Albert Pujols, the Dominican-born MLB pitcher and a devout Christian, is the founder and chairman of the Pujols Family Foundation, a charity benefiting people with Down syndrome and whose mission statement is "to live and share our commitment to faith, family and others."
Larry Fitzgerald, an NFL wide receiver, founded The First Down Fund which has built an impressive resume of charitable giving and special projects, including providing summer youth programming for urban youth in America and helping to fund research for childhood illnesses.
Eli Manning, (who hardly needs an introduction as to his professional talents), is less known for his having raised $2.5 mil. for the University of Mississippi's Medical Center's Children's Hospital and many other charitable contributions.
Clayton KershawClayton Kershaw, a Cy Young Award winner and three-time All Star in the National League has been inducted into the Baseball Humanitarians Hall of Fame, donates significant portions of his paychecks to causes in Africa and helped build a successful orphanage in Zambia.
Steve Smith, the NFL wide receiver, is the NFL ambassador to a charity called Samaritan's Feet, which gives shoes to homeless people, and he has personally participated in the charity's practice of washing their aid recipients' feet, a beautiful ritual imbued with Biblical meaning.
Jeremy Affeldt, the San Francisco Giant's pitcher, has worked for years preventing sex trafficking of young women around the world with an initiative called the NotForSale campaign.
Tim Tebow, the NFL player most known for his public manifestations of his Christian faith, practices what he preaches, having built a $3 mil. hospital in the Philippines, in addition to host in regular charity events and participating in Make-a-Wish programs.
It’s no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last two years. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that’s a good thing. That’s what a robust democracy demands. That’s what helps set us apart as a nation.
But there’s a reason the tragedy in Tucson gave us pause. Amid all the noise and passions and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater – something more consequential than party or political preference.
We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people; that we share common hopes and a common creed; that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, and that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled.
Daniel Hernandez Jr., one of the heroes of the mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., two weeks ago, tells ABC News that he will be sitting, along with his father, Daniel Hernandez Sr., with Michelle Obama at the State of the Union on Tuesday, which happens to be his 21st birthday.And it's his birthday? Do it, Daniel! This is your life!
"I'm both honored and excited to have the opportunity to travel to our nation's Capitol for a once in a lifetime event. Also the chance to bring my father along for his first trip to Washington, D.C. The State of the Union is a pivotal moment because it is our opportunity to find where we are and where we will be going as a nation in this upcoming year," Hernandez said.
"President Obama should address gay rights in his State of the Union speech this week, and he should tackle the biggest, most meaningful right of them all: the right to marry. Gay Americans are eventually going to win on marriage just like we won on military service, the president should tell Congress, so why not save everyone on both sides of the debate a lot of time, trouble and money by approving the entire gay rights agenda?"Okay, I do believe he should address it, but right now, folks want to hear about jobs and the economy. Plus, with Health Reform is being attacked, President Obama needs to sell Health Care again and remind the public about the great deal they have in this reform.
"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. It's the right thing to do."But somewhere that statement turned into, Obama was repealing DADT this year. Now, when I heard that statement, I didn't get "this year", I heard "will work to repeal it this year". Now all of a sudden, folks are claiming that Obama lied and betrayed us. Really? Maybe folks' perceptions betrayed them.
President Obama will announce in Wednesday's State of the Union address that he's proposing to save $250 billion by freezing all nonsecurity federal discretionary spending for three years, according to two senior administration officials.The proposed freeze, which could help position Obama in the political center by sharpening his credentials on fiscal discipline, would exempt the budgets of the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs, along with some international programs.
"We are at war, and we're going to make sure our troops are funded adequately," one of the senior officials said.
The officials would not reveal the details of which domestic programs would be cut, as they prepare to face major pushback from liberals in the president's own party because popular education and health spending could be on the chopping block. The details will be officially unveiled February 1, when the president publicly releases his next budget blueprint for fiscal year 2011 -- which starts October 1 -- and beyond.
"We've got to make some tough decisions," the second senior official said. "Everybody is not going to get what they want."
Under the proposal, which would need to be approved by both houses of Congress, all federal discretionary spending would be frozen at its current level of $447 billion per year. Within that parameter, however, individual federal agencies would have the power to give some programs increases, while cutting money elsewhere.
This will also force Repubs to stop acting like brats and get on course.
But the question will be... Is this going to work.
