I’ve got a smarty pants Friends list.
Each year at my magazine we honor a handful of activists and do-gooders. We invite them to come speak on their particular issue, throw them a nice lunch, give them an award, and put them in print and on the site.
Last year we honored people who worked on the environment, domestic violence, sexual slavery, Katrina relief and a few more. They’re always pretty widely known folks, even if not necessarily known FOR their pet cause. (We have a separate track for our grassroots heroes, who get all the same perks. We just find them a different way). For example, Harry Connick Jr. was one last year, for all the fund raising and hands-on work he’s done in Louisiana.
Anyway, if anyone has any creative ideas I’d love to hear them. We’ve got politicians covered, but are still brainstorming folks from other arenas.
jaysaint 
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Not sure if this is the sort of thing you’re looking for since it was pretty much a one-time deal, but this soap opera cast did some time in New Orleans:
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl012407jbguiding.17b58372.html
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Not sure if this is the sort of thing you’re looking for since it was pretty much a one-time deal, but this soap opera cast did some time in New Orleans:
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl012407jbguiding.17b58372.html
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Actually, it turns out that I’m just full of inappropriate responses to this post. My brother-in-law is a hero, in my opinion, though I doubt he fits any of your categories.
You may (or may not) recall Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Dennis flooded parts of Georgia. Once Katrina hit, it was pretty much forgotten by all but the people who lost their houses here. They certainly couldn’t expect any help from the government, and since it was flood damage most of them were not covered by insurance.
Well, my brother-in-law’s friend is one of the ones whose house was flooded. Over the past two years, my brother-in-law has spent every weekend at this friend’s house helping gut and rebuild. The friend and his family finally moved back in a few weeks ago. This is not as exciting as thowing yourself onto subway tracks to save someone, but in its slow way it is much, much more important. I hope I have such a friend if I am ever in such need.
Posted by jaysaint on June 24, 2007 at 12:08 am
While you’re right that it doesn’t fit the whole Heroes thing, I’m so glad I asked. I’m always happy to get to hear about people like your brother-in-law. It sounds like your high estimation of him is right on.
Posted by jaysaint on June 24, 2007 at 12:08 am
While you’re right that it doesn’t fit the whole Heroes thing, I’m so glad I asked. I’m always happy to get to hear about people like your brother-in-law. It sounds like your high estimation of him is right on.
Posted by jaysaint on June 24, 2007 at 12:08 am
While you’re right that it doesn’t fit the whole Heroes thing, I’m so glad I asked. I’m always happy to get to hear about people like your brother-in-law. It sounds like your high estimation of him is right on.
Posted by jaysaint on June 24, 2007 at 12:08 am
While you’re right that it doesn’t fit the whole Heroes thing, I’m so glad I asked. I’m always happy to get to hear about people like your brother-in-law. It sounds like your high estimation of him is right on.
Posted by jaysaint on June 24, 2007 at 12:08 am
While you’re right that it doesn’t fit the whole Heroes thing, I’m so glad I asked. I’m always happy to get to hear about people like your brother-in-law. It sounds like your high estimation of him is right on.
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Actually, it turns out that I’m just full of inappropriate responses to this post. My brother-in-law is a hero, in my opinion, though I doubt he fits any of your categories.
You may (or may not) recall Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Dennis flooded parts of Georgia. Once Katrina hit, it was pretty much forgotten by all but the people who lost their houses here. They certainly couldn’t expect any help from the government, and since it was flood damage most of them were not covered by insurance.
Well, my brother-in-law’s friend is one of the ones whose house was flooded. Over the past two years, my brother-in-law has spent every weekend at this friend’s house helping gut and rebuild. The friend and his family finally moved back in a few weeks ago. This is not as exciting as thowing yourself onto subway tracks to save someone, but in its slow way it is much, much more important. I hope I have such a friend if I am ever in such need.
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Actually, it turns out that I’m just full of inappropriate responses to this post. My brother-in-law is a hero, in my opinion, though I doubt he fits any of your categories.
