The Tennessean, then 16, was scuba diving in the Florida Keys in 2005 when a boat's wake dragged him into its propellers. While his parents, both doctors, sprung into action, his legs could not be spared.

Luckily, $24,000 prosthetics allowed Thomas to return to the golf course. But while hospitalized, he discovered that many insurance plans cover only $5,000 worth of prosthetic bills. Now a college student, he created the Jordan Thomas Foundation, which has raised $400,000 for children in need of prosthetics.

A church group in Toledo, Ohio, is dishing it out goodwill that people can actually sink their teeth into.

On the 11th day of every month, members of the new Threshold Church gather at a pizza joint in Toledo. While there, the church members pay for someone else's meal. This month, it was at Chuck E. Cheese's near the mall. Last month it was PizzaPapali's. And in October, Cici's Pizza Buffet.

"We are on a quest to find Toledo's best pizza," said church member Josh Humberger.

The free pizza is just a small part of the church's goal to feed 5,000 people in the community in one year. In addition to the 11-7 pizza meetings (They meet the 11th of every month at 7 p.m.), the church reaches out to others regularly, feeding the homeless, college students and others who simply need food.

While all churches seek to build their congregations, Humberger said the free meals are part of a biblical passage that calls for believers to go out and help others.

"It is not about trying to attract people to come into church," he said.

Driving through Minneapolis in the wee hours of the night, Law often works 18 hours a day feeding the homeless and hungry. Last year, he handed out 85,000 sandwiches. This year, he's on track to hand out 170,000.

"As long as I see people's lives changing, it's worth it," said Law, whose full-time volunteer efforts began the day after his retirement.

The 64-year-old former middle school teacher has the words "Love One Another" printed on his van, which is stocked with food and water. At his condo, five freezers are crammed with sandwiches. Meanwhile, his bed is covered with coats he is collecting for the homeless.

"If everyone just helped a little, said a kind word to everybody, the world could be a better place," he said.

A group of good Samaritans in Evergreen, Colorado, ran into another good Samaritan, who in turn made it easier for the first group of good Samaritans to do what they do.

We know -- that sounds pretty confusing. But let us explain:

It started with a meeting at the historic Bistro restaurant in the Rockies. Eight members of the Conifer Lions had gathered there to discuss how they were going to purchase gifts for the residents of a local battered women's shelter. At a nearby table, a man was eating alone, prompting one of the Lions members to give him a card, inviting him to a future meeting. The Lions then continued to eat their meals and discuss the gifts.

"When it came time for our bill, the owner came over and told me that the man who had been dining near us had paid our bill in full," said Lions member Marilyn Haas. "He was gone without a mention of his gift to us."

With most Bistro dinners starting at $16, it wasn't a cheap tab. Stunned by the gesture, the Lions members decided to pay it forward.

"We agreed to take the money we were going to pay for our dinners and add it to the amount we had budgeted for gifts," Haas said. "His contribution allowed us to more than double our gift budget."

When 24-year-old inmate Douglas E. Burden began strangling Ken Moon, a guard at the Orient Road Jail near Tampa, Fla., four other inmates rushed to Moon's rescue. Burden was punched and knocked to the ground as Moon, 64, was freed from a potentially deadly martial arts choke hold.

The heroic inmates, who are facing charges ranging from attempted murder to aggravated assault, were credited with saving Moon's life. As a result, Deputy Larry McKinnon of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department has written letters of support for the inmates, which will go into their court files.

"This is just an indication that these guys that were in there for all these violent crimes still have some goodness in their hearts," McKinnon said.

Davis, who has terminal cancer, has collected more than 50,000 books for needy libraries in the state. The 64-year-old hopes to double that before he dies.

"This is something I can do before I'm gone," he said.

The retired truck driver was inspired to collect books after seeing a television show about high dropout rates, drug use and teen pregnancies in some Eastern Kentucky counties. Recovering from radiation treatments, he began calling friends, asking them for books he could donate to libraries.

"If we don't do something now to keep kids in school and give them a good education, this whole country is going to hell in a handbasket," said the father of four college graduates.

When cancer was found in his brain, lungs and hip, doctors gave him a year to 18 months to live. Treatment led to remission, but the cancer spread to his neck, lower spine and stomach, prompting Davis to forgo future surgery or radiation.

Now he takes medication that improves his energy level, allowing him to better pursue his book campaign.

Two years ago, Billy Crowley, a 14-year-old Massachusetts boy with Down syndrome, received a tricycle from a local support group. But when Billy left the bike in his driveway this October, someone ran off with it.

For Billy's mother, Kathy, it marked yet another setback in a string of bad luck. Recently, her wallet was stolen, her car broke down, and she came down with pneumonia.

Fortunately, as she lay in a hospital, her streak ended. An anonymous donor -- who had read about the theft in the local paper -- dropped off a new tricycle, which was very similar to the old one.

