- Smileworthy
- Posts
- ๐ณ From viral meme to $300k raised
๐ณ From viral meme to $300k raised
Your good news roundup from Happily!
Remember that confused double-blink GIF you've sent a thousand times? The guy behind it just proved viral moments can fuel real-world good. That's the kind of can-do spirit we're all in favor of here at Smileworthy towers.
P.S. ๐ Hey, new subscribers! Thanks for joining us this week. Consider this your official welcome to the good news corner of the internet - we're glad you're here.
Not a subscriber yet? Sign up here!
Quick Lift โค๏ธ
A feel good story from Happilynews.com guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
She Brought Back The Name He Thought Was Gone Forever

When Charles Clark Jr. walked into his granddaughter's hospital room on April 9, he wasn't expecting the flood of emotion that would hit him moments later.
The 80-year-old from Berlin, New Jersey, had come to meet his great-granddaughter for the first time at Virtua Voorhees Hospital. But as he approached the bassinet, he noticed something special: photos of his late mother, Elsie, carefully arranged around the newborn baby.
That's when it clicked. His great-granddaughter had been named Elsie Drew Weaver, in honor of the grandmother she would never meet.
Charles immediately welled up, tears filling his eyes as he tried to hold back the emotion. The gesture brought back decades of memories of his mother, a woman known for her humor and love, traits Charles himself carries today.

Vanessa Weaver, Charles' granddaughter and the baby's mother, had grown up just two doors down from her grandpa. The two share a close bond, and she'd always admired his giving, caring nature and his ability to make people belly laugh, just like his mother did.
When Vanessa found out she was having a girl, the decision was instant. She wanted to honor her grandpa by bringing his mother's name back into daily life.
"I felt so happy to bring back the name he thought he would never use in daily life again," Vanessa said.
The moment was captured on video, showing Charles fighting back full waterworks as he processed the loving tribute. For Vanessa, it was proof of something powerful: a son's love for his mother never fades, no matter how many years pass.
"In this video, you can see a boy who simply misses his mom," she said. "Family is a gift."

Happy Headlines ๐ฐ
Itโs not all doom and gloom out there. Hereโs some positive news items from publications around the world.

Gif by mashable on Giphy
๐ณ Viral Blinking Guy Turns Meme Into Real-World Impact
Drew Scanlon became internet-famous for his confused double-blink reaction GIF, but he's spent the last decade turning that fleeting viral moment into something that actually matters. The San Francisco resident has raised over $300,000 for multiple sclerosis research through annual charity bike rides by redirecting meme fans to his donation site - turning even the most casual corner of the internet into fuel for good. (Watch the video ๐ CTV News)
๐ Landlines Make A Comeback For Gen Alpha Mental Health
Remember the days of spiral cords, busy signals, and actually talking instead of messaging? Parents are bringing back the landline for their kids, and it's working wonders. Families are swapping smartphones for old-school handsets, and kids are learning to hold actual conversations without filters or distractions. Two dozen families have joined the movement, with kids calling friends to make plans, tell jokes, and even ask each other to go fishing. Hereโs hoping this movement spreads some more - we could all do with a bit of analogue in our lives. (Read more ๐Maine Public)
๐ Doberman Takes On Grizzly And Saves Owner, Earns Hall Of Fame Spot
When Craig Campbell stumbled upon a grizzly sow and her cubs on an Alberta trail, his 10-year-old Doberman, Night, didn't hesitate. The dog placed himself between Campbell and the charging bear, barking and holding his ground until the grizzly backed off. Night's been inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, and Campbell's calling him the reason he's still here. Best friend doesn't even begin to cover it. (Read more ๐ CTV News)
โ๏ธ Renewables Finally Overtake Coal As World's Top Power Source
For the first time in over 50 years, renewable energy has knocked coal off the top spot as the world's leading electricity source. Solar and wind grew so fast in the first half of 2025 that they met 100% of new electricity demand globally and even helped cut coal and gas use slightly. Solar's doing the heavy lifting, with costs down 99.9% since 1975, making it cheap enough for countries like Pakistan to double their solar imports in a single year. It's a historic turning point, and clean energy is finally keeping pace with how fast the world's demand is growing. (Read more ๐ BBC)
๐จ Bob Ross Paintings To Beat The Devil Out Of Funding Cuts At Auction
Thirty Bob Ross originals are hitting the auction block to help rural public television stations hit by federal funding cuts. The paintings, most created on-air in under 30 minutes, could raise up to $1.4 million for stations struggling with licensing fees for programs like "America's Test Kitchen" and "This Old House." Ross dedicated his career to making art accessible to everyone, and now his serene mountain vistas and lake scenes are returning the favor to the medium that made him a household name. (Read more ๐ ABC News)
๐ Anonymous Donor Wipes Out Entire School District's Lunch Debt
One incredible human just erased all outstanding lunch debt for students across an entire Texas school district, letting families start fresh without the weight of unpaid meal balances. The donor chose to remain anonymous, and the district isn't revealing how much was paid off or how many kids were helped. But the move sparked hundreds of grateful messages online, with one commenter nailing it: "Kindness is contagious, let's spread it every day like this wonderful person." (Read more ๐ Sunny Skyz)
๐ French Polynesia Creates World's Largest Marine Park
French Polynesia just turned nearly its entire ocean territory into the world's biggest marine park, covering 4.8 million square kilometers, roughly the size of the EU. About a third will be fully protected with zero commercial fishing or mining, while local communities can still use traditional fishing methods in designated zones. The move protects some of the planet's healthiest coral reefs, sharks, whales, and sea turtles, and 92% of residents support it. It's a massive win for ocean life. (Read more ๐ Happy Eco News)
๐ California Bans Loud Streaming Ads (Finally, Someone Did It)
Starting July 2026, streaming services in California can't blast commercials louder than the shows you're actually watching. Governor Newsom signed the bill after hearing from exhausted parents whose sleeping babies kept getting jolted awake by blaring ads on Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. The law extends existing broadcast TV rules to streaming platforms, bringing "much-needed peace and quiet" to viewers who've been scrambling for the remote for years. Now roll this out everywhere, please. (Read more ๐ TechCrunch)

