Only Good News Monday

Feb 24

Kick-starting the week with some concise, mood boosting news stories.

“Transformative Effect”

It would be an understatement to say MacKenzie Scott has been busy making a difference in the six years since her divorce from Jeff Bezos. The philanthropist has given away $19 billion to more than 2,000 nonprofits. And the effect has been nothing short of “transformative,” per a three-year study from the Center for Effective Philanthropy. Her donations allowed organizations to purchase necessary equipment, fairly compensate staff, and expand their reach - just to name a few improvements. Using tax filings, researchers found that two years after receiving a grant from Scott, the beneficiaries had twice as many months of expenses in the reserves as comparable nonprofits. And 86 percent of the nonprofit leaders cited in the study said the donations “moderately or significantly” strengthened their organizations’ long-term financial sustainability.

When is your birthday?

Birthday Pledge

Dr. Seuss has a present for you - as long as you were born on 2 March. Dr. Seuss Enterprises, which last year offered 10,000 free copies of The Cat in the Hat to babies born on 2 March, will expand the offer this year to anyone with that birthday. Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Geisel, was born on that day in 1904. His books remain popular decades after his 1991 death. Those born on 2 March who register at SeussPledge.com can choose to have a personalized book sent to them or gift their free copy to children in underserved communities.

Quotes and Excerpts - The Wit and Wisdom of Dr Seuss - aka Theodor Seuss Geisel.

Rail Renaissance

Europe’s rail renaissance has reached the Baltics, where a new train line has linked the capitals of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Until last week, it was impossible to travel by train between Vilnius and Tallinn - the capitals of Lithuania and Estonia - in a single day. But a new route has connected the two cities, along with Riga, the Latvian capital, meaning travellers no longer need to drive or take multiple coaches. The new line comes amid a boom in rail travel in Europe, where new night trains and long-distance routes are enticing more travellers out of the skies.

Conservation Success

Once down to just 10,000 birds, American Oystercatcher populations are soaring. The American Oystercatcher is a coastal bird vital to salt marsh ecosystems, and populations have rebounded by 45 percent since 2008, thanks to a data-driven, public-private conservation effort focused on habitat restoration, predator control, and nesting site protection, reports E+E Leader.

Amazonian Garden Cities

The ancient Amazon housed thousands of garden cities. Using laser scanners mounted on aircraft to create detailed terrain maps, scientists have discovered evidence of tens of thousands of pre-colonial urban centres in the Amazon rainforest. Multiple studies have shown that ancestral Amazonians created sustainable urban systems with composted gardens and managed forests. One of these cities, in Brazil, had over one million inhabitants.

Shirley Hebert (left) and Beth Butler (right), about to head to Bingo in Shirley's yellow VW Bug — Credit: Beth Butler (on the right)

Vermont Exchange

Roommates Beth Butler and Shirley Hebert found each other through HomeShare Vermont, a service that matches people who have "extra housing with people who need it," said Vermont Public. The arrangements are customized depending on what each person seeks. Butler, who's in her 50s, gets an affordable place to live in exchange for cooking and keeping Hebert, who's almost 100, company. "I have somebody that's here at night, and that's what I like most," said Hebert. Photo shows Shirley Hebert (left) and Beth Butler (right), about to head to Bingo in Shirley's yellow VW Bug she calls Petunia.

"If I can inspire young people to dedicate themselves to the good of mankind, I've accomplished something." John Glenn