Bill Gates Wants to Build a Better Condom

Condoms are not a new technology, they are already available pretty much everywhere in the world and according to many experts they’ve helped millions of people in a number of ways. Obviously condoms are important in the worldwide fight against STDs but now Bill Gates and his foundation are hoping to improve on them once again. Bill Gates apparently started this program because he feels it could have a significant impact worldwide, currently there are millions of people dying from STDs because they do not use condoms for one reason or another.

The overall goal of Gates’ challenge is to create a condom that is not only effective but will also be used. In order to achieve this he insists that the condoms must be very cheap and should also be as minimal as possible in order to get past the current stigma many condoms have. Gates is hopeful that someone will step up to his challenge and if someone is successful he had pledged to provide significant funding to make it a reality.

This is great news because it could save millions of lives and put an end to the unnecessary spread of various diseases. Third world countries in particular are Gates’ target but he also hopes that the improved condoms will help in America and other developed countries as well.

Breezy Point teen raises $80 to rebuild hometown. Photo courtesy of John Makely / NBC News

When Hurricane Sandy made landfall at Breezy Point, a close knit community in Queens, NY, lifelong resident Matt Petronis was heartsick. Away at college in Washington, DC, he watched as the television played back the devastation that was hitting his childhood home. He realized that all his friends and family were there. The places where he learned to walk, talk, ride a bike, drive a car and pitch baseball were being demolished by the rain, wind and fires.

Petronis swung into action to help his community. He set up a fund raiser online through WePay.com and managed to raise a few thousand dollars in just a few hours. Within a couple of days, he had more than $10,000. Then offers of non-monetary help began to pour in from all over. Accountants and lawyers offered to help him set up a non-profit organization. Contractors, carpenters and other volunteers offered to help with clean up and reconstruction. By Thanksgiving, Petronis had amassed more than $78,000.

What made his efforts so successful? Timing. Petronis was able to get his fund raiser up quickly and it benefitted from all the news coverage showing the devastation in Breezy Point. People wanted to reach out and help. Because his site was up and running, they had a place to turn to. All of the money raised will be used to help rebuild Breezy Point. People can apply for assistance through anonymous forms to protect their identity as everyone in Breezy Point knows everyone else.

The 19 year old certainly understands the importance of community and giving back.

As fires rage across Colorado, volunteers fight to raise funds for the relief effort.

The devastating wildfires in Colorado have made national and worldwide news accounts in recent weeks and touched the hearts of many who wanted to do something to help. A group of local businesses and a few designers put their heads together and came up with some t-shirt designs they could sell with the profits going to relief efforts for the victims of the fire.

The group’s initial goal was to raise $1,500, more than they thought they could manage by opening their own wallets. As the news of their effort went viral on social media outlets, though, their initial goal was shattered. Sales surpassed predictions by a ridiculous amount and the group raise over $320,000 –in just six days! All of the profits are earmarked for Care and Share, a local food bank and the Colorado branch of the Red Cross as both groups are instrumental in providing relief for victims in the area.

The response has been overwhelming but not without problems too. The group could not handle the volume of sales they were getting and had to bring in a t-shirt shop in Denver to help with the project. The sudden inflow of cash also created some concern with PayPal, the group’s financial component in the project and they had to scramble to get their non-profit paperwork pushed through quickly to accommodate the requirements. Both of these are good problems to have and have been rectified.

The largest spike in orders came shortly after a large number of homes were destroyed last week. Orders were even received from Canada, Britain and Denmark.

Wild Fire Tees is now working on new designs and working on a plan to raise money to pay for shirts for all the firefighters as a simple thank you. Funds for 650 shirts have been raised and they are moving closer to their goal of 1000 – enough to clothe all the firefighters. The group has expanded their goal to $500,000 and wants to provide relief statewide for victims of the wildfires.

Funds raised for wheelchair basketball were stolen from 12 year old boy in wheelchair Photo Courtesy Bridges II Sports

In an effort to familiarize his North Carolina classmates with wheelchair basketball, a 12-year-old boy was working to raise funds for the event when he was robbed of his fund-raising cash.

Nolan Turner was born with spina bifida and had recently gotten involved with the sport which changed his life. His classmates had repeatedly asked about it and Nolan decided to see if he could raise enough money to stage a game locally so they could witness it firsthand.

With his mother, Amy Moore, watching over him from indoors due to her allergies that day, Nolan sat out front of his Cary, N.C. home on March 22 collecting donations. A stranger approached and made idle conversation before snatching the cash jar and making off into the woods with about $250.

Nolan screamed but the man got away. His mother didn’t even realize what had happened until she saw Nolan yelling and then putting his head down on his table. When she went outside, he told her he’d been robbed. Police located the jar with about $100 in change still inside but the cash gone. They continue to search for the man.

Nolan’s goal was to raise $1000 to host a wheelchair basketball event at his Briarwood Elementary School conducted by Bridge II Sports, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping adults and children with challenges be able to play individual and team sports.

Just after the theft, another man approached Nolan and learning of the theft, gave him $60. Since then, as the outside world learned of what happened to Nolan, the support, both emotional and financial, has been overwhelming. His fundraising efforts have now surpassed $25,000. One cruel act has elicited thousands of kind ones.

Turner couldn’t be happier. His classmates will be able to see a wheelchair basketball game close up and personal. Bridges II Sports will host a full-day event at Nolan’s school where the kids can even try the sport out themselves. The extra money will be used to help fund Camp Carefree events. Camp Carefree is a one-week summer camp program for kids with various health problems, which Nolan has attended in the past.

Why is wheelchair basketball so important to Nolan? His mother explains that as they were eating pizza after his very first game, Nolan commented that playing made him feel like a normal person. He’s always been the oddity and this is a place where he can compete and feel good.

Undaunted by his experience, Nolan will next attempt fundraising for track and field wheelchairs which can cost $5000 each. He told his mother he was going to become the Martin Luther King, Jr. of the disabled. Way to go, Nolan.