Back-to-school season means busy mornings, packed schedules, school drop-offs, after-school activities and plenty of time on the road. With attention focused on getting everyone where they need to be, it’s easy to put off something that seems minor, like that small chip in your windshield.

But windshield damage doesn’t wait for your schedule to slow down.

Not all windshield damage is the same. A small white dot on the glass and a long line running across your field of view are both problems, but they call for very different responses. The type of damage, where it sits on the glass, and how long it has been there all determine whether a technician can fix it in about 30 minutes or whether the entire windshield needs replacing.

You hear the unmistakable ping of a rock hitting your windshield. You look around, spot a tiny mark in the glass and think, That doesn’t look so bad. And sometimes, it isn’t …yet.

A chip is damage centered around a single impact point. Something struck the glass hard enough to break away a small piece of the outer layer, but the damage hasn’t started traveling. The good news? Chips caught early are the best candidates for repair, making that little mark worth addressing before it becomes something bigger.

A crack is a line of separation that extends away from the impact point, or that appears on its own from stress. Cracks can be short and stable or long and fast moving, depending on location, temperature swings, road vibration and moisture.

 And if you’ve ever wondered why windshield damage seems to come in so many different shapes, there’s actually a name for many of them. A bullseye creates a circular pattern around the impact point, much like a dartboard. A star break sends small cracks radiating outward, while a combination break includes characteristics of both. You may also spot a half-moon, which forms a partial circle, or a pit, a small surface nick without a larger pattern around it.

Cracks vary too. Stress cracks appear without any impact at all, often triggered by sudden temperature change, such as a frozen windshield blasted with hot defroster air. Edge begin near the perimeter of the windshield and tend to spread quickly, while floating cracks sit farther into the glass and grow outward from an original point of damage.

Why Size Isn’t the Whole Story

Here’s the tricky thing about windshield damage: small doesn’t always mean harmless. A tiny chip may look like no big deal, but road vibration, moisture and temperature changes can quickly give it room to grow. And where the damage sits matters just as much as its size. A chip or crack in the driver’s line of sight can affect visibility, while damage near the edge tends to spread faster. Even damage near windshield-mounted cameras deserves attention, since many newer vehicles rely on those cameras for features like lane departure warnings, forward collision alerts and adaptive cruise control. Bottom line? That little chip may be trying to tell you more than you think.

The Best Time to Fix It? Before It Gets Worse.

Here’s the good news: if caught early, many windshield chips can be repaired in as little as 30 minutes. Side and rear window damage is a different story, those always require replacement. Either way, getting the damage checked sooner rather than later is your best move.

Because one thing windshield damage rarely does is fix itself. That little chip you’ve been ignoring? It has bigger ambitions. Potholes, car washes, road vibration and temperature changes can turn a small, repairable chip into a crack that requires a full windshield replacement.

Not sure whether your windshield needs a repair or replacement? Auto Glass Now offers free damage inspections and an honest recommendation, with no-fee mobile service available at most locations, making it one less thing to juggle during an already busy back-to-school season.

Get a free windshield quote online or call 1-888-4-FIX-GLASS.

The ESA also found that 67 percent of Americans ages 5 to 90 play video games at least an hour a week, and across the country, friendships and relationships that begin over a game controller are increasingly spilling off the screen and into people's lives. Discord has become the digital living room where those friendships actually live and grow — where players text, talk, and video chat, both during games and in the stretches between them. Discord broadens the cultural role of “digital third places” beyond a single game to a space where all your gaming friends play.

Discord, which is free to join, is different from other platforms — there are no algorithmic feeds, no broadcasting of your life, and no endless scrolling. People connect through 1:1 Direct Messages, Group Direct Messages, and Servers, which are invite-based communities organized around a game, a friend group, or a shared interest. Activity happens in small, private spaces among friends, where high-quality streaming and voice chat across devices let people hang out together as naturally as if they were in the same room. Discord now counts more than 90 million daily active users worldwide, and gaming remains the center of gravity: 89% of Discord users play games. 

