tradition continue,” Zach says of Hallie’s brother.

The couple included two interpreters throughout their ceremony to make sure other Deaf wedding guests were included.

Since their wedding, the couple has been “overwhelmed” by the “love and kindness” they’ve received as a result of the video.

“We didn’t expect it to be such a moment for everyone else too. Seeing how many people connected with it has been really emotional,” Hallie says. “The fact that people feel seen, especially in the Deaf community, has meant a lot to us.”

Moving forward, the couple says ASL will stay part of their lives — which means Zach is back to regular lessons. 

“There will be no question that our children will learn sign language and it will be a part of their upbringing. My grandparents were very influential in my life, and I would like the same for our kids,” he says.

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“This is all he has ever wanted,” said his mom, Nora Peters. “I just cannot say how it is to have my baby so happy…This is way better than any Disney thing. This makes me happy.”

Jamaria has a critical nervous system disorder, and it took almost two years for him to be healthy enough to receive his gift through the Make-a-Wish foundation.

He is nonverbal and communicates his thoughts and personality in many other ways.

Jamaria, his family and approximately 200 guests gathered for a ceremony at Willis Tower including the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and the Quantico Marine Band.

“Jamaria, this will resonate with me for the rest of my life,” said Colonel J.J. Wilson. “We welcome you into our brotherhood, in the fold. You are in our hearts and minds forever.”

“This kid is pretty remarkable,” said Mike Warmuth with Make-A-Wish Illinois. “He is all about resilience and discipline, bravery, and who better represents that than the Marine Corps.”

Make-A-Wish Illinois teamed up with the U.S. Marines, Blue Star families and GATX Corporation to grant Jamaria’s wish.

The toy, which was made in partnership with Breakthrough T1D, features a young woman with an insulin pump, continuous glucose monitor (CGM), heart-shaped medical tape and a phone that displays a CGM app to help her track her blood sugar levels throughout the day.

“Introducing a Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation,” said Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, in a press release. “Barbie helps shape children’s early perceptions of the world, and by reflecting medical conditions like T1D, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love.”

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body does not make enough insulin. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys cells in the pancreas that produces the hormone, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Insulin production is vital because it regulates the amount of sugar in the blood, or glucose, which is used for energy. If your body does not make enough insulin, too much glucose can build up in the blood, leading to hyperglycemia, which can result in life-threatening complications if left untreated.

On Instagram, the company also shared the news and explained the significance of the doll wearing a blue polka dot outfit.

“The doll represents the incredible people living with T1D, and shows kids that a life with this condition is just as vibrant, fulfilling, and rich with possibilities,” the message read.

It then added, “Her blue polka dot style is a nod to the global symbols for diabetes awareness, and a reminder of the life-changing work being done by organizations like Breakthrough T1D, who are helping make everyday life with type 1 diabetes better.”

Online, fans praised the new doll and shared why they personally found it impactful. 

“When I was diagnosed at 6 yrs old, THIS would have meant the WORLD to me. There was simply no representation of T1D in 1979, and kids thought I was contagious,” one person wrote on Instagram. “Oh who am I kidding, this means the world to me NOW. Once a Barbie girl, ALWAYS a Barbie fan! 💙👏.”

Another said, “It seems like a little thing, but this kind of representation is a HUGE deal. To kids, yes, but even to my 33 yr old with T1d.”

Mattel’s new Barbie will officially be released on August 25. It is available to preorder on Amazon and Walmart.

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“She ran as she hasn’t ran in years,” said Kasey’s dad Joe Zachmann told the NBC Nightly News of his daughter’s reaction to the “Christmas for Kasey” event. “She wanted to be right in the middle of it.”

Kasey was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer called medulloblastoma when she was just five years old. In the last four years, she has endured surgeries, procedures, chemotherapies, radiation and clinical trials. On June 23, 2025, Joe and Alyssa, Kasey’s mom, learned that she may only have weeks left with her family. Cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.

The news set the Zachmanns in motion to turn their daughter’s original diagnosis day, June 28, into Christmas Day.

