1. The earnest homeless man who returned $40,000.
Glen James found a backpack stuffed with U.S. currency, traveler's checks, and a passport, and even though he was homeless, he turned the bag in to police. Afterwards, even more small town heroes came together to try to fund a new life for James — you can join their successful campaign by donating here.
2. The brave pizza guy whose instinct saved his customer's life.
Just after Chris Wuebben knocked on a customer's door, he saw a woman panicking, explaining that her husband couldn't breathe. Luckily, Wuebben knew CPR — he resuscitated the man until an ambulance showed up. For his well-deserved tip, Wuebben got a Neighborhood Hero Award and a $1,000 check.
3. The thoughtful high schoolers who had graduation early for a fellow student.
When Lynzee Ford — a high school senior battling leukemia— was told she would only make it four more months, tons of students came together to host an early graduation ceremony. The students also threw her a surprise prom in May. Good job, humans!
4. The hardworking hostess who throws annual parties for foster children.
Every holiday season, Linda Shanahan takes it upon herself to organize a massive soirée, at which she gives gifts and snacks to over 280 foster boys and girls. (She even lets the biological children of foster parents attend, just to keep things fair.) The large number of attendees requires that Shanahan buy and wrap presents year-round, but she says she "just loves doing it."
5. The heroic dog who called an ambulance to save his owner.
In May 2014, a trained rescue dog named Major (pictured here) saw his owner having a seizure. Calm under pressure, he proceeded to paw the owner's cell phone out of his pocket, then clawed at the phone until it dialed 911. The dispatchers heard the seizure in the background, rescued the owner, and he made a full recovery.
6. The amazing hospital workers who reunited a dying man and his one-eyed chihuahua.
Modern medicine ain't got nothin' on pets. James Wathen was hospitalized for a month before the staff realized how much he missed his dog Bubba. The dog wasn't doing well without his owner either, but when the hospital reunited the two of them, both made a "complete turnaround."
If you feel like sobbing tears of joy, this reunion video can make that happen.
7. The generous homecoming queens who gave up their crowns.
Anahi Alvarez made headlines when she gave her homecoming crown to Lillian Skinner, a victim of school bullying. After a group of kids jokingly told Skinner that she would be nominated, Alvarez and friend Naomi Martinez made a pact to give Skinner their crown no matter what. Heart = warmed.
8. The fearless trucker who rescued a grandmother and one-year-old from a burning car.
The story sounds made-up, but luckily, it's not (and there's a dashboard cam to prove it). Truck driver David Frederickson pulled over as soon as he saw flames rising from a van, and his urgency attracted other drivers to help. Together, they were able to pull the grandmother and girl to safety just minutes before the car exploded. (You can exhale now.)
9. The bold Mormon woman who isn't afraid to be herself.
As a transgender woman in the Mormon Church, Eri Hayward doesn't just sit around feeling conflicted. Instead, she's gone to great lengths to tell her story. Eri starred in a documentary short (called Transmormon) and does tons of interviews about her family, her religion, and herself. You go girl.
10. The courageous seventh-graders who steered a school bus to safety.
Even though 13-year-old Jeremy Wuitschick didn't have his license, he still managed to pull his school bus over when the driver passed out behind the wheel. While Wuitschick steered, his friend Jeremy Wood gave the driver CPR. There's your middle school lesson for the day: teamwork is the best work.
11. And the autistic basketball champion who tore up the court.
Jason McElwain was his high school basketball team manager and spent most games on the bench. But during the season's final game when the team was far ahead, the coach put him in. He ended up giving the team an even bigger lead, scoring 20 points in four minutes and driving the crowd wild. He had his jersey retired and met George W. Bush, and now he runs marathons. NBD.
LittleBigPlanet 3 applauds and commemorates these heroes for Standing Small. Join us as we celebrate all the small acts of courage that make a big impact on the world. #StandSmall
