People Doing Good

Stories of people making a difference in the world

An 18-year-old, Ribal Zebian, speaks on stage in front of a prototype of a modular tiny home

Teen invents modular home designed to end homelessness. He will live in it for a year to test it himself

Ontario’s Ribal Zebian said his design can be built in just one day.

A teenage girl and an adult woman smile as they cut a red ribbon with oversized gold scissors outside a community space.

This Altadena teen raised millions for wildfire relief. A year later, she opened a community center for girls like her

Avery Colvert's viral ask on social media last year led to a million donations, a nonprofit, and a community hub to help teens plan for their futures beyond the shadow of the wildfire.

Bella Hadid and Pedro Pascal on stage at the 2026 Artists for Aid relief concert

Pedro Pascal and Bella Hadid raise $5.5M at Gaza and Sudan aid concert: 'All of our suffering is connected'

Artists for Aid performers included acts like Chappell Roan, Lucy Dacus, Blood Orange, Clairo, and more.

An artwork by Mariah Reading, a landscape painting of Acadia National Park on a discarded glove, called "Lend A Hand"

This artist collects trash from national parks — and then paints it: 'A zero-waste practice'

Mariah Reading has been an artist in residence at multiple national park sites, and her work isn’t done yet.

A muscular Black man wearing a white t-shirt holds a tablet in both hands

This Navy veteran is protecting Black people from AI harm: 'AI is built on representation'

Jameeka Green Aaron has turned her sights on ensuring that artificial intelligence works in favor of the people using it, not against it.

An elderly woman, Margot Dodds, poses nude in a metal bath, wearing cowboy boots and covering her breasts with a straw hat

Their small town couldn't afford a new snowplow. So locals sold 'nearly nude' calendars instead of paying higher taxes

“We have some brave members of the community who are willing to become vulnerable to support their town,” one organizer said.

A young black teacher stands in front of a world map and points towards Africa

This Bronx teacher received $25,000 for 'teaching excellence.' Then he gave it all away

As soon as Alhassan Susso received the monetary award, he knew exactly where to spend it.

Renee Nicole Good, a woman shot and killed by an ICE officer

Renee Nicole Good verified GoFundMe surpasses $1.5M in donations following deadly ICE shooting

“Renee was pure sunshine, pure love,” the fundraiser reads. “She will be desperately missed.”

Amy Hendricks and Paul Davie stand in front of a house under construction in Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Couple donates all 46 acres of their backyard to become affordable housing for their rural town

Amy Hendricks and Paul Davie had too much space for just the two of them, so they decided to do something to help their community.

Indiana church launches $1M campaign to build homeless shelter: 'Every dollar will go toward construction'

Impact Ministries in Boonville, Indiana has already helped 24 homeless community members find housing: “That’s the power of compassion in action.”

The backs of Sebastião Salgado and his wife, Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado, as they overlook their property full of 2.5 million trees

Over the course of 20 years, this couple planted 2.5 million trees: 'The region can be seen from space'

Instituto Terra was born from the dream of Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado to recover the forest that existed on the family's former farm.

A couple holds a large check with a leader of Alzheimer Scotland

For their 50th wedding anniversary, this couple asked for one gift: Donations to their local dementia charity

In lieu of gifts, the couple asked their loved ones to make a donation for their special celebration.