Gene Ludington from Pennsylvania has gamed with the same group of friends for more than 20 years. The tools have changed, but the group hasn't. “We can voice chat, video chat, text, share memes, videos, pics, and gifs, or stream what we're most excited about,” he said. For his circle, Discord has “become the communication glue that holds us all together.”

That glue is critical for maintaining friendships across distances. And nobody understands this better than veterans. Stack Up, a nonprofit founded in 2015 to support military veterans through gaming, has built its community on Discord — with weekly game nights, town halls, and a peer support channel staffed around the clock by trained volunteers. Because the community spans time zones, someone is always available to connect.

Video games offer a shared activity and a low-pressure reason to keep showing up, similar to a Saturday softball league or a weekly pickup game. According to research by CivicScience, adults who play team sports report better social and mental health outcomes than those who play individually, and similarly, a recent study from researchers at Imperial College London found that gamers feel less alone than non-gamers.

It’s no wonder that gaming has grown to look so much like traditional athletics. When the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) formed in 2016, only seven colleges and universities had varsity esports programs. Today, NACE supports 300 programs across the country, helping students compete, earn scholarships, and build lifelong friendships with teammates and the broader esports community.

The bonds created through gaming often transcend the game itself. When Faith Hobart from Kansas City, Kansas got married last January, many of the guests in the room were people the couple had first met through a video game.

Hobart and her husband connected on January 1st, 2021, and added each other on Discord. It was there that they spent hours talking about their futures, playing together, and ultimately falling in love. Four years to the day later, they married, and many of the people in the online community they'd built were there in person. “They saw our relationship grow from friends, to developing crushes, to dating, getting engaged, and finally getting married,” she said.

The guests weren’t there because of a game. They were there because conversations that started on Discord became a community, then friendships, then — for the Hobarts — a marriage.

Getting started is easy. Discord is free to download on phones, consoles, or desktops, and setting up an account only takes a few minutes. From there, you can connect with your friends that you already game with, or join an existing Server built around the games and interests you love. Joining a Server takes just one click — no matter if it's a link a friend sends you, or one you find by browsing Discord's directory of communities. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with your longtime crew or make your first gaming friend, the front door to your digital third space is open. 

Health In Hand today released “How to Spot an AI-Generated Health Video,” providing practical, accessible guidance for evaluating health videos and claims before liking, sharing, following advice, or making a purchase. 

Why Evaluating Online Health Information Matters

The resource comes as Americans increasingly seek health information online. According to recent research, more than one-third of Americans get health information from social media and 1 in 5 use AI chatbots. At the same time, more than half of consumers say it has become difficult to know which sources to trust.

As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, some videos are designed to resemble healthcare professionals, medical experts, or trusted wellness influencers, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish credible information from misleading or fabricated claims.

The new Health In Hand resource is intended to support safer, more informed self-care decisions, encouraging consumers to pause and evaluate the information they encounter rather than relying solely on how professional or convincing a video appears. 

"Consumers today are navigating a health information environment unlike anything we've seen before. An AI-generated video can look professional, sound credible, and spread to millions of people within hours," said Mary Leonard, Executive Director of the Health In Hand Foundation. 

"Health In Hand is committed to helping consumers separate fact from fiction,” Leonard added. “Our goal is not to make people distrust everything they see online. It's to give them practical tools to ask the right questions, verify sources, and make informed self-care decisions with confidence for themselves and their families."

Think Before You Trust: Three Questions Every Consumer Should Ask

The tool starts with three simple questions consumers can use to evaluate online health content.

Does the video look or sound artificial? Strange blinking, unusual mouth movements, robotic speech, distorted background text, or visuals that appear unnaturally smooth can sometimes indicate AI-generated content. However, Health In Hand emphasizes that appearance alone is not enough to determine whether information is trustworthy.

Can you verify who is speaking? Consumers should look for a real name, professional credential, or organization and determine whether the person can be verified outside social media. A clinic, hospital, or professional organization website may provide useful confirmation.

What is the video trying to sell? Consumers should be cautious when a video promotes a miracle cure, unrealistic results, or a single urgent solution. Health claims should be compared with information from trusted health sources.