“I was trying to think of fun things that we could do for Kasey to build memories … so we thought it would be amazing to give her the chance to celebrate Christmas one last time,” Alyssa told Bethesda Magazine.

Kasey has always loved Christmas. According to the Washington Post, she watches the “Home Alone” movies and sings Christmas carols year-round. (Gwen Stefani’s “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” is at the top of her own personal Christmas chart.)

Kasey’s parents emailed a handful of neighbors asking them to put up Christmas lights, noting: “This week will be incredibly hot and not the best climate for putting up lights, but we’re not sure how much time we have.”

And boy, did the elves get to work!

“All of the neighbors were out there just sweating as we hung Christmas lights,” neighbor Alison Goradia told NBC Nightly News.

With just six days notice, more than 24 firetrucks drove over to Kasey’s house, and Santa Claus himself sat atop an antique fire engine. Hundreds of homes were lit up to greet Kasey, who wore a Nutcracker-themed pink dress. There were surprises, cards and gifts for Kasey, who generously shared with her little sister, Zara.

“It was magical. We tried to get to every single house, so it took us two hours to drive around,” Alyssa told Bethesda Magazine. “There were people standing out in the rain, waiting to cheer us on. There are really no words to describe how incredible everyone is.”

There was also a virtual effort to celebrate Kasey: supporters sent holiday photos and video from all 50 states and several countries, too.

“June 28th for us has been ‘diagnosis day,’ has been a heavy day for us,” explained Alyssa to NBC Nightly News.

“For us to now be able to think about June 28 as Christmas in June, especially next year, we’re so thankful.”

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It happened on Tuesday morning, when 21-year-old Lorena Acosta’s water broke while driving from Homestead, according to her family.

They said her father-in-law was able to flag down the two Miami-Dade school officers who called first responders for help, but because of the traffic, it was too late: the baby was coming.

Officer Sophia Blancas was the first to spring into action. She got down onto the ground next to the passenger’s side door and helped bring the baby into the world.

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Blancas said that while the academy does do basic training for situations like this, it was her own experience having children that guided her.

“I put gloves on,” she said. “I guided her through the delivery. I told her, ‘Look, just go with the flow, your body will tell you what to do.'”

Officer Melissa Fernandez also supported the delivery.

“Once I arrived there, immediately I put on my gloves and said, ‘Sophia what do you need?’ And immediately she said, ‘We need a blanket,’ so I ran to the back my patrol car. I had an emergency blanket,” Fernandez said.

The two officers are six-year veterans of the department, and they reunited with Acosta after she was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.

A picture showed Acosta with the officers and first responders as she was loaded onto the ambulance, baby in arms. They were all smiles.

“I was nervous because it is my first baby, and she told me the whole time, ‘Everything’s going to be OK, don’t worry, we’re here to help you,'” she said.

Smokey the cat vanished in 2016 while staying at a relative’s house, just as his family, the Schultzes, moved abroad. For Danielle Schultz, the loss was devastating. One of the few mementos she kept during the years apart was an old photo of Smokey curled up beside her young son Donovan, who was just 4 years old at the time.

Then Schultz received an email, out of the blue on May 12.

“I was completely stunned. My mouth dropped,” Schultz recalled.

According to Chris Elton, the shelter’s director, Smokey had been taken in as a stray by a woman years earlier. When she was no longer able to care for the cat, her son brought him to the Long Island shelter.

“The person turning him in was the son of the woman who had owned the cat for many years,” Elton said. “It’s amazing. They found their cat after all this time and they wanted their cat back.”

Even though Smokey had lived with another family for much of that time, the shelter followed its policy and scanned his microchip. That one small step made all the difference.

“It was very emotional for me,” Schultz said. “When they let him out of the cage, he came right to me and started purring.”

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While it’s unclear whether Smokey was ever scanned in the years immediately after his disappearance, Schultz is simply thankful someone finally did. Animal experts emphasize that microchipping is essential — but just as important is keeping the chip registered and updated.

“To see a happy reunion like this after so many years — it’s a great thing, and we’re very proud of ourselves,” said Elton.

