Morgan Freeman, the actor who portrayed Nelson Mandela in the movie Invictus, defined heroism at a luncheon of luminaries in television, theater, journalism, and film at the Four Seasons on Monday, July 18. The occasion: the 93rd birthday of Nelson Mandela, perhaps the most heroic man of our time for his 67 years of public service, his insistence on justice, equality, and dignity, his work to end apartheid, freeing both blacks --and thereby whites in South Africa. And what gift did “Madiba” want most for this celebration?
Reverend Al Sharpton, Barbara Walters, Paula Zahn, Brian Williams, Billie Jean King, Walter Mosley, Marisa Berenson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Rick Stengel, Al Roker, Hoda Kotb, Amanda Foreman, Anthony Mackie, Montego Glover, and Nikki James were among those listening, rapt as Freeman encouraged all to follow the legendary Mandela's lead, using this day as an international call to action for everyone to give 67 minutes of time to help make the world a better place. And then he said, as if saying grace: Bless the lord. Let's eat.
In this spirit, Today Show anchor Ann Curry praised Geoffrey Fletcher for the remarkable achievement of his movie, Precious, and the importance of shining a light on a young woman who many may wish not to see. Coincidentally, that morning she had interviewed the Dalai Lama. Curry spoke about the challenges of making news in a world driven by commerce: on the one hand, you have Casey Anthony just released from prison, and on the other you have the Dalai Lama extolling the virtues of the American people, encouraging us in our tough times to use our great resilience. Which do you prefer to see, forced to choose? She motioned as if her arms were balances on a scale, and explained how she had to press the Dalai Lama upon her producers.
Here are some recommendations for honoring Mandela:
WAYS TO CHANGE OUR WORLD
1. Make a friend from a different culture.
2. Read to someone who can't. Visit a local home for the blind
3. Fix the potholes in your neighborhood.
4. Help out at the local animal shelter.
5. Read at story hour in your local library.
6. Take an elderly neighbor shopping.
7. Organize a litter cleanup day.
8. Make a blanket for someone in need.
9. Volunteer at your local faith-based organization.
10. Donate your professional skills.
11. If you're a builder, help improve someone's home.
12. Advise someone to get their business started.
13. Build a website for someone who needs one.
14. Put together a resume to help someone get a job.
15. If you're a lawyer, do pro bono work.
16. Write to your local representative about a problem in the area.
17. Sponsor/take students to go to the theatre or zoo.
Help out for good health
18. Volunteer at your local HIV organizations.
19. Volunteer at your local hospice.
20. Take the time to chat with a terminally ill patient.
21. Advise your friends/ family about HIV.
22. Get tested for HIV and encourage others.
23. Take a bag full of toys to a local hospital.
24. Take younger siblings to the park.
25. Donate medical supplies to a community clinic.
26. Take someone to get their eyes tested or their teeth checked.
27. Bake something for a local support group.
28. Start a community garden to encourage healthy eating.
29. Donate a wheelchair or guide dog.
30. Create a food basket and give it to the needy.
Become an educator
31. Help out at the office of your local school.
32. Mentor a student in your field of expertise.
33. Coach extra mural activities.
34. Offer tutoring.
35. Donate your old computer, iPad, cell phone.
36. Help maintain the sports fields.
37. Replace broken windows, doors and light bulbs in a classroom.
38. Donate a bag of art supplies.
39. Teach an adult literacy class.
40. Paint classrooms and school buildings.
41. Donate books, including history, literary books, novels and self help.
Help those living in poverty
42. Buy blankets for someone in need.
43. Donate your clothes.
44. Donate household appliances and kitchen utensils.
45. Organize a bake sale, car wash or garage sale for charity.
46. Donate shoes to the poorest of the poor.
47. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen.
Care for the youth
48. Help at a local orphanage or foster home.
49. Tutor kids in an orphanage or foster home.
50. Organize, sponsor and take kids to a ball game 51. Coach a sports team.
52. Donate sporting equipment to a children's shelter.
53. Donate educational toys and books to a children's home.
54. Paint, or repair, infrastructure at an orphanage or foster home.
55. Mentor a foster child.
Treasure the elderly
56. Play an instrument at a local retirement home.
57. Record the life story of an elderly person.
58. Buy groceries for an elderly person 59. Take an elderly person's dog for a walk.
60. Mow and elderly person's lawn or fix things around their house.
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