Before 2017 ends, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, decided to add some hope and inspiration to our timelines by sharing a few positive news stories from this year, tweeting:
“As we count down to the new year, we get to reflect and prepare for what’s ahead. For all the bad news that seemed to dominate our collective consciousness, there are countless stories from this year that remind us what’s best about America.”
In doing so, Obama tweeted stories about everyday people who did extraordinary things to give back and help their community. From Kat Creesh, the wedding planner who “turned a postponed wedding into a volunteer opportunity for Hurricane Harvey victims.”
Kat Creech, a wedding planner in Houston, turned a postponed wedding into a volunteer opportunity for Hurricane Harvey victims. Thirty wedding guests became an organization of hundreds of volunteers. That’s a story from 2017. https://t.co/yxhjwkr5Se
advertisement— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
To NFL player Chris Long who donated his 2017 salary to educational equity in Boston, St. Louis and Philadelphia.
Chris Long gave his paychecks from the first six games of the NFL season to fund scholarships in Charlottesville, VA. He wanted to do more, so he decided to give away an entire season’s salary. That’s a story from 2017. https://t.co/NL0RoARkan
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
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To 10-year-old Jahkil Jackson who gave away thousands of “blessing bags” (packed with food, socks, and toiletries) to homeless people in Chicago.
Ten-year-old Jahkil Jackson is on a mission to help homeless people in Chicago. He created kits full of socks, toiletries, and food for those in need. Just this week, Jahkil reached his goal to give away 5,000 “blessing bags.” That’s a story from 2017. https://t.co/muxPZnEGkd
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
To wrap up his inspirational thread, Obama wrote: “All across America people chose to get involved, get engaged and stand up. Each of us can make a difference, and all of us ought to try. So go keep changing the world in 2018.”