Five Red Flags That a Health Video Deserves a Second Look

Next, the tool highlights five red flags consumers should watch for. Among them are videos that look unnaturally perfect, with faces, voices or movements that seem slightly off despite polished production. Another warning sign is an apparent expert who relies on staged visual cues, such as a white coat, generic certificates, or vague titles, to create a sense of authority without providing verifiable credentials.

Consumers should also be cautious of health messages that promise a cure, suggest replacing a current medicine, or guarantee dramatic results with little or no evidence. Urgency is another potential red flag. Statements such as “limited time” or “act now,” particularly when paired with an immediate purchase link, can be pressure tactics rather than indicators of trustworthy health information.

Finally, consumers should take a closer look at dramatic before-and-after results. Claims involving rapid weight loss, instant improvements, or seemingly perfect transformations may be edited, exaggerated, or fabricated.

Helping Consumers Navigate the Future of Digital Health Information

As artificial intelligence continues to transform how health information is created, shared, and consumed, Health In Hand is expanding its efforts to help consumers evaluate what they see online and make safer, more informed self-care decisions for themselves and their families. 

The Foundation's new tool is part of its broader mission to provide trusted, evidence-based self-care education while helping consumers recognize and avoid misleading health claims online. The "How to Spot an AI-Generated Health Video" tool is available now at HealthInHand.org.

Dr. Teija Tiilikainen, director of the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE), outlined hybrid security threats in an interview on NatSec Tech, a podcast produced by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) covering emerging technology and national security.

Hybrid CoE defines hybrid threats as "a mixture of different tools used against democracies, against the democratic principle, against democratic practices in our societies to undermine trust in government," Tiilikainen said — tools used by authoritarian regimes to shore up their own power. What sets them apart: "The whole logic of these threats is to surprise us unprepared." The toolkit spans cyber and information operations, election interference, instrumentalized migration, and attacks on critical infrastructure from energy grids to data cables.

Artificial intelligence has raised the stakes. AI "is a huge tool to affect the so-called cognitive sphere, our understanding of reality," Tiilikainen said. When threat actors deploy it ahead of elections or on social media, "we don't know with whom we are communicating." Increasingly, "we don't necessarily recognize the real actors from AI produced actors." AI may eventually help defenders, she noted, but for now attackers hold the advantage.

Tiilikainen singled out the information space. In the Russian war against Ukraine, "How do we see the war, who is the victim, who is the responsible actor? This tends to vary not only in Europe, but also outside Europe, very much due to efficient and successful Russian disinformation campaigns." Information is "a very dangerous tool in the hands of hybrid threat actors," she said, amplifying every other tool they use.

Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are the principal state actors, she said, often working through proxies: criminals, hackers, extremists, and unwitting citizens. Attribution is "very, very difficult," and "this is one of the assets that the threat actors are using."

Countering them "all starts with our broad societal resilience," Tiilikainen said. More proactive measures include international sanctions and publicly calling out responsible states. "China, for instance, is still quite keen on maintaining its reputation as a responsible international actor," she said.

Education matters too. Tiilikainen pointed to the Nordic and Baltic states, where an informed public helps small countries defend themselves, and to Ukraine and Taiwan, which have used transparency to expose and correct disinformation. The private sector must also engage, since much critical infrastructure is privately owned.

Hybrid threats are dangerous because they are hard to see, and they test vulnerabilities with larger conflict in mind. "We have the old saying that this is about preparing the battlefield," she said. "From that point of view the threat to democracies can be very existential."

Progress has been made — "I see resilience being strengthened" — but more is needed to prepare for "the malign use of modern technologies." Failure to do so, she warned, would "weaken the credibility of the democratic principles."

Visit scsp.ai to learn more.

Premium cotton sheets have long been a hallmark of upscale hotels, offering a soft, breathable feel that helps promote restful sleep. Today, that same experience is becoming more accessible through thoughtfully crafted bedding designed for everyday use.

One example is the Bedsure PureWoven™ Giza Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set, created for people who want to enjoy the comfort and elegance associated with luxury hospitality. Made from 100% authentic hand-picked Giza long-staple Egyptian cotton, the sheets are verified through BV-certified batch No. 5625021-0005 and official CEA accreditation (Certificate No. 1657), giving shoppers added confidence in the authenticity of the material.

