Former President Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, in Charlottesville, Va., has received a $10 million gift from a Washington philanthropist. It will fund the reconstruction of Mulberry Row, the community where slaves lived on the plantation in the 18th century, helping visitors more fully understand the history of the plantation. (Steve Helber/AP/File)
9:16 am ET -A gift from a philanthropist will recreate Mulberry Row, which housed slaves at Monticello, the plantation of the author of the Declaration of Independence and the words 'all men are created equal.'
People Making a Difference (View all)
- Saudi Arabia launches first campaign to stop violence against women
- A different road out of poverty: saving instead of borrowing
- Civic Accelerator boosts young businesses who want to do good
- Ben Affleck will live on $1.50 to support charity (+video)
- After Boston Marathon bombing: Faith in Watertown
- LeanIn.Org pushes women to stick with career ambitions
- EcoZoom builds a market for clean cookstoves in developing economies
- Copenhagen makes an ambitious push to be carbon neutral by 2025
- Difference Maker: Paul Giniès turned a failing African university into a world-class problem-solver
- Patrons praise restaurant staff near Boston Marathon blast
More People Making a Difference
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Circle of Six aims to stop rape
A phone app that quickly alerts six friends if a woman feels threatened is expanding from the US to New Delhi and possibly Mexico City.
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After Boston Marathon blast, many show kindness to runners
Gestures were as small as offering a drink of orange juice or the use of a cell phone or bathroom to taking runners into their homes or businesses.
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Rural electric co-ops go green
Electric cooperatives have served rural Americans for generations. Some are taking advantage of their member-owned status to begin weaning their regions off of fossil fuels.
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Fiji students set to become the world's savviest savers
The project will teach money-management skills to young students in Fiji using innovative techniques, such as games, that engage as well as inform.
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Difference Maker
Claudio Miranda's music is taming a once-violent Brazilian neighborhoodRaised in one of the world's most dangerous neighborhoods in São Paulo, Brazil, he now helps youths reimagine themselves creatively through music, video production, art, performances, and education.
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Girls just want to have fun ... in high-tech careers
Girls Who Code steers young women toward careers in science and technology, fields traditionally dominated by men that face a shortage of workers in the future.
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Start an orphanage in the Philippines at age 80? Of course!
When a man offered to sell Lois Prater his child, her shock turned to action. Refusing to let her age stop her, she founded King's Garden Children's Home.
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In Lebanon, a doctor offers comfort and healing to refugees from neighboring wars
Dr. Irad Beldjebel spends his days not only treating refugees, but serving as an all-round counselor to those fleeing violence – a trusty shoulder to lean on for people who are often traumatized by the past and unsure about the future.
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How to curb invasive species? Eat 'em
Karen Monger says there's a more sustainable alternative to culling, pulling, or poisoning invasive plants: Put them on the dinner table.
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A small foundation learns how to make a big difference in juvenile justice
The Tow Foundation focuses on Connecticut organizations that work to change how courts treat young people and that help youths stay out of trouble, its executive director says.
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Difference Maker
Bryan Hoddle helps wounded vets run – and dream – againHe's more than a track coach: He's a counselor and a friend, listening to a life story.
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Zimbabwe's farmers dig in to capture a deluge
With no access to groundwater, and no help from local authorities, farmers in drought-stricken Zimbabwe have grouped together to dig ponds to capture precious rainwater.
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How Ontario is putting an end to coal-burning power plants
Ontario is on the verge of becoming the first industrial region in North America to eliminate all coal-fired electrical generation. Here’s how Canada’s most populous province did it – and what the US can learn from it.
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New nonprofit joint venture will tell the positive stories of Afghanistan
The Afghan Dreamers project will highlight 'really good people doing really amazing things' that 12 years of war has overshadowed.
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Crop insurance helps Kenya's urban poor return to farming
The plan compensates farmers with fertilizer and seed for their crop losses, with the aim of helping them start over after a loss.
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Herschel Walker tells soldiers: 'Don't be afraid to ask for help'
The former NFL superstar openly shares his struggles with mental problems – and the help he's received – with soldiers, including some who are struggling to adjust after duty in the Middle East.
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German village offers a blueprint for green energy
A 60-minute drive south of Berlin, Feldheim attracts international attention as Germany's first and only energy self-sufficient village.
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Panera pay-what-you-want chili introduced in St. Louis stores
Panera 'pay-what-you-want' turkey chili has been introduced in the café chain's St. Louis locations. The turkey chili entree is an extension of anti-hunger efforts for Panera, which already operates 'pay-what-you-want' community cafés in five major cities.
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Seeds from Anne Frank's tree bring message of tolerance to US
Eleven saplings grown from seeds taken from the massive chestnut tree that stood outside the home in which Frank and her family hid from Nazis are being distributed to museums, schools, parks, and Holocaust remembrance centers through a project led by The Anne Frank Center USA.
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Gina Lollobrigida jewels estimated at $3 million to be sold for charity
Gina Lollobrigida jewels: The Italian actress plans to sell 22 jewels in an auction to raise funds for stem cell research. Gina Lollobrigida says it's time to give back.
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