You may (or may not) recall Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Dennis flooded parts of Georgia. Once Katrina hit, it was pretty much forgotten by all but the people who lost their houses here. They certainly couldn’t expect any help from the government, and since it was flood damage most of them were not covered by insurance.
Well, my brother-in-law’s friend is one of the ones whose house was flooded. Over the past two years, my brother-in-law has spent every weekend at this friend’s house helping gut and rebuild. The friend and his family finally moved back in a few weeks ago. This is not as exciting as thowing yourself onto subway tracks to save someone, but in its slow way it is much, much more important. I hope I have such a friend if I am ever in such need.
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Actually, it turns out that I’m just full of inappropriate responses to this post. My brother-in-law is a hero, in my opinion, though I doubt he fits any of your categories.
You may (or may not) recall Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Dennis flooded parts of Georgia. Once Katrina hit, it was pretty much forgotten by all but the people who lost their houses here. They certainly couldn’t expect any help from the government, and since it was flood damage most of them were not covered by insurance.
Well, my brother-in-law’s friend is one of the ones whose house was flooded. Over the past two years, my brother-in-law has spent every weekend at this friend’s house helping gut and rebuild. The friend and his family finally moved back in a few weeks ago. This is not as exciting as thowing yourself onto subway tracks to save someone, but in its slow way it is much, much more important. I hope I have such a friend if I am ever in such need.
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Actually, it turns out that I’m just full of inappropriate responses to this post. My brother-in-law is a hero, in my opinion, though I doubt he fits any of your categories.
You may (or may not) recall Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Dennis flooded parts of Georgia. Once Katrina hit, it was pretty much forgotten by all but the people who lost their houses here. They certainly couldn’t expect any help from the government, and since it was flood damage most of them were not covered by insurance.
Well, my brother-in-law’s friend is one of the ones whose house was flooded. Over the past two years, my brother-in-law has spent every weekend at this friend’s house helping gut and rebuild. The friend and his family finally moved back in a few weeks ago. This is not as exciting as thowing yourself onto subway tracks to save someone, but in its slow way it is much, much more important. I hope I have such a friend if I am ever in such need.
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Not sure if this is the sort of thing you’re looking for since it was pretty much a one-time deal, but this soap opera cast did some time in New Orleans:
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl012407jbguiding.17b58372.html
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Not sure if this is the sort of thing you’re looking for since it was pretty much a one-time deal, but this soap opera cast did some time in New Orleans:
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl012407jbguiding.17b58372.html
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Not sure if this is the sort of thing you’re looking for since it was pretty much a one-time deal, but this soap opera cast did some time in New Orleans:
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl012407jbguiding.17b58372.html
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Not sure if this is the sort of thing you’re looking for since it was pretty much a one-time deal, but this soap opera cast did some time in New Orleans:
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl012407jbguiding.17b58372.html
Posted by satogaeru on June 18, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Actually, it turns out that I’m just full of inappropriate responses to this post. My brother-in-law is a hero, in my opinion, though I doubt he fits any of your categories.
You may (or may not) recall Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Dennis flooded parts of Georgia. Once Katrina hit, it was pretty much forgotten by all but the people who lost their houses here. They certainly couldn’t expect any help from the government, and since it was flood damage most of them were not covered by insurance.
Well, my brother-in-law’s friend is one of the ones whose house was flooded. Over the past two years, my brother-in-law has spent every weekend at this friend’s house helping gut and rebuild. The friend and his family finally moved back in a few weeks ago. This is not as exciting as thowing yourself onto subway tracks to save someone, but in its slow way it is much, much more important. I hope I have such a friend if I am ever in such need.
Posted by jaysaint on June 24, 2007 at 12:08 am
While you’re right that it doesn’t fit the whole Heroes thing, I’m so glad I asked. I’m always happy to get to hear about people like your brother-in-law. It sounds like your high estimation of him is right on.