The smooth sateen weave delivers a silky feel while remaining durable enough for everyday living. Unlike many fabrics that wear quickly, the stronger long-staple cotton fibers help resist pilling, maintain their vibrant appearance through repeated washing, and provide lasting comfort over time. The collection was also recognized with the iLUXURY AWARDS 2026, highlighting its combination of quality craftsmanship and long-term value.

Comfort goes beyond softness. The breathable sateen construction naturally promotes airflow, helps wick away moisture, and regulates temperature throughout the night. Whether you're a warm sleeper or simply looking for year-round comfort, the fabric is designed to stay comfortable across changing seasons without feeling overly warm or too cool.

For households with pets, durability can be just as important as comfort. The sheet set's snag-resistant weave offers additional resilience against everyday wear, including pet claws, making it suitable for primary bedrooms, guest rooms, or any sleep sanctuary throughout the home.

The bedding is also made with wellness in mind. It is OEKO-TEX® certified (BJ025 231038) and produced without added fabric softeners. Instead, a physical air-tumbling process creates a crisp yet soft feel that becomes even softer with continued use. These qualities also make the set a thoughtful gift for weddings, housewarmings, or other special occasions.

Practical design features further enhance everyday convenience. The fitted sheet includes an 18-inch deep pocket that fits mattresses up to 16 inches thick, along with 360-degree elastic and directional labels that help make bed-making quicker while keeping the sheets securely in place.

Creating a luxurious bedroom doesn't necessarily require a complete makeover. Sometimes, upgrading to high-quality bedding can make a noticeable difference in comfort, helping transform an ordinary bedroom into a relaxing retreat inspired by the world's finest hotels.

The Bedsure PureWoven™ Giza Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set is currently available on Amazon. During the August 10–23 promotion, shoppers can save up to 44%, making it an ideal time to experience luxury hotel-inspired bedding at home.

Learn more and shop the collection here.

According to cognitive neuroscientist Robert Alexander, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and wellness at New York Institute of Technology, “our brains are prediction machines, and our nervous systems constantly try to anticipate what will happen next, so that we can respond appropriately and stay safe. The beginning of a new school year disrupts many of those predictions all at once—old routines are broken, expectations and environments change, children are presented with new classrooms, teachers, classmates, and other daily adjustments.”

While some nervousness during transitions is developmentally normal, for children who are already prone to anxiety, returning to school can be especially overwhelming. Alexander reminds parents to know the signs, which may not always be obvious.

“Children often express anxiety indirectly,” he says, noting that common signs can include changes in sleep, irritability, difficulty concentrating, appetite changes, clinginess, or social withdrawal. As he explains, the best way to reduce anxiety is to prepare.

“Preparation helps make things more predictable and allows us to adapt to changes. Visiting the school, discussing routines, and gradually re-establishing bedtimes before classes begin can all help children feel more secure. Sleep, in particular, plays a major role in emotional regulation and stress resilience,” says Alexander.

As parents often set the emotional tone of the household, they should be aware that their reactions also matter. “Children often look to adults for cues on how they should respond to a situation. Responding with calm confidence can send a powerful message of safety,” Alexander explains.

In addition, children can practice simple calming techniques, such as slow and controlled breathing, to address overwhelming feelings in the moment. Alexander recommends a simple pattern of inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for six. However, as children head back to school, he advises parents to avoid fully eliminating their child’s anxiety, as a healthy amount can encourage resiliency.

“Confidence grows through small wins. Knowing that you can handle a situation can help you deal with future situations more effectively,” Alexander says. “When children successfully introduce themselves to a new friend, find their new classroom, or survive their first week at a new school, they learn that they are capable in those environments. But children who are prone to anxiety may need some extra help moving through those feelings successfully.”

Alexander is one of many New York Tech faculty members lending their expertise to help tackle real-world challenges. Visit nyit.edu to learn more.

“Redemption Initiative: The Good Samaritan” by C.L. Morrissey

Once, Desi Delgado was exactly the kind of criminal society feared: violent, impulsive and consumed by addiction. Eight years in prison changed the course of his life, but not the weight of his past. Now a successful businessman and co-founder of a halfway house, Desi is determined to keep others from repeating his mistakes. When a violent crime strikes close to home, he creates Redemption Initiative, a covert program that uses immersive technology to force offenders to confront the full reality of the harm they've caused. 