Smokey, now reunited with his original family, has settled in as if no time had passed, lounging on the couch next to Donovan, now a teenager.

“It’s so nostalgic for me. It’s amazing,” Schultz said. “It’s almost like he came back from the dead and I get a second chance at taking care of him.”

From loss to reunion, Smokey’s story is a heartwarming reminder of the power of hope, and the importance of microchipping and registering pets.

David Serkin, who hails from the Lethbridge area in Alberta, Canada, won $1 million on the May 3 LOTTO 6/49 Classic draw, according to a press release from the Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

This marked Serkin’s third lottery win in less than nine months.

In 2024, Serkin won $500,000 on the Aug. 20 LOTTO MAX draw and $1 million on the Nov. 16 LOTTO 6/49 draw, per the WCLC.

NOW Toronto reported that Serkin’s luck even extends back over a decade. He previously won $250,000 in another draw more than 10 years prior to his three-peat.

“I know the odds are astronomical,” he said in the press release from WCLC. “I don’t think it’ll happen again, but I still like buying tickets.”

The odds have been undoubtedly in Serkin’s favor thus far.

Per the WCLC, the chance of winning the LOTTO MAX jackpot or a MAXMILLIONS prize is 1 in 33,294,800. For the Gold Ball draw, the odds are determined each time based on the total number of selections across Canada.

Serkin has been a longtime player of LOTTO 6/49 since its launch in 1982, relishing in the routine of buying and checking his tickets for a winner.

“You check your ticket and if you win, you’re happy,” he explained. “If you don’t, you can always try again.”

Serkin also shared a deeper personal meaning behind his success rate, adding, “I’m a cancer survivor and I’m retired, so I am just grateful for all of it.”

“I bought this ticket while I was buying gas,” he said. “I saw the Gold Ball draw was getting close (to the final ball selection) and thought, ‘What do I have to lose?’”

Serkin’s winning ticket was purchased at Shell Lethbridge at 2440 Fairway Plaza Road S in Lethbridge.

Naturally, Serkin’s friends and loved ones have continued to be shocked by his year-long streak of good luck. He shared that he went out to coffee with his friends after checking his ticket and they were all shocked that he had won yet again.

Serkin’s said his wife is in awe, too. They have been able to create several special memories with the money he has won, with many more to come.

“I took my wife to Hawaii with the last win, and we had a great time,” he said. “Now, we’re going to Newfoundland!”

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“I wasn’t going to come to prom, until these officers helped me,” Watson said. “So honestly thank you so much.”

“She hasn’t stopped smiling yet,” said NYPD Youth Officer Brittany Brown. “Makes us smile. We did shed a few tears, I won’t lie we’re in awe.”

It was only two years ago that tragedy struck Ruthann’s family: A cousin killed her older sister, her young niece and nephew, and her brother in-law. Ruthann is the one who called 911.

She’s fought to overcome that trauma and ended up forming a lasting relationship with the NYPD.

“I asked her, ‘What are you doing for prom?'” NYPD Youth Officer Tequalynn Vessel said. “And she said ‘Oh I’m gonna sit this one out because, you know, I can’t afford it.’ And I called her immediately and I was like ‘Yo, we’re gonna have to help her.'”

The officers’ captain said they absolutely had his full support.

“A lot of people know my story and it’s sad and whatnot,” Watson said. “I feel like it’s one thing to say something about it, like I wish you the best. It’s one thing to actually act on it, so I’m actually so grateful.”

The youth officers made sure she had the perfect dress and shoes, her hair and nails done by professionals. To make sure she knows that what happened to her does not define her.

“Not for her to forget, but just to show her that people around her support her, they love her still, after everything that happened,” said Officer Vessel.

“I feel so special,” Watson said. “And honestly I’m so grateful, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

But at this graduation, you might have thought you were seeing double, because among the graduates were 10 sets of twins.

“I’m glad that we’re going to the same school and we get to experience this together, because not many get the chance to,” said new grad Maria Gomez.