Snapshots ๐ธ
A unique, sometimes quirky, but always eye-catching photo feature each week.
When the Harvest Supermoon rose over New York City on October 6, photographers didn't just look up, they got creative. And the results were absolutely spectacular.
The first supermoon of 2025 appeared 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual, turning the night sky into a photographer's playground. From New Jersey, Gary Hershorn captured Lady Liberty cradling the massive glowing orb behind her (see above), with downtown Brooklyn's skyline stretching across the horizon. The timing, the angle, the sheer scale of it all made the iconic statue look like she was personally presenting the moon to anyone willing to look up.
Meanwhile, Mike Carroll caught a United Airlines plane slicing directly across the supermoon's face, the aircraft's wake creating a shimmering trail that made the moon itself look like it was moving. It's the kind of shot that requires patience, planning, and a bit of luck.
What made this Harvest Moon extra rare was its October timing. Usually, it appears in September, but 2025's lunar calendar placed it closer to the autumn equinox than usual, the first October Harvest Moon since 1987. Historically, farmers used the moon's extended light to work late into the night, gathering crops before winter arrived. These days, we're more likely to gather on rooftops with cameras, but the magic remains the same.

Support our mission to spread positive news worldwide while grabbing some positive merch. From positive mirror affirmation tees to smile mugs - grab a unique item.
And as a Smileworthy subscriber, unlock an exclusive discount with SMILE15 at checkout ๐
Fancy spreading some extra sunshine? โ๏ธ Your support helps us keep the good vibes flowing and brings these heartwarming stories to life. If you're able to consider buying our team a virtual coffee? โ It's like a warm hug, and it fuels our mission to share the best of humanity with you. Just click here to show your support! buymeacoffee.com/happily

Bright Bits โ๏ธ
A fun fact, a happiness hack, an inspiring quote, and a quick brain teaser - your feel-good four-pack.
๐ค Happiness Hack
Practice the "three good things" exercise - Write down three positive things that happened each day for one week. Research shows this simple habit can increase happiness and decrease depressive symptoms for up to six months. (Source: Greater Good in Action)
โSome Inspiring Wordsโ
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."
๐กFun Fact
Penguins propose with pebbles ๐ชจ๐ - Male Gentoo penguins search for the smoothest pebble to present to their chosen mate. If she accepts by placing it in her nest, they're partners for life. (Source: BBC Earth)
๐ง Brain Teaser
By changing the second letter of each word below, you can make another valid word.
Can you change each word such that the second letters will reveal an eleven-letter word when read downwards?
Therefore, what now reads 'vokahliuppw' will become a real word.
(1) oval
(2) post
(3) skin
(4) malt
(5) when
(6) slab
(7) miss
(8) fund
(9) aped
(10) sped
(11) sway
(Answer at the bottom of email)

Before You GoโฆA Serotonin Booster* ๐บ
A rescue dog who'd been saved from the streets herself wasn't about to let a tiny kitten face the rain alone ๐๐ฑ
*Studies show that watching cute, heartwarming videos can boost your mood. So sit back and start your weekend positively!

Thatโs it for this week. How did you find Smileworthy? Hit reply and let us know what you liked (or didnโt).
๐ Loved it
๐ซค Was okay
๐ Hated it
And donโt forget to share with your friends and family to brighten their day, too.
Have a great weekend!
~ Team Happily ๐
๐ง Brain Teaser Answer
Paperweight.
(1) opal
(2) past
(3) spin
(4) melt
(5) wren
(6) swab
(7) mess
(8) find
(9) aged
(10) shed
(11) stay
How did you do? Let us know if you have a brain teaser of your own. Weโll share the best.