But can accountability be engineered? Can the process unlock the innate ability to be reformed? Can true remorse be measured and verified? In “Redemption Initiative: The Good Samaritan,” C.L. Morrissey blends crime fiction with provocative moral questions, exploring the uneasy space where punishment ends, redemption begins, and justice itself is reimagined.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/redemption-initiative.

“The Realm of Ruin” by Carson Zan Hughes

In “The Realm of Ruin,” exile is not an escape from the world — it is the place where the unwanted are sent to be forgotten. For Nyla, a fiercely loyal hunter torn from her family, and Jester, a bold teenager who refuses to surrender, the Realm is a brutal wasteland of monsters, outlawed magic and secrets no one dares name. 

After barely surviving an attack on their village, they are drawn into a monster-hunting guild led by Dice, a leader whose easy smile hides hard-won experience. But each hunt reveals that the Realm is more than a prison. It is a crucible, built to test, break and transform those trapped inside it. Dark, fast-paced and filled with danger, Carson Zan Hughes’ fantasy adventure asks what survival costs — and what someone must become when the world has already cast them aside. 

Purchase at https://amzn.to/4eE87O4.

“Casey Dancer: A Memoir About Dating, Stripping, and a Little Hot Yoga” by Kristin Casey

At 39, nearly a decade sober and struggling through a real estate slump, Kristin Casey returns to the work she once thought she had left behind: stripping. To her surprise, stepping back into Austin’s clubs restores not only her finances but also a sense of confidence, purpose and control.

Then she meets Lalo, a married former drug dealer whose charm and volatility pull her into an intense relationship. As romance, financial pressure and old emotional wounds collide, Casey begins confronting the patterns that have shaped her choices — especially her attraction to unavailable men and her fear of depending on anyone.

Interspersed with candid entries from her popular stripper blog, “Casey Dancer” is unfiltered, sexually frank and frequently very funny. Hot yoga becomes both refuge and metaphor as Casey works toward greater strength, firmer boundaries and a life defined on her own terms. It is a memoir about sex work, sobriety and the difficult practice of becoming fully yourself.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/4aG3jXj. 

“What the Trees Remember” by Abigail Cutter

At 93, Dora Minor has spent most of her life atop Horseshoe Mountain, carrying secrets nearly as old as the trees surrounding her home. When Hurricane Camille unleashes a catastrophic flood across Nelson County in 1969, Dora faces the storm with only her two dogs — and the memories she has long avoided.

Her story reaches back to post-Civil War Virginia, where she is raised by her fiercely independent grandmother Alma in a Quaker family committed to racial equality. When Dora’s father helps open a school for Black children, the family becomes a target of violent resistance. Loss, betrayal and a horrifying act Dora witnesses as a child shape the isolated woman she becomes.

Moving between Dora’s coming of age and the night of the flood, Abigail Cutter’s deeply researched historical novel explores racial violence, moral courage and the weight of silence, while finding resilience and hard-won hope in the natural world.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/4vPefto. 

Increasingly, infant and toddler parents are looking beyond traditional academic outcomes and seeking environments that build the foundational skills that support future learning. Researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education describe six foundational skills – creativity, critical thinking, curiosity, self-regulation, perspective-taking and early identity – as essential building blocks for lifelong learning and healthy development. Those skills are often strengthened through enrichment experiences that encourage young children to explore, create, communicate and solve problems.

Built into the day, designed for learning

While parents want their children to have access to enrichment classes and experiences, they also need those learning opportunities to fit into their families’ busy schedule. They’re looking for full-time day care options such as The Crème School, a premium provider of early learning programs, that build enrichment directly into their children’s day.

Alongside a research-led core curriculum, children ages two through five participate in Crème's four daily, 30-minute enrichment experiences in dedicated enrichment classrooms. STEM, Spanish, music and art extend classroom learning by giving children additional opportunities to build and apply new skills through engaging, hands-on experiences. Guided by their own research-based curricula, these enrichments reinforce the very skills Harvard researchers say matter most. 

