2300 new jobs are now available after Starbucks has raised more than $7 million by selling ‘Create Jobs’ wristbands. The money from those wristbands made its way to  small businesses and nonprofits.

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Lelia Boroughs, who died at 84,  from San Francisco,  was known to her neighbors as an eclectic, kind soul who would offer to pick up their groceries and feed the homeless who squatted on the ledges outside her apartment. When she died she crafted her will to leave her condo to the city to turn into a homeless shelter.

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According to a report released last week by Atlas of Giving, during 2011, Americans gave a total of nearly $347 billion to charity. This total is a  a 7.5% increase comparing to 2010.

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75 electric guitars were donated by Eddie Van Halen to music programs in various L.A public schools. The guitars are part of his personal collection.

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An anonymous donor in Miami dropped a $2000 worth diamond ring into a Salvation Army kettle last week. At noon a woman, who wishes to stay anonymous, called the office and said she had left something special in the kettle in front of Kmart.

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Ryan Howard, a baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies is donating Adidas sportswear valued at more than $1 million to the cash-strapped Philadelphia school district.

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A secret Santa handed $100 bills to people he thought needed some extra help at Christmastime. The secret Santa is estimated to give away $20,000 of his own money.

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Jill Smokler from  Maryland is running a parenting blog on which she was asking her readers to donate through her site to help families in need, she helped raise over $18,000. This money was going towards supermarket gift cards and helped providing dinner for 378 families who couldn’t afford it otherwise.

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Rachel Wheeler from Florida heard about the earthquake victims in a meeting she went with her mother 3 years ago and decided to help building houses for families who lost their homes. 3 years later Rachel raised over $250,000 and used most of it to open a new earthquake-proof cement structures that shelter 27 families.

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Once a year, About 800 doctors and medical workers donate their time for a once-a-year free health clinic organized by the non-profit CareNow.

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