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From Africa to the NFL, and back again

Madieu Williams is better known for his work as a free safety for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings than for his efforts in West Africa. But when he's not trying to stop the NFL's best receivers, he's committed to bringing better health and education to his native Sierra Leone. NBC's Ron Allen reports.

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Making a Difference in Haiti
Nightly News
Bringing the World Cup to Haiti

  Making a Difference: Martin Fletcher reports on the work of FilmAid International to help bring a little happiness to Haitians who are still struggling to cope in the aftermath of the earthquake.

FilmAid International
Nightly News
Americans step up to help Haiti

  Jan. 26: Americans from all walks of life – from celebrities like John Travolta to 9-year-old Connor Howard – have been opening their hearts and pockets for victims of the Haitian quake. NBC’s Mark Potter reports.

Nightly News
Treating trauma

  Jan. 25: Basil Jackson, a 78-year-old psychologist from Milwaukee, put his life on hold to tend to Haiti’s most vulnerable earthquake victims – nursing not just the physical, but also the psychological wounds. NBC’s Mara Schiavocampo reports

Nursing the homeland back to health

  Jan. 28: Seeing their country of origin in crisis, a group of Haitian-American medical professionals were compelled to return and offer help. NBC's Mara Schiavocampo reports.


msn butterfly awards

$10,000 to their charity

Brad and Libby Birky believe that everybody who walks into their restaurant, the Same Café in Denver, Colorado, deserves to eat well. That's why they've been chosen as the 2010 msn Butterfly Awards "Best Hometown Hero."

Meet the award nominees
Watch the nominated reports



In Denver, a pay-what-you-can café

March 9: In Denver, a little kindness is being served at a cafe where no one--not even non-paying customers--gets turned away. NBC's Roger O'Neil reports.




Celebrities Making a Difference, Part One
Nightly News
Glenn Close

  Nov. 11: The actress has played dozens of powerful parts, but off-screen she's taken on a supporting role at a recovery center for people with mental illness.

  Full interview
Nightly News
Halle Berry

  Nov. 12: Actress Halle Berry draws on her family's painful experience with domestic abuse to help others. NBC's Natalie Morales reports.


  Full interview
Nightly News
Tim McGraw

  Nov. 13: Making a Difference: The country music megastar talks about the work he and wife Faith Hill are doing to help their home region recover from an epic disaster. NBC's Amy Robach reports.

  Full interview


Nightly News
Bon Jovi

  Nov. 9: Rocker Jon Bon Jovi is helping to bring new options for affordable housing to Philadelphia and New Jersey. NBC's Brian Williams reports.


  Full interview
Nightly News
Alicia Keys

  Nov. 10: NBC's Lester Holt travels to Durban, South Africa, to meet with some of those who benefit from the charitable efforts of singer Alicia Keys.


  Full interview


Afghanistan
Nightly News

Viewers make a difference

Nov. 3: The children from a Kabul orphanage who were featured in a recent Nightly News report spent the weekend writing thank-you notes to the viewers who reached out to help.

Nightly News

A home for war's orphans

Oct. 30 2009: Andeisha Farid is making a difference in a dangerous place, providing a safe haven in Afghanistan. NBC’s Brian Williams reports.

"All of us were deeply moved by this small patch of goodwill and hope... in a city that has experienced so much hardship."

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