We'd like to introduce you to another 2009 winner of our "Teacher as Hero" Awards, sponsored by State Farm®.

Barbara Murray-Dixon is a 2nd grade teacher at the Patton J. Hill School in Trenton, NJ, and has spent the last 30 years nurturing and caring for students in the Trenton Public School District. 

Her dedication knows no bounds.  She literally teaches day and night.  During the day, she meets the needs of some of New Jersey’s most vulnerable children in her classroom.  She is both loving and firm – there is no reason that her students cannot succeed; no reason that they will not meet and exceed district standards.  Outside of the classroom, she travels throughout the district to continue her teaching.  She meets students - some expelled, some suspended, and some gravely ill – directly in their homes.  No student lives too far, or in too rough of a neighborhood, for Barbara.  She coaches cheerleading and basketball, raises funds for schools and educators, and works with the Police Athletic League to prevent teen pregnancy.  She has done all of this while working toward her MBA and while battling a chronic illness.

Like all great educators, she does not waver in the face of challenges, no matter how big.  For 30 years, she has been the foundation upon which hundreds of students have built their futures. Congratulations, Barbara!

Bob Moore had a surprise on his birthday this February 15. The 81-year-old Hero of Character and founder of "Bob's Red Mill" organic foods received many gifts, but the surprise is what he gave away.

He announced that his company, which earns approximately $40 million per year, will soon belong to his employees. He's not retiring, though. He says, "I may have given them the company, but the boss part is still mine."

Mr. Moore started this company almost by accident. He was an electrical and mechanical engineer, not a miller. But he read a book about stone-grinding, the traditional method of milling grain, and something clicked for him. After his wife Charlee had begun to tell him about the benefits of whole-grain foods, they started milling their own grain.

Years later, they decided to retire. They moved to Oregon to relax and enjoy a life of leisure, but something in town caught Bob's eye. He was out for a walk one day, thinking, when he passed an abandoned mill.

Thirty years and four mills later, "Bob's Red Mill" is one of the biggest producers of organic whole-grain foods in the country. Their gluten-free products are a lifesaver for the millions of Americans who suffer from celiac disease. Eating even miniscule amounts of gluten, a protein in wheat and related grains, can make people with celiac disease very sick. Most food companies don't make gluten-free food. Bob has committed himself to these customers, and so they've committed themselves to "Bob's Red Mill."

The company has been growing at a fast pace year after year. Many companies have wanted to buy Bob's business, but he always refused. Even when they offered him more money than he had ever made in his life, he still said, "No."

"It’s been my dream all along to turn this company over to the employees," Bob said. "I get to spend every day with our many loyal and long-time employees who will now share in ownership." His company didn't succeed because of his hard work - it succeeded because of his hard work, AND the hard work of his millers, packagers, salespeople, and executives.

Bob wants them to enjoy the company's success as much as he has. In this age of lay-offs, mergers, and "Too Big to Fail," it's refreshing to see such a humble and fair businessman in action. But Bob doesn't want his good deeds to end there. Roger Farner, one of the employees and new owners, sees the greater plan. "Bob is basically passing the entrepreneurial torch on to his employees and is instilling in us [the idea] that hard work provides rewards."

That's what's so great about good deeds. When you do one, you're improving the world in your own way, and you're also inspiring others to improve the world in their way. Let's hear it for Bob Moore! If you have stories of inspiring Heroes of Character, please let us know. And if you'd like to learn about thousands of heroes from all over the world, come in to the National Liberty Museum. We're located at 321 Chestnut St., right in the heart of historic Old City Philadelphia. 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.

If you'd like a guided tour of the museum, click here for more info.

One of our 2009 TD Bank Young Heroes Awards actually went out to a pair of Young Heroes, two cousins who worked together to help the sick.

Erika and Mike are a phenomenal pair who put their compassion, ingenuity and friendship into action. When two of their family members were diagnosed with breast cancer within 6 months of each other, they learned how much this disease can devastate a family.  Erika and Mike decided to take action.  They joined the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” to raise money for the cause.

However, they realized that more work needed to be done. Although there are many charities that raise money to find a cure, there weren’t any that directly helped those receiving treatment. Women dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer face many hardships. Hospital bills, transportation costs, and prescriptions add up very quickly. Some patients are single mothers, and time spent in treatment means less time at work and less money for the family.

So Erika and Mike each committed $500 of their own money to start a non-profit, “Breast Friends Forever.”  Recently, the B.F.F. Gala celebration raised $37,000 in one evening! These two Young Heroes used their heads, hearts, and hands to help out in a way that no one had ever done before. Bravo to these two Young Heroes!

Do you know any heroes, 18 years old or younger, who are doing some outstanding things in your school or community? Nominate them for a 2010 TD Bank Young Heroes Award. To see more of the 2009 TD Bank Young Heroes (and heroes of all ages), visit the National Liberty Museum! We're open Tuesday - Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

On January 21, we held our annual "Teacher as Hero" Awards sponsored by State Farm®. Typically, this award recognizes individual heroism, but one of this year's awards went to a TEAM of educators.

