Author: By The Foundation for a Better Life
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Ludwig Van Beethoven wrote some of his greatest works when he couldn’t hear a note
While America was struggling to define its independence in the late 1700s, the upper echelons of European society were exploding with creativity. In a small Austrian town, a young musical prodigy was performing in the court chapel. The boy was studious and serious. He was taught by his father until the age of 11, when…
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Nikola Tesla’s mother encouraged him to look beyond his humble beginnings to the world stage
The last name that is most famous today for the car that bears his name began as a knowledge-obsessed schoolboy. One of five children, Nikola Tesla was intelligent and curious about the unknown forces in the world: electricity and magnetics. His father, an Orthodox priest, hoped his son would become a man of the cloth,…
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How actor Pat Morita, best known as Mr. Miyagi, endured a difficult childhood to become a voice against racism
Pat Morita nearly missed the opportunity that defined his professional career. He was working on and off as a stand-up comedian, barely making ends meet after a successful role in “Happy Days.” When he showed up to audition for Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid,” producer Jerry Weintraub couldn’t see the actor beyond his comedic…
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U.S. gymnast Simone Biles springs her way into history
When Simone Biles takes flight, it’s impossible to imagine anything weighing her down. Her ability to toss her body in the most difficult moves in gymnastics has made her one of the greatest gymnasts in the sport’s history. One of her moves is named after her because she is the only gymnast ever to accomplish…
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Will Rogers: A man of and for the people
Will Rogers wrote: “I never met a man I didn’t like,” and that is how he lived his life. Born in Oklahoma as a member of the Cherokee nation, he once quipped, “My ancestors didn’t come over on the Mayflower, but they met the boat.” His affable personality and cowboy philosophy made him the voice…
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Barron Prize winner Abby Yoon gets her hands dirty in the garden so at-risk kids can get fresh produce for lunch
Growing children need healthy food to do well in school. Yet 14% of children in America don’t get more than one meal a day. Having an empty stomach makes it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork. And many families in urban areas live in food deserts, where fresh produce, meats and dairy are difficult to get.…
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Cliff Young showed up to the most grueling footrace in Australia — 544 miles — in overalls and gumboots. He went on to win in record time.
Even among ultramarathons — defined as any race longer than a standard 26.2-mile marathon — 544 miles is a long one, requiring training and stamina that seem almost beyond belief. Back in 1983, the Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon, which began and ended unceremoniously in mall parking lots, had never been completed in less than…
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Treating people, even prisoners, with respect is what food service giant Bill Mouskondis is all about.
Bill Mouskondis is always smiling. He is the son of a Greek immigrant who started a food service company with an old truck and cases of dented cans scavenged from railroad cars. Bill remembers long days riding his bicycle as a kid, delivering restaurant supplies to local cafes. Before semi-retiring, he worked six days a…
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New York’s finest maintain a tradition of service and sacrifice
The Vigiano family has served New York City for four generations: grandfather, father, two sons, daughter-in-law and grandson. Two of them were lost on 9/11. This is their story, from the StoryCorps collection commemorating heroes from that day. New York’s finest maintain a tradition of service and sacrifice, often bridging generations of police officers and…
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How a group of ambitious high school kids are digging wells in Kenya
Cruise down Highway 1 through the little beach town of Laguna Beach in California and you’ll be charmed by the quaint shops, the sea breezes, the soothing sound of waves. This is where people come to relax, watch sunsets, read lazy books and let the stress of the modern world be carried away on riptides.…