What’s up guys, it’s Emile Ennis Jr. with
Clevver News, and we could all use some good
ol’ feel-good news in tough times like these,
so get comfy as we break down some of this
year’s most uplifting viral moments that
are sure to restore your faith in the world.
The year is 2020; we’re all emotionally
drained, worn down and just straight-up tired,
so when given the opportunity to talk about
some of the most touching viral moments that
happened throughout the year, we’re all
in.
Whether a celebrity was involved in these
viral feel-good acts, or your day was made
by a random stranger making the news for their
act of kindness, we wanna celebrate the fact
that any good deed is a deed worth documenting.
Now, more than ever, healthcare workers, delivery
truck drivers and factory workers, just to
name a few industries, are working tirelessly
amid a growing global crisis, while putting
their health on the line to assist others.
Like when this delivery worker was documented
doing a victory dance after snacks were left
out for his convenience, I mean how can you
not let out even the slightest ‘AWE’?!
The Instagram account “Good News Movement”
shared the viral video of a family who left
a note out for their delivery drivers that
read, “It’s not easy doing your job amid
these challenging circumstances.
So thank you for your hard work and dedication
to deliver our groceries/packages/food.
Please help yourself to the items below.
We pray you and your families stay healthy
and safe.”
It was in that moment when the delivery man
appeared beside himself as he let out a little
happy dance, and of course you can’t forget
that mid-air heel click as he walked back
to his truck.
“Thank you!
Awe”
There have been multiple accounts of residences
helping out delivery workers as the country
continues to be on lockdown, and we love to
see it!
Other times, we don’t even need a good deed
to lighten our day -- simply an awe-inspiring
moment, like the time 97-year-old WWII vet
‘Dancing Chuck’ went viral as he busted
a move to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t
Stop The Feeling” on his front porch.
Retired WWII Navy Pilot, Chuck Franzke, went
viral as he stepped outside of his Wisconsin
home back in April to bust a move while social
distancing on his front porch.
The video was shared via the Stars and Stripes
Honor Flight Twitter account, however, this
isn’t the first time Chuck’s name has
been heard through the Interwebs.
Back in February, Chuck and his wife Beverly
celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary
together, as the same Twitter account shared
a quote from Chuck that read, ““Love gets
you to the altar, but trust and respect get
you through the next 75 years.”
AMEN to that, and now I’m gonna go cry a
bucket of happy tears for Dancing Chuck.
Speaking of WWII, 88-year-old Holocaust survivor
Miriam Schreiber, revealed that her life was
changed in mere seconds just as she was about
to start first grade, to which she was never
able to return back to school.
She made headlines after finally achieving
something she had always longed to do: she
went back to school to receive a full education,
as well as a diploma.
After having met with social worker Erica
Kapiloff at Jewish Family Services in Connecticut,
where Miriam lives, Erica revealed, “From
the first time I met Miriam, she told me how
disappointed she was to have never had a formal
education.
Not having a degree has always been a thorn
in her side.”
It was then that they were able to get a hold
of the New England Jewish Academy, a Jewish
high school in Hartford, to ask if they would
consider presenting Miriam with an honorary
diploma.
What’s even more heartwarming is that the
principal of the school ultimately let the
graduating class of students decide, and after
hearing Miriam’s story, they immediately
welcomed her as one of their own.
Miriam married her late husband at the age
of 15, and since his passing seven years ago,
she’s spent most of her time reading and
educating herself.
Her son, as well as the seniors of the New
England Jewish Academy, were truly in awe
of her, and were able to present her with
a high school diploma in a socially distant
ceremony last month.
As she walked up to the podium, Miriam delivered
a speech, saying QUOTE, “Somehow the right
people came together at the right time.
As a result, now I am offered an honorary
degree to recognize that my life, learning
and experiences are worthy of that honor.”
Another student had the honor of fulfilling
her dreams after Taylor Swift got word of
Vitoria Mario’s self-started GoFundMe page,
describing herself as “a young black 18-year-old
with a dream.”
Vitoria even went as far to share statistics
about STEM students, only 35% of which are
female, and that there is further under-representation
of BAME (Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic)
women, particularly Black women, who are in
shortage within the field and academic institutions.