Heroes never work in isolation.  All of us depend on others for support and encouragement.  It’s very rare, though, to see two heroes who complement one another so well, and who work to sustain each other through their shared efforts.  These two educators both serve communities in West Philadelphia. Ms. Breese teaches tenth through twelfth grades at Overbrook High School, and Mr. Reed teaches sixth grade at Beeber Middle School.

Although they are both busy serving the academic and emotional needs of their students, they commit their free time to professional growth, attending Teacher Institutes at places like Yale and the University of Pennsylvania.  Their hard work and perseverance does not go unnoticed.  The American Federation of Teachers selected Bonnee to discuss education reform with President Obama at a Town Hall meeting.  Samuel has raised over $50,000 in grants to teach students about their own cultural heritages, and about the cultural diversity of the world.  Improving education has been their mission, which is why they work so hard to expand the horizons of their students and to elevate the professional development of their peers.

Bonnee and Samuel have approached school reform on two fronts, working to change their institutions while also working to improve themselves.  Their dedication and selflessness are why we awarded them both the title of "Teacher as Hero."  They remind us that there is still much work to be done, and that we achieve our goals faster when we all work together.

Congratulations to this dynamic duo, and if you would like to see more of this year's "Teacher as Hero" Award winners, come visit us at the National Liberty Museum.

Hobbes: How come we play war and not peace?

Calvin: Too few role models.

Every year, the National Liberty Museum holds our Caretoon Contest in partnership with the L.W. Pierce Family Foundation. We started this program a few years ago, after a Danish newspaper printed some cartoons that offended many Muslims. When rioting and violence broke out in many countries around the world, we decided to harness the power of cartooning and use it for good, to build community, friendship, and peace.

Last year, we had entries from the U.S., France, China, Iran, and 33 other countries. This year, we're hoping the contest will become even more international. The theme for this year's Caretoon Contest is "Heroes of Character."

When I think of cartoons, international appeal, and heroes who show character, one person comes to mind - Bill Watterson.

Twenty-five years ago, he created an unassuming comic strip about a boy and his stuffed tiger. "Calvin and Hobbes" wasn't your run-of-the-mill comic strip, though. Mr. Watterson used it to talk about the things that are important to him, like creativity, passion, imagination, friendship and how tough it sometimes seems to lead a good, principled life. "We all have different desires and needs," he's said, "but if we don't discover what we want from ourselves and what we stand for, we will live passively and unfulfilled."

"Calvin and Hobbes" wasn't an instant success. He worked hard for five years before anyone bought it, drawing and submitting his cartoons and facing rejection each time. He's glad about that, because it taught him that money and success don't give our lives meaning. He endured those five years of struggle because he loved cartooning. So when the strip did catch on, he didn't care about the money.

At its peak, "Calvin and Hobbes" was carried in over 2,500 newspapers worldwide. His publisher wanted him to sell the rights to his characters so they could put them on lunchboxes and toys and all kinds of merchandise. He would've made millions upon millions of dollars from merchandise, but he didn't want to lose the heart and soul of the strip. As a result, he spent most of his career turning down offers of a lot of money.

Selling out, he said, isn't really selling out, but "buying into someone else's system of values, rules, and rewards."

For ten years, Bill Watterson gave the world his imagination, creativity, and his silliness. And then, when he had said everything he wanted to say, he stopped the strip. He could've made millions of dollars more by keeping the strip running, maybe even hiring other people to write it and draw it. That's what most other comic strip artists do. But to do that would go against his most cherished values.

Nowadays, he still loves making art. He and his father paint landscapes together in the woods, and he couldn't be happier with his decision. "We define ourselves by our actions. With each decision, we tell ourselves and the world who we are."

"Creating a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul is a rare achievement."

Who is your Hero of Character? Write to us and let us know.

And to all you artists and budding artists out there, remember - we've extended the deadline for our Caretoon Contest to April 15! So sharpen your pencils, break out your watercolors, fire up your computer, or do whatever it is you do to make art, and create something that reflects your values. For rules, more information, or an entry form, click here.

And one last quote from that troublemaking six-year-old who was wise beyond his years:

Calvin: Things are never quite as scary when you've got a best friend.

Here's another winner of the National Liberty Museum's 2009 Young Heroes Award, sponsored by TD Bank. Every year, we recognize students who demonstrate responsibility and good character. For some of our Young Heroes, that means they volunteer their time to community service, or they work to defuse violence and bullying, or perhaps they raise awareness of important causes.

TJ is one of our 2009 Young Heroes, and he has really put his generosity into action, along with a lot of initiative and perseverance.  Almost single-handedly, he started a “Coaches Versus Cancer” fundraiser at his school.  He worked with the administration, the student government, the athletic directors, and the school district to found what is now an annual tradition. It wasn't always easy, but he let no obstacle hinder his vision or prevent him from reaching his goals. Because of his determination to meet with local college and professional sports teams, line up corporate sponsors, and organize raffles and donations, the event was a success – they raised $22,000 for cancer research!

Do you know any heroes, 18 years old or younger, who are doing some outstanding things in your school or community? Nominate them for a 2010 Young Heroes Award. To see more of the 2009 Young Heroes (and heroes of all ages), visit the National Liberty Museum! We're open Tuesday - Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

If you read our earlier post, you know that January 21 was the day the National Liberty Museum awarded our annual "Teacher as Hero" Awards sponsored by State Farm® to some of the area's best teachers. We'd like to introduce you to the winners one by one.

Alicia Conquest-Bulgin is a Spanish teacher at the School of the Future in West Philadelphia. Although this is her first year teaching at School of the Future, she has already made a deep impression on her students and colleagues. Her principal Rosalind Chivis told us that she is “the best kind of educator you could have,” because Alicia takes a personal interest in her classes and builds meaningful relationships throughout the whole school community. Students in her Spanish classes share her excitement and love for the language. She often spends evenings and weekends talking with parents and visiting the homes of struggling learners.

Outside of teaching, she coaches volleyball and basketball. Because of her incredible commitment to her students, the School of the Future now has a Sunshine Club, where students gather to serve members of their community. Even detention has become a way for students to extend their hands in friendship, by making cards for seniors at a local community center.

Do you have an educator you’d like to see recognized as a 2010 State Farm® "Teacher as Hero"?  Click here for more information. If you are a teacher who is doing some inspiring work with your students, or if you are a student of a "hero" teacher, we'd love to hear your stories and feedback on our blog. So check back with us daily!

Every year, the National Liberty Museum shines a spotlight on a handful of phenomenal kids with our Young Heroes Award, sponsored by TD Bank. Sometimes when people see a problem that needs fixing, they assume that someone else will take care of it. Not our Young Heroes. They remind us all, young and old alike, that the problems we see are OUR responsibility, and that with a healthy helping of teamwork we can change the world for the better.

Mary, Grace, Gerald, Alyssa, Alexandra, Molly, Brianna, Julia, and Alexis lead the Just Do It Committee at their school. Four years ago, the Committee began to organize fellow students and motivate them to get involved and make a difference.  Just Do It has raised  money for charities like Alex’s Lemonade Stand, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, the March of Dimes, Autism Speaks, and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. The group’s generosity, the way they give freely of their time and resources, is astounding. They show us that when we work together, we can do just about anything.

Do you know any heroes, 18 years old or younger, who are doing some outstanding things in your school or community? Nominate them for a 2010 Young Heroes Award. To see more of the 2009 Young Heroes (and heroes of all ages), visit the National Liberty Museum! We're open Tuesday - Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

We had an essay submitted to us that we'd like to share. Micah Hampton is a fifth grader at Philadelphia's Hamilton Disston Elementary School, and he has this to say:

"Dr. Martin Luther King was a pioneer who strived and endured a struggle for equal rights for African American people. He led peaceful protests by marching boycotts and delivering inspiring speeches. During his life he was dedicated to this cause and inspired African Americans to follow in his footsteps for many generations and because of his relentless nature he became a legend. He was a leader who was respected and loved by all mankind. Among his many accomplishments, he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. King's hard work is alive and well today. It is like when Olympians are running and passing the torch. Although there have been many crusaders, one of the most important events in our time is the election of our President Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States of America. This has been a monumental event and not only is President Obama a great president, he was nominated and won a Nobel Peace Prize the first year in office.

I Micah Hampton, pledge to follow in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama by trusting in God and being a good student, brother, son, and friend. I am striving for peace in my life. Being a good person to all humanity, trying to cure some of the bad things in the world like violence, wars and racism are some of the ways that I can help."

Jon Bon Jovi has been known for loud guitars, big hair, and acid-washed jeans. He's a world-famous musician, actor, and an Academy Award-nominated songwriter.

You probably don't know about his most important work, though, as a philanthropist. Instead of spending all his money on himself, he's been giving it to people who need it. He's a great example of thrift and generosity.

In some Philadelphia neighborhoods, people are stuck living on not much more than a prayer. Jon has worked with local families to build them homes, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. In 2005, he worked alongside six families, hammering, sawing, sanding, and painting until they had homes to live in. Even though he paid for the homes, they own them

His next project is to renovate a whole block of 15 rowhomes in North Philadelphia. He'll pick up the tab again, and sweat alongside these hard-working families.

Although he's from the area, his charitable work doesn't stop here. He did the same thing on the Louisiana coast after Hurricane Katrina, providing $1,000,000 to build 28 homes with low-income families.

This past summer, after violence broke out in Iran, Jon and his Bon Jovi bandmates made a song with Iranian superstar Andy Madadian, and sent it to the people of Iran. The song, a version of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me", expressed world-wide solidarity with Iranians. Do you see the sign Jon is holding up? It says, "We are one" in Persian, the official language of Iran.

It just goes to show you that every single person has the capacity to be a hero of character. The people you see on TV, the people you see on the street, and the person you see in the mirror.

Thanks for the good work, Jon, and for being such a good example of thrift and generosity!