Learning Through Exploration, Creativity and Discovery

• STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) encourages children to ask questions, investigate, experiment and solve problems through hands-on exploration. These experiences nurture curiosity and critical thinking. Research shows that early, inquiry-based experiences lay the foundation for later scientific thinking, problem-solving and innovation. 
• Music engages children in singing, movement, rhythm and instrument play. These experiences support creativity while strengthening memory and attention and has been linked to improvements in early language skills and executive functioning.
• Visual arts encourage children to create, experiment, and express themselves through drawing, painting, sculpting, and other open-ended experiences. Along the way, children develop creativity, fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities and confidence in expressing their ideas.
• Spanish introduces children to a second language during a key developmental window, helping build communication skills. Research suggests that children who are exposed to multiple languages can develop stronger perspective-taking and communication abilities, skills that support learning and social development.

“Our enrichment classes do more than expose children to new subjects,” said Stephanie Sturdevant-Ward, vice president of operations for The Crème Schools. “They help develop the habits that support learning throughout life, such as asking questions, working through challenges, collaborating with others and approaching problems with curiosity and confidence.”

As families consider school choices for their young learners, it’s worth asking not only what children will learn, but how they'll learn it. When enrichment is woven into the daily curriculum, as it is at Crème, children have more opportunities to grow curiosity, creativity and the foundational skills that support future learning and development.

Families interested in learning more about The Crème School’s programs and their daily enrichment rotations can visit CremedelaCreme.com 

“AI is beginning to help build better AI,” according to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in artificial intelligence.

If a self-accelerating loop in which AI capability improves and AI development compounds, the pace of capability development will far outrun projections, said Ylli Bajraktari, president of the SCSP, in a recent newsletter about agentic AI.

“An agent that can navigate complex bureaucratic systems, identify exploitable vulnerabilities, and act without leaving a clear attribution trail represents a qualitative expansion of adversarial capability,” Bajraktari emphasized.

In terms of global security, the United States should be aware that our adversaries will deploy agentic AI systems in areas where governance is weakest. Agentic AI systems could be used for coercion, espionage, and influence.

Contrary to what many policymakers might think, effective governance of agentic AI involves not the AI model that is the engine, it is the scaffolding built around it, the SCSP experts explained. This scaffolding includes:

Connectors to bridge the model to real-world infrastructure, such as email, booking systems, and financial platforms.

Memory that allows the AI system to learn and adapt across interactions over time.

Planning capabilities that break large objectives into smaller tasks, identify failure, and navigate obstacles without human intervention.

Permission structures that define what the system can access and act upon.

Guardrails that determine what the system will refuse to do (such as spending limits or human sign-offs).

Accountability remains a challenge, and governance is falling short in three key ways, according to SCSP. First, responsibility is untraceable when using AI; there is not way to determine who authorized what if an AI agent is acting on your behalf. In addition, current frameworks don’t ask whether an AI agent performed a task safely or whether it caused harm, only that the task was completed. Finally, agentic AI builds personal profiles that may include data more sensitive than an individual wants by accumulating information on patterns of behavior, preferences, and inferences.

Despite these challenges, agentic AI is not a technology to be feared or deferred, the SCSP experts emphasize. Institutions that prioritize understanding, shaping, and governing agentic AI will determine their own competitive position, and also impact the character of the environment in which agentic AI operates globally.

Visit scsp.ai to learn more about how the United States should pursue effective governance of agentic AI.

While Christmas in July may seem early to some, for children and families facing financial hardship, it can be a lifeline. Bringing the joy of the holiday season to children year-round takes planning, generosity, and a shared commitment to ensuring every child experiences moments of happiness, no matter the season.

Toys for Tots extends its mission during the summer months by delivering toys, books, and essential items to children when support is often hardest to find. Through the Program’s Be a Summer Santa initiative, generous supporters help make these summer distributions possible—bringing reassurance, joy, and meaningful moments to children long after the holiday season has passed.

That Summer Santa spirit came to life during a recent distribution event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosted by Storehouse of Community Resources, a redistribution partner of Good360. During the summer months, children living in low-income communities often experience the “summer gap” in resources and enrichment, and year-round donor support is essential to continue bridging that gap. At the event, Toys for Tots provided two brand-new toys each to 1,600 children. For many, these gifts were their first new toys all summer.