“It made the whole year special, my whole life special,” said Andrew Beckmann, another graduate. “It was a lot of fun growing up together. You know, helping each other with homework and helping each other study for tests.”

Some were identical twins, including brothers Jin Sheng and Jin Hao.

“Just astonishing,” Jin Hao said. “We’re also first-generation students, so it’s a huge milestone for the both of us.”

Many were fraternal, some brother and sister, and many didn’t even know there were so many twins in the same graduating class, which had about 600 students.

“I was taking a moment to look out and see all the twins,” Alena Beckmann said. “I feel like when you’re a twin, you think you’re the only one, and then you put all of us together and realize you’re not.”

Once school leaders realized there would be 10 sets of twins walking across the stage, they decided to make it extra special, calling on them to stand during the graduation ceremony.

While it’s a happy day to celebrate, there’s also a tinge of sadness. After this day, many will be going their separate ways for the first time ever. Many are going to different universities and acknowledge it’s going to be a big adjustment without their twin — it’s a special bond.

“We’re definitely going to stay connected, and 100% we’re gonna see each other in breaks,” Jin Sheng said.

Several told News4 it’s been special growing up with their twin by their side and celebrating this achievement together.

“I’m proud of him,” Victoria Brown said of her twin. “He’s one of those people that does everything last minute, and he got it together today, and I’m proud of him.”

They say no good deed goes unpunished. Well, that’s how New York City resident Will Whelan felt when he helped change a flat tire for his friend just a few feet from a sidewalk grate — and saw his gold wedding band fall between the metal slots!

His wife, Kelsey Whelan, was with him at the time and described what she saw.

“The ring flew away — bounced, bounced, bounced on the concrete and into the sidewalk grate and we watched it slowly cling clang down the grate,” she recalled.

Will found out the transformer vault underneath the grate is owned by Con Edison and the couple called the utility trying to retrieve the ring.

“They have been supportive and tried to help us, but gas leaks, etc. have higher priority so we decided to reach out to you,” said Kelsey.

The couple asked Better Get Baquero for help trying to get the ring from about twelve feet below the surface of the grate on Barclay Street, just west of Broadway.

We called Con Edison, and immediately, a rescue team was dispatched.

“Basically we’re gonna try to fish the ring out. Hopefully we’re successful,” said William Thuilot, field operations planner for the utility.

After assessing the safety of the mission and lifting the heavy grate, Con Edison descended below ground, using tried and proven techniques for fishing out lost items, including a long pole wrapped with tape.

About 90 minutes later, the gold wedding band was back above ground.

“We’re not here just for energy alone, we’re here for the needs of any New Yorkers,” said Thuilot.

Will and Kelsey enthusiastically thanked the Con Edison crew, acknowledging this “problem solved” — and grateful to have their symbol of love back in their embrace.

“Island Ock, I got my report card, man,” a young girl in braids says as she enters Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery, a bodega in Staten Island, New York. “It’s better than ever.”

Her name is Madison and she’s a 17-year-old high school junior who dreams of becoming a professional basketball player one day. But until then, she’s focusing on her grades, according to a heartwarming TikTok.

“Madison!” exclaims Wail Alselwi, the “Island Ock” in question, manager and co-owner of Zack’s. Also known as Wally to regulars, he directs his attention to her report card.

“Last time it was 98, then it was 99. What is it this time?” he asks.

“Now it’s 100,” Madison says, proudly.

“You know what happens, right?” Alselwi responds, then hands her $100 and allows her to pick snacks from the store. She opts for Smarties, M&M’s and some other goodies.

Madison has been in before, showing off high marks and receiving her prize, like many other students on Alselwi’s TikTok account.

He says students who earn an average of 80 — 90% are awarded whatever they want from the store, and those who get between 70 — 80% can take home $10 worth of items. Students with lower grades who show improvement also get goodies, and the same goes for kids with perfect attendance or who are awarded student of the month.

If a kid gets 90% or higher, he offers them their pick of goodies from the store, as well as a $100 bill and a T-shirt.