"I'm so thankful," Billy's mom said of the donor. "He brought back my belief in people."

After Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump was arrested for driving without a license, Mayer confessed, via Twitter, to having been arrested for the same offense in 2001. Then the singer-songwriter challenged celebrity gossip site TMZ to find his mug shot. If TMZ could meet the challenge, the pop/blues artist pledged to donate $25,000 to the charity of TMZ's choice.

Well, TMZ is pretty good with digging up mug shots ...

When the site found Mayer's mug, courtesy of the Atlanta police, TMZ honcho Harvey Levin told him to pay up. Mayer has held up his end of the bet. Ever since, TMZ has posted updates on dogs his contributions have saved -- including a mutt named Mayer.

As employers continue to lay off workers nationwide, Cristiano Cora is offering free haircuts to the unemployed. Cora, who normally charges $300 for haircuts, first offered the freebies during a two-day event in November. Then he decided to continue offering free cuts every Tuesday until the economy gets better.

"My goal is to make you look good, so you can walk away [and] you feel good," Cora said. "You're going to go for an interview, and feel the energy, and the feeling you have is going to help you get a job."

Anyone is eligible for the free cut so long as he or she can show proof of unemployment.

Leslie Riddle, who was laid off in November, recently took advantage of the free offer so she can look good in her search for new work.

"It's very selfless, and I'm a big believer in the giving-back program," Riddle said.

Months before the vampire movie was set for release, Ray knew the film's plot, having found the top-secret script in a St. Louis dumpster. (The script was possibly tossed away by an actress filming a George Clooney movie there.) While she considered ways to make money from the script, believed to be worth thousands, Ray decided to track down its owners.

As a reward for her good deed, production company Summit Entertainment offered her two tickets to the L.A. premiere of the film. However, the company did not offer to cover airfare, estimated at $1,200.

So we'll offer a Nice One to Ray but a You Could Do Better Nice One to Summit.

Norton, whose film credits include 'Fight Club' and 'The Incredible Hulk,' recently ran the 26-mile New York City Marathon to raise money and awareness for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. Despite battling pain in his shins and his Achilles' heel, the 40-year-old finished the race in three hours and 48 minutes.

"I got my second wind around Mile 18 and felt great the rest of the way," said Norton, a former competitive rower at Yale.

During the marathon, Norton ran with three members of the Maasai tribe, which is famous for its distance runners. The trust aims to promote the conservation, education and health of the Maasai community in East Africa.

The following Nice One was submitted by Robert Hilton, an employee of the Blue Bay Inn in Atlantic Highlands, N.J.

People who lose jobs don't normally make plans to stay at nice, European-style hotels near the beach. But a hotel in New Jersey is going to turn 23 unlucky people into lucky ones in its 'Hotels for the Holidays' campaign.

The owners of the Blue Bay Inn invited people who lost their jobs within the past 180 days to vie for free two-night stays. (Winners were selected randomly from the qualified pool of applicants.) The package includes a complimentary Job Seekers Success Workshop.

"In tough times like these, offering a little hope to your neighbor is the least we can do," said Dido Krikorian, who owns the hotel with her husband, Sark. "Let's say it's our version of a stimulus package."

Winners are invited to bring one guest, and the package includes admission to a cocktail party at the Copper Canyon Restaurant, located in the hotel.

The inn is a boutique hotel in Atlantic Highlands, one of the oldest towns on the Jersey Shore, with quick access to -- and views of -- Manhattan. The Krikorians modeled their 27-room hotel, opened in 2004, after one they had seen in Paris.

The free stays begin Jan. 2.

In fact, only five people knew Cribbs, a kick returner with the Cleveland Browns, was going to make the low-key appearance. Drake only found out just before taking the field.

Drake's father, Mike Drake, was an assistant coach at Kent State when he recruited Cribbs. Sadly, Drake died of cancer in 2005, at age 48. Cribbs thought appearing with Michael on Senior Night would be a nice way to honor Drake -- his coach and friend -- while supporting Drake's family.

"It was something that I had to do, I felt obligated to do," Cribbs said. "It turned out to be a great evening. Everybody was trying to hold back tears."

Later, Michael Drake's team won, 17-7.

It was quite a day for Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

Just hours after his team won the World Series, Girardi was driving along the Cross County Parkway in Eastchester, NY, when he spotted a motorist who had collided with a concrete wall. Girardi had his wife call 911, pulled his vehicle aside, then dashed across a dangerous highway to check on the driver, 27-year-old Marie Henry of Stratford, Conn.

"As bad as the car looked, I was really concerned," Girardi said.

The manager, who was on his way home after his team's championship celebrations, stayed with a shaken Henry until police arrived.

Henry, who only suffered minor injuries, did not recognize the Yankees manager, but she's now a fan for life.

After all, the "generosity-based publisher" gives away every book it publishes. While that unique business plan doesn't generate revenue, it does generate charity.