For families attending, the impact went far beyond material items. One mother of three shared that her children had been asking all summer when they could do something fun, and she had been struggling to stretch her budget. When she realized each of her children could pick out two new toys, she became emotional, saying, “I didn’t think they were going to get anything new this summer. This means more than you know.” Her daughter clutched her new game and doll tightly for the rest of the evening—a small but powerful reminder of what these moments mean.

“Summertime distributions like these are not about recreating Christmas morning, but about extending its meaning,” said Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Being a Summer Santa means creating moments of happiness during times of uncertainty, strengthening communities, and reminding families they are not alone.”

Summertime distributions are made possible by supporters who choose to give beyond December. By embracing the role of Summer Santas, supporters help Toys for Tots meet children’s needs whenever they arise—working through strong nonprofit partnerships across the Nation to deliver hope, joy, and the lasting message that every child matters.

Join Toys for Tots’ Be a Summer Santa initiative and help deliver Christmas in July magic to disadvantaged children nationwide. To learn more about Toys for Tots or to donate, visit toysfortots.org.

“Day of Wrath” by Otho Eskin

There are secrets within the Church. Some are worth killing for.

When Washington, D.C. homicide detective Marko Zorn arrives at the city’s cathedral, he finds the cardinal archbishop dead beneath a high balcony, a tarot card clutched in his hand. What first appears to be a single murder soon opens onto something far darker: an ancient cult devoted to Holy Death, a trail reaching back to Mexico and a conspiracy threatening the Vatican itself.

With the pope dying and a conclave approaching, Marko has only days to uncover who wanted the archbishop silenced — and why. Complicating matters is his sharp-tongued new partner, Saoirse Richmond, who distrusts both his methods and his judgment.

Fast, sly and steeped in history, “Day of Wrath” sends its unconventional detective into a world of ritual, power and buried secrets where faith can be weaponized and the past holds the key to a modern threat.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/day-of-wrath.

“Marek of the Mists: The Sword of the Moon Maiden” by Corey E. King

In the mist-shrouded kingdom of Storm’s End, Marek has built a life among the Wolfe Gypsies, the clan that raised him after he was found abandoned. A gifted swordsman with a talent for spectacle and survival, he expects danger to come from challengers in the ring — not from an ancient evil gathering beyond the coast.

When a monstrous attack reveals that darker forces are moving, Marek is drawn into a quest involving a shattered celestial blade, a vanished village, a moon goddess and the demon Vuoto, whose followers are preparing for war. Joined by loyal friends, a wolf-husky and the woman he loves, Marek must decide whether he is merely an orphan or the champion Storm’s End has been waiting for.

Fast-paced, illustrated and rich with banter, battles and found-family bonds, “Marek of the Mists” launches a fantasy saga of courage, identity and light against darkness.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/marek-of-the-mists.

“Allegory” by Jack Martin Haley

Set along the Yukon River, “Allegory” follows Fred, a Korean War veteran and once-respected Gwich’in elder whose life has narrowed under the weight of illness, alcohol and public shame. Once known as Sarge, he was a master fish wheel builder and a proud descendant of Shahnyaatii, the legendary “Christian Grandpa.” Now, younger men mock him, and even Fred struggles to hold on to the dignity he once carried so naturally.

When a cancer diagnosis makes it clear that his days are numbered, Fred turns back toward the river — and toward the old fish wheel that once gave him purpose and helped feed his village through the long winters.

With the aid of Jere, a young man preparing for the ministry, Fred begins a final act of restoration and redemption that becomes both practical and mythic. Rooted in Gwich’in tradition and Christian faith, “Allegory” is a resonant story of one man’s last chance to be remembered rightly.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/allegory-epiphany.

“My Hip-Hop Wiz: A Journey Through Rhythm, Resilience, and Self-Discovery” by Innton Tagger

Innton Tagger puts a bold, beat-driven spin on a beloved classic in “My Hip-Hop Wiz,” a high-energy reinvention of “The Wizard of Oz” rooted in hip-hop culture, humor and resilience.