After realizing her family wouldn’t be able
to afford her tuition at the University of
Warwick in the U.K. to fulfill her dreams
of becoming a mathematician, Taylor stepped
in and donated around $33,000 U.S. dollars
to the cause.
Taylor wrote in the comments QUOTE, ““Vitoria,
I came across your story online and am so
inspired by your drive and dedication to turning
your dreams into reality.
I want to gift you the rest of your goal amount.
Good luck with everything you do!
Love, Taylor.”
Switfies began chipping in once the news went
viral, to which a speechless Vitoria later
revealed during an appearance on BBC Breakfast
just how blessed she was.
I don’t know, I call it a blessing.”
“It just blew my mind.
I never expected that to happen, if that makes
sense.
It was really… different.”
Vitoria has surpassed her goal amount of $52,000
U.S. dollars, and will now be able to live
out her dreams with a bright future ahead!
Dr. Harold Franklin, the first Black student
to ever attend Auburn University back in 1964,
made headlines last month after finally receiving
his long-awaited master’s degree after multiple
racist accounts, he was finally able to fulfill
his lifelong pursuit.
Back in the ‘60s, the Auburn campus segregated
him into a wing of the dormitories where he
lived alone as the only Black student, as
he was also denied the chance to defend his
final thesis many times… which would ultimately
be his ticket to receiving his master’s.
Franklin detailed just how nit-picky professors
were with his thesis, saying, “Each time,
I would carry my thesis to be proofread, they’d
find an excuse.
Sometimes, I didn’t dot an ‘i.’
One of the professors told me, ‘Yours has
to be perfect because you are Black, and people
will be reading yours.’”
For what was met with criticism over his final
thesis after administration felt it was “too
controversial,” Dr. Franklin actually left
Auburn to get his master’s in international
studies from the University of Denver, but
never gave up hope that he would some day
receive the same honor from Auburn.
In 2001, Auburn did eventually celebrate him
as the first Black student by awarding him
with an honorary doctorate of arts, but failed
to address the racism Franklin endured as
a student over 50 years ago.
But it wasn’t until recently when Auburn’s
associate professor of history, Keith Hebert,
read a news story about an Alabama governor,
who wore blackface during a skit at the university
over 50 years ago, in which Franklin was interviewed
and revealed the real reason he left the school.
Keith helped Dr. Franklin fight for justice,
saying, “During all those commemorations
and discussions about integration at Auburn,
they overlooked the story about this man who
was cheated out of the degree he rightfully
earned.”
After touching the lives of so many by telling
his full story about growing up and witnessing
racism single-handedly every single day in
a KKK-run state, Dr. Franklin was awarded
his degree from Auburn in June of this year.
Due to the pandemic, he was mailed his degree,
all while the world is witnessing the same
injustices as before.
He said, “I’m glad to see the protests
happening now.
Black people’s lives should matter to everyone
else.
We are human, like everybody else.”
Auburn University has since created the Harold
A. Franklin Society to support underrepresented
students.
Anyone else get literal CHILLS from hearing
his story?!
And finally, everyone who is EVERYONE heard
the story about 6-year-old Bridger, who protected
his little sister from being mauled by a dog,
so we couldn’t pass up this opportunity
to talk about his heroic efforts once again.
While playing in their friend’s backyard,
one of two dogs began running straight for
Bridger and his sister, to which he QUOTE,
“stepped to the side, in front of my sister,
so that the dog wouldn’t get her.”
The dog then latched onto Bridger’s cheek,
which caused him to undergo a two-hour surgery
and facial reconstruction held together with
90 stitches.
Bridger then revealed to his father while
in the hospital that, “If someone had to
die, I thought it should be me.”
While his aunt kept fans updated via social
media, she was also able to get the attention
of many Marvel superheroes (which happen to
be Bridger’s favorite series).
Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth,
Mark Ruffalo and Brie Larson to name just
a few series regulars responded and gifted
him with special Marvel costumes and memorabilia.
His aunt has since given fans an update, sharing
photos of Bridger’s face almost fully healed
as he happily gets back out into the world.
Bridger will forever be a young hero who bravely
saved his sister’s life.
For more positive news updates, you can click
right over here to watch another Clevver video.
Then be sure to let us know which of these
moments brought you to tears, and if you have
more to add, feel free to share down here
in the comments.
I’m your host Emile Ennis Jr, bye guys!