The approach is simple: Concord will give you a book free of charge, but in return it encourages you to donate money to charity. Then it asks you to tell them what you did before passing the book on to someone else.

Recently, the Massachusetts publisher offered up 2,500 copies of 'The Next Queen of Heaven,' by best-selling author Gregory Maguire ('Wicked,' 'A Lion Among Men'). Readers who have received the novel have reported making donations to charities including Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, National Public Radio and the National Cat Protection Society.

Every now and then Santa will ditch the reindeer in favor of a hog.

At least when Don Parkinson is playing the Jolly Fat Man.

For the past 18 years, the Georgia man has donned the red and white and hit the open road on his motorcycle. His mission: to deliver toys and gift cards to children of poor families. Fortunately, Parkinson doesn't go at it alone -- he has his own elves, in this case fellow bikers who pitch in with the deliveries.

"We usually have as many as 400 to 500 bikes and 700 riders show up to designated drop-off places in three counties in our area," said Don's wife, Marilyn.

The Buck Jones Toy Run, as it's called, takes place "rain or shine" the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

"Unfortunately, this year it was raining, but we still held the ride," Marilyn said.

While Parkinson has participated in the run for nearly two decades, last year was a challenge, as the Parkinson's struggled to deal with the suicide of their son, Wyatt, the previous September. But two months later, Don was back on his hog, delivering toys. The couple has also raised $22,000 in their son's name for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. This spring they held an "Out of Darkness Ride" in their son's name for the Atlanta chapter of AFSP.

"This was the first time we did this, and we hope that maybe we can continue the motorcycle rides for the AFSP," Marilyn said.

Ziggy North, of Eastern Australia, was playing in his backyard when a red-bellied black snake approached. By the time Ziggy's grandmother, Lesley Gibson, saw the slithery reptile, it was between the jaws of Mojo, the family's 4-year-old dog.

"The dog was shaking the snake, and it snapped in half, with the head ending up near Ziggy, and it was still moving, before the dog went and grabbed it again," Gibson said.

The incident occurred during a rough time for Mojo, who recently lost his buddy Noddles, the family's other dog. Noodles ran away during a storm and hasn't returned.

"He's never been without her," said Ziggy's mother, Koran North.

But ever since he saved Ziggy, North reports, Mojo has developed a strong bond with the boy. As a result, North says she would never consider replacing Noodles.

It started when a 93-year-old woman wrote to Williams, saying she had known his father -- legendary country music pioneer Hank Williams Sr. -- who died 56 years ago. After an initial conversation with the woman by phone, Williams was on a plane to Alabama. After talking to the woman in person, Williams -- who was only 3 when his father died -- called the Country Music Hall of Fame, advising them to send someone to interview her. Then the country star brought out his guitar and performed an hourlong set for the 80 residents at the facility.

He closed with 'The Last Drifting Cowboy,' a song he'd written about his dad.

The safe -- which once belonged to the city's first mayor -- hasn't been opened in half a century, and no one knows what, if anything, is in it. They might know if Saunders had the combination, but he doesn't. And his family doesn't want anyone to drill into the artfully decorated, 130-year-old box.

"Chances are, it's empty," said Adam Benson, manager of Everett Safe and Lock. "This hand-painted safe is more valuable as-is. It's in phenomenal shape."

Mark Swinnerton, the safe's original owner, was elected mayor of Marysville in 1891 and bought the safe for his mercantile. When he died, he willed the safe to his daughter, who eventually willed it to her son, who eventually willed it to his son -- Saunders.

Saunders had wanted to keep the safe in the family, but the cost to ship the 2,500-pound safe was prohibitive. So the mayor's great-grandson donated it, keeping the historical treasure in Marysville.

"It's part of Marysville's history," Saunders said. Then he joked, "If the guy from Everett can't crack it, they might be able to find somebody in a California prison with some experience on old safes."

The following Nice One is based on a submission by Bianca Sanchez, a kindergarten teacher at the New Open World Academy in Los Angeles.

A location once known for tragedy was the site of something much more uplifting this Thanksgiving.

Teachers at New Open World Academy in Los Angeles raised enough food to fill 21 Thanksgiving baskets, which were given to needy families at the school. The pilot school, which opened this year in the Los Angeles Unified School District, is located at the former site of the Ambassador Hotel. It was there that presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.

The hotel, which has also been the site of several films and numerous Academy Award ceremonies, was demolished in 2005. NOW is the first of three schools planned for the land it once occupied.

After one NOW teacher brainstormed the Thanksgiving basket idea, fundraisers were held. What the school didn't raise in the fund-raising events -- which included a sock hop -- was supplemented by teachers, who donated enough for the needy families to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.

The dinner effort suits the school's mission -- to produce college-ready students who are focused on social justice.


Learn how to submit your Nice One here.