“I like seeing the smile on their faces,” Alselwi tells TODAY.com. “Man, it makes me happy.”

Speaking to TODAY.com while behind his bodega’s counter, Alselwi pauses the conversation to help a customer, joking about a particularly high till of $67.

“Don’t be short, bro, be tall today,” he says, filling his shop with laughter.

Alselwi says he started the report card incentive in 2023 in a bid to inspire a neighborhood kid, Zamier Davies, to improve his grades.

“I just wanted to help him make the honor roll, and he couldn’t make it even though he worked so hard for it,” says Alselwi.

He promised the then-12-year-old that if he got good grades, he would give him something in the store for free.

It worked: Davies first worked his way up to an 88% and chose an Oreo milkshake as his prize. Then, he reached 89% and added an egg and cheese and chips to his prize. By the end of the year, Davies made the honor roll — and Alselwi’s video on the feat garnered millions of views.

“A lot of kids started coming to show me their report card,” he says, adding that kids from as far as Pennsylvania have stopped by.

Now an eighth grader looking forward to high school in the fall, Davies tells TODAY.com he’s thinking about a career in tech.

His uncle, Jerome Ivory, says that while the Oreo milkshakes were appreciated, his nephew found the strength from within to improve his marks.

“He was always good at his grades,” Ivory tells TODAY.com. “It was mostly a bet that he made with himself — and Wally.”

Alselwi is from Yemen and his three children still live there.

“I got my own kids back home, and I miss them, so it makes me happy to see other kids happy,” Alselwi says. “I see my own kids in front of me.”

Alselwi says he also finds joy from those who offer him encouraging words and blessings on TikTok.

So many people have reached out asking how they can help him with his initiative that his brother started a GoFundMe in his name — and it’s raised nearly $50,000.

“I cannot do it by myself,” says Alselwi. “My fans comment and they celebrate these kids with me and they acknowledge them with me. Let’s say I’m giving them $100 or if I’m giving them snacks for free or a T-shirt, to me, that does not matter. The most important thing is you celebrate them and you show them that you really care about their hard work.”

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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In a now-viral video, Grace Clements excitedly runs and embraces her father, bringing him down as the two tumble on the stage, both smiling.

The crowd roars with applause as Clements helps his daughter back up, kisses her on the head next to her graduation cap and hugs her once again.

Clements’ youngest daughter graduated alongside eight other students from the ClemsonLIFE program for people with intellectual disabilities.

“ClemsonLIFE teaches independence, job skills… and apparently, how to sack a university president. #DadDown,” the Clemson president wrote in an Instagram post.

ClemsonLIFE is designed for students who want a college campus experience, with functional academics, independent living and employment and social skills.

“Grace’s hug (and tackle!) was full of heart—and a perfect reminder of what makes this place so special,” the university wrote in a Facebook post.

The program went viral in the fall of 2024 when a video of ClemsonLIFE junior Charlie McGee accepted a bid at his first-choice fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE). The PIKE members all rushed to surround Charlie, jumping and celebrating the newest addition to their brotherhood.

Grace was also involved in Greek life at Clemson, a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority for three years.

“What a privilege it has been having @skittles_mom as our sister for the past 3 years,” the sorority posted for Grace’s graduation. “We love you SO much and can’t wait to see all you accomplish!”

This article originally appeared on NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News:

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Scotty Dunton, who owns the 6-year-old Anatolian Pyrenees named Buford, said gifts have been arriving at his doorstep since Boden Allen’s rescue.

“Toys, chew toys, snacks, you name it, just a little bit of everything,” Dunton told NBC affiliate KPNX of Phoenix.

Dunton added that he has heard from people all over the world since his dog’s rescue mission and that Buford is now an honorary member of the Yavapai County Search and Rescue Team. The team even gave Buford a vest. Boden wandered off from his family’s home in Seligman on April 14. His father, Cory Allen, said he was working on the roof while his wife, Sarah Allen, tended to their 1-year-old child, KPNX has reported.

The couple called family members for help searching for Boden and eventually contacted the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. More than 40 rescuers and a Department of Public Safety helicopter were brought in to assist.

