Here are your Feel Good Friday stories from July 2nd!
Starting out with an Independence Day tradition, on Friday elite eaters lined up to ‘weigh-in’ for the annual “Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating-Contest.” Men’s Champion “Joey Chestnut” is the favorite to Win the contest. “Michele Lesco” is the favorite for Women’s Champion. The contest will take place before a live audience in Coney Island on Sunday, starting at 11am.
Our next story will tug at your heart-strings because apparently nothing can stop true love, not even memory. 56-Year-old “Peter Marshall” has Alzheimer’s. He proposed to Lisa back in December, but what he didn’t realize is they already got married 12 years ago. But when he proposed, Lisa agreed not wanting to miss an opportunity to create another beautiful memory with her husband. They renewed their vows in April. Lisa says she’s the luckiest girl in the world to have Peter fall in love with her twice.
An 82-year-old woman will get her chance to view space after she trained to be an Astronaut 60 years ago. “Wally Funk” trained with NASA’s “Mercury Program” in the 1960’s, but didn’t get the opportunity to go to space. She will make the ‘Sub-orbital Trip’ with Blue Origin’s Founder Jeff Bezos and his brother. She will fly as an “Honored Guest” when New Shepard launches on July 20th.
There’s great news for Yale Drama Students. Thanks to a gift from Hollywood Mogul David Geffen, $150 Million to the Yale School of Drama to be exact. Students no longer have to pay tuition! Yes, again — the donation means tuition for all current and future Students is covered. It also changes the name of the School into the “David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University”. Geffen founded Geffen records which produces popular Broadway shows including “Cats” and “Dreamgirls.” He also Co-Founded Dreamworks Studio in 1994.
In today’s work climate where most companies are aiming for equality among their workforce, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated more than $2 Billion to “Gender Equality Initiatives”. The money will be distributed over 5 years. $1.4 Million will fund ‘Health and Family Planning’. $650 Million is earmarked for ‘Economic Empowerment’. The remaining $100 Million is for ‘Accelerating Women into Leadership Positions’.
That wraps it up for this week’s Feel Good Friday. Until next time, enjoy the sunshine, take a deep breath, and remember to smile.
