Real Life Stories

When our nominator traveled abroad, she returned home to find her lawn neatly mowed. That’s just how this neighborhood rolls.

Newcomers discover that a population explosion couldn’t diminish just how friendly this town is, even after tragedy strikes.

The students’ goal was to fill a jar full of money for the needy. It’s two decades later, and they...

A community of senior citizens remember the young men and women serving overseas by sending them goody bags chock-full of...

The local pizzeria owner made sure his Amish neighbors never went hungry. When his restaurant burned down, they repaid the...

When this town helped women struggling with addiction get back on their feet, they repaid the favor.

As the people of this seaside town fight to save their library, the librarians go about their business, serving the...

People go hungry everywhere, every day. In this tiny town, help is here, and everyone pitches in, even guests.

A transplant to the south has found a home in a town that is so nice, she says, “It’s made...

A toe-tapping city welcomes everyone to dance their blues away.

Each winter, people drape coats, gloves, and scarves on the town’s statues. It’s for the needy to take, and it’s...

This non-traditional school uses soccer to help refugees learn, and it has a 100% college acceptance rate.

To bring people together, this traditional Southern city embraces its past—both the good and the bad.

"Aloha" is a way of life on Hawaii, and this place truly embodies the spirit.

Every year, folk dancers and musicians from around the world come to this out-of-the-way town to strut their stuff, and...

Most people don’t want a drug treatment addict as a neighbor. In this town, they’re met with open arms.

An act of vandalism against an LGBT couple brings a neighborhood together and teaches a powerful lesson to the next...

Letters to Santa make their way to this frosty town, where folks keep the Christmas spirit alive for kids around...

When young people in a small town need a place to play, residents do what it takes to give to...

A student club is making it their mission to make high school a friendlier place for kids who could use...

For a period of 24-hours, no place in America has greater community spirit.

A friendly town gets into an unfriendly battle with polluters, and wins!

Small towns need a place to meet, talk and share. In this tiny town, that need was met in a...

Often, townies and tourists don’t gel. In this seaside town, they’re one in the same.

It's hard to find a house in this neighborhood because people hardly leave, and when they do, they sell to...

The spirit of Thanksgiving lives on every day here as new settlers are as welcome as the very first pilgrims...

There is still a lot of good in this world.

Survivors of the USS Indianapolis 
spent days bobbing in the sea enduring sharks, blistering sun, and dehydration. How they conducted...

The Disney megahit was almost a disaster, until a series of creative brainstorms saved the day.