“I didn’t even know how to process,” Sarah told the station. “I looked at his empty bed in the middle of the night, and I’m like, ‘This isn’t real, he’s not — how is he not here? How is he out by himself somewhere in the dark?'”

Dunton, a rancher, said that about 16 hours after Boden disappeared, he found the toddler on his property. According to KPNX, Buford found the child sleeping under a tree and led him back to Dunton’s ranch, which is about 7 miles from the Allens’ home.

Dunton previously told KPNX that he had traced the child’s steps and found that Buford had escorted him for at least a mile.

Cory told the station that he feels like “God sent that dog to rescue my son.”

Sarah said, “It’s unreal, and it’s unbelievable.”

Boden was reunited with Buford on Monday, KPNX reported. Cory said that life is back to normal for his family and that Boden is “active” and “exploring all the time.”

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

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This year’s event will be on April 24, 2025 with the theme, “For a New Generation.”

Here are some fun facts about the annual event.

The day had its start in New York City

The annual event was founded in New York City in 1992, according to the Museum of Women’s History.

The annual event is the brainchild of feminist icon Gloria Steinem

Gloria Steinem founded the event as part of the Ms. Foundation. It was originally known as “Take Our Daughters to Work Day,” and was created to help provide girls real-life adult role models in various professions, allowing them to see that gender should not be a deterrent in seeking a profession, according to the Museum of Women’s History.

Boys started participating in 2003 and the name was officially changed

The program began to include boys in 2003 which the Ms. Foundation rebranded as “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.”

The inclusion of boys allows them to see that they too can have a career they choose, regardless of society’s prescribed gender roles.

By the numbers

Since its inception the program has continued to grow, becoming an international April tradition.

According to the latest available numbers cited by the Museum of Women’s History, at least 37 million people have participated in 3.5 million workplace worldwide. In 2011, 92 countries participated, including China and India.

“I used to think sometimes, ‘Just let me go home and I am going to die,'” said Arias Cestoni.

Facing heart, kidney and liver failure in late 2024, the Hollis resident’s only hope was a rare and highly unusual triple transplant. The odds were against him.

“But it happened. Miracles exist,” said Arias Cestoni.

The El Salvador native is living proof of that miracle. The transplants were done in February during a 14-hour surgery in which 13 surgeons and two teams of nurses all contributed to save his life.

“Listening to Sergio talking today is very rewarding to all of us. It’s why we’re doing this,” said Dr. Ahmed Fahmy.

The triple transplant the Northwell doctors helped perform was one of only about 80 done nationwide over the last 20 years. In this particular case, all three organs came from the same unidentified donor.

“To have all three be a match for him is indeed a miracle,” said Dr. Nabil Dagher.

“I can feel my heart beating now, strong,” Arias Cestoni said with a laugh.

Doctors said diabetes had been the root cause of all Arias Cestoni’s health issues. But now, he and his wife have a second chance at life, and to chase the dreams they thought were lost forever.

“I feel so proud to get all these organs and to honor my donor,” he said.

The road ahead contains challenges: Arias Cestoni now takes close to 40 pills a day to ensure his body doesn’t reject its new organs. But he sees only opportunities moving forward.

“Now is different…I hope everything from life,” he said.

Each year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree gets a new life after leaving Rockefeller Plaza. The wood from the tree goes to Habitat for Humanity and is used to help build and improve homes across the country.

The tree from 2021 was recently used to help build a home for Felicia Hanna and her family in Elton, Maryland. What made that year’s tree special is that it marked the first time a Rockefeller Center tree was returned to its original community for the next stage of its life.

The 2024 tree, an 11-ton Norway Spruce, came from Massachusetts — the first tree to come from that state since 1959.

After the tree gets taken down, it is laid in Rockefeller Plaza to be cut up and taken to a yard in New Jersey. There it gets milled into two-by-four and two-by six beams and branded with a Rockefeller Center stamp. Tishman Speyer, the firm that owns and operates Rockefeller Center, then donates the lumber to the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity.