Welcome to the twenty-second edition of the David Begnaud newsletter! This week, we're spotlighting people who are taking initiative to do good when no one asked them to… and for nothing in return. It’s the type of selflessness that turns citizens into heroes - no matter how young or old they may be.
Speaking of good things, I have some major news coming next week… and you’re all the first to hear about it! I get into more detail about it below, but it’s safe to say that I’ve never been more excited about what this crew is building together.
Here are some amazing stories we’re highlighting this week: a high school student rallying classmates to fight brain cancer, an elderly veteran volunteering to salute fallen comrades, and a group of monks who completed their journey for peace.
And if you were lucky enough to have been forwarded this email, welcome! You can subscribe right here.
Courtesy: Darren Nieves
The High Schooler Taking Charge
I want to shout out the good work that high-school student Darren Nieves is doing in South Florida. In between classes, Darren has found the time to do a very adult thing: launch a nonprofit to help those with brain cancer and the families shouldering the burden with them.
It all started with his own family’s heart-wrenching journey - an experience that compelled 18-year-old Darren to meet need with action.
The Heart
When Darren transferred to a new high school in Naples, Florida, two years ago, he was immediately saddened to find that it had “no life.” So, Darren set out to do something about it. He launched a club to support Meals of Hope, a local nonprofit that uses mobile food pantries to deliver groceries to families in need across Collier and Lee counties. He then took on a leadership role at the local Make-A-Wish chapter, where he became VP within a year, and helped organize a key fundraiser.
Both experiences taught Darren some strengths about himself: he was successful in rallying students to join the cause, and he had the ability to win over donors and organize events typically beyond a high schooler’s scope. Those were key skills for starting an organization very close to his heart - Minds Over Tumors, a nonprofit focused on funding brain-cancer research and financially supporting kids with brain tumors throughout South Florida.
It would be in honor of Darren’s oldest sister, Andrea, who was diagnosed with brain cancer five years ago at just 19. It was a harrowing experience that put the Nieves family through the wringer and left a lasting impression on Darren. Seeing his sister come out the other side after surgery and 20 sessions of radiation therapy (she’s now been in remission for a year and a half!), Darren felt called to support other families going through what he, his family, and, most of all, his sister went through.
Courtesy: Darren Nieves
Courtesy: Darren Nieves
The Journey
Like his Meals of Hope club, Minds Over Tumors is mostly run by other high school students… but don’t mistake age for impact.
The nonprofit has over 50 partners, 200 donors, and 100 volunteers. It’s also already raised over $280,000 in its first year of operation, primarily from a gala that harkens back to Darren’s experience with Make-A-Wish. Those funds have been distributed as direct cash assistance to pay for sky-high medical bills - a huge burden on families that have a child with brain cancer, especially when they don’t have health insurance. It’s been so successful that local hospitals are referring patients and their families to the nonprofit.
Darren and Minds Over Tumors have big plans for 2026, including a golf tournament, a luncheon, and another end-of-the-year gala - plenty of opportunities to get people to donate to a worthy cause. Up next: the nonprofit will start paying for families’ non-medical needs (hotel stays, transportation, meals, etc.) and is planning a geographic expansion into more counties and possibly new states.
The Takeaway
Those are some ambitious goals, but Darren is dedicated… even as he readies to head to college (most likely the University of Tampa in the fall to major in International Business).
I’m incredibly impressed by what this young man is doing at his age and by how effectively he’s doing it. He’s a future leader, but he’s a current leader too… someone who is able to rally the community for good with nothing but heart, conviction, and results.
More Good Stories
Courtesy: CBS 19
☀️ Emma Dilley of East Texas saved a man's life by performing CPR after the man collapsed in the middle of a road. She credits her CPR training at Lindale High School, where she had recently graduated, for giving her the skills and confidence to jump into action. This is why we should all get CPR certified. Click here to sign up.
☀️ After traversing 2,300 miles over 109 days, the Buddhist monks from Fort Worth, Texas, officially reached Washington, D.C. on their Walk for Peace. They concluded their journey with prayer at the Lincoln Memorial… joined by a huge crowd at the National Mall.
Courtesy: Walk for Peace
If someone collapsed near you, would you know what to do?
The results from last week's poll are in! More than half of you (53%) said the stories that stop you in your tracks are the ones where a community shows up for someone who never saw it coming. We couldn't agree more.
Spotlight: Honoring An Honor Guard
Courtesy: Debi Brannan
A woman named Debi Brannan wrote to me because she wanted to spotlight her father-in-law, Gary, who “gives up time every week to stand as an honor guard member.” Learning more about the sacrifice that volunteering takes, I couldn’t agree more with Debi - Gary is as good as they get.
For the past 15 years, Gary, an 86-year-old Marine Corps vet, has been volunteering as an honor guard for military funerals and memorials, showing up for mourners on their hardest day. Gary has participated in nearly 2,500 funerals throughout his home state of Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest region… and has no intention of slowing down. Not even two emergency brain surgeries last year could stop his service.
What makes this service even more incredible is that honor guards have to pay out of their own pockets to attend funerals, says Debi. That means Gary has dedicated his time, money, and, let’s face it, his emotions to salute those who put their lives on the line for our freedoms.
Gary has made it clear he wants no accolades… but sorry, we're not going to let him go without being acknowledged. Thank you for your service, sir.
We also asked Gary to send us a link to where we can support him. He asked us instead to link to the Young Marines website. As I said, he’s a selfless guy.
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Wedding Dress
Click image to watch
After one woman took up Spanx founder Sara Blakely’s offer to borrow her wedding dress when her own arrived in the wrong size, it started a sorority of 13 brides who have all worn the same dress on their big day… and are now paying the kindness forward.
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One More Thing…
Next Monday (February 23rd) I’ll be making a big announcement on CBS Mornings.
It’s something I’ve been building with a lot of heart - a new venture centered around community. If you love this newsletter, you’re going to love what’s coming next. There will be new ways for us to connect. A podcast. Thoughtful products. Opportunities to meet in person and celebrate our shared humanity with the people whose stories inspire us. And yes, this newsletter is about to evolve in a big way starting next week. You’ll hear the news first on CBS.
Trust me, we’re just getting started.
With gratitude,
David
Made with love by David Begnaud and the team.
Stories that set your soul on fire.