Dorothy Jones is no Kansas farm girl. She’s a self-made real estate mogul whose life is upended when a supernatural storm sweeps her and her loyal Rottweiler, Governor, into a strange new world. Along the way, she joins forces with a sharp-tongued Scarecrow, a bionically rebuilt Tinman and a powerful Lion still learning to master his fear.

As music, magic and danger collide, Dorothy’s journey becomes less about finding a way home than recognizing the strength, wisdom and courage she already carries. Filled with swagger, pop-culture references and plenty of heart, “My Hip-Hop Wiz” celebrates the power of rebuilding after hardship. An accompanying soundtrack (on Apple and Spotify) extends the experience beyond the page, bringing the story’s rhythm and inspiration to life.

Purchase at https://a.co/d/08r160GZ.

A new scientific statement published in Circulation, the flagship peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association, projects that nearly 6 in 10 women in the United States will be living with some form of cardiovascular disease by 2050 if current health trends continue. The increase is largely driven by rising rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity—conditions that are becoming more common not only among adults but also among younger women and girls.

Cardiovascular disease is already the leading cause of death for women in the United States, affecting more than 62 million women and accounting for one in every three female deaths. The new projections indicate that without greater awareness and earlier prevention, the health and economic burden of cardiovascular disease will continue to grow over the next several decades.

Lifestyle expert Jennifer Bonner says these findings serve as an important reminder that heart health isn't something women should think about only later in life.

"Many women don't realize that the risk factors for heart disease often begin years before symptoms ever appear," Bonner explains. "The choices we make today—how we eat, how active we are, how well we manage stress and other health conditions—can have a lasting impact on our heart health tomorrow."

The report highlights several trends that health experts find especially concerning. By 2050, nearly 60% of women are projected to have high blood pressure, while more than one in four will have diabetes and more than 60% will be living with obesity. These conditions significantly increase the risk of heart disease, heart failure, stroke and other cardiovascular complications.

The findings also reveal that these health challenges are appearing earlier than many people expect. Among women ages 22 to 44, rates of cardiovascular disease and major risk factors are expected to climb substantially in the coming years. Even younger generations are being affected. Researchers project that nearly 32% of girls between the ages of 2 and 19 could have obesity by 2050, influenced in part by inadequate physical activity and poor nutrition.

"This isn't simply about preventing disease later in life," Bonner says. "It's about creating healthy habits early so girls and women have the opportunity to enjoy better health throughout every stage of life."

The scientific statement also points to significant disparities across communities. Women identifying as Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian and multiracial populations are projected to experience some of the largest increases in cardiovascular risk factors. For example, more than 70% of Black women are projected to have high blood pressure and obesity by 2050, while Hispanic women are expected to experience one of the largest increases in hypertension and Asian women one of the greatest increases in obesity.

Although these projections are concerning, experts emphasize that they are not inevitable.

According to the American Heart Association, as many as 80% of heart disease and stroke cases may be preventable through healthy lifestyle choices and effective management of risk factors. The organization encourages women to follow Life's Essential 8™, which promotes better cardiovascular health through balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, quality sleep, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Heart health also deserves attention during every stage of a woman's life. Pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause and aging can all influence cardiovascular risk, making routine medical care and preventive screenings increasingly important. Understanding personal risk factors and working with healthcare providers can help women take proactive steps before serious problems develop.

"The future isn't set in stone," Bonner says. "Every woman has opportunities to protect her heart, whether she's raising a family, building a career or entering a new stage of life. Small changes made consistently can lead to healthier outcomes for years to come."

For trusted information about cardiovascular disease, prevention strategies and resources designed specifically for women, visit www.heart.org or www.goredforwomen.org.

That's the idea behind the Alzheimer's Association's new (re)think your brain initiative, which translates the latest brain health research into practical, everyday habits people can start today.

For too long, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias have been viewed as conditions to address only after symptoms appear. New science-based research is changing that understanding, showing how lifestyle choices play an important role in helping to support brain health over time. Everyday habits, including how you move, what you eat, how you sleep, how you engage your mind and more, may help protect memory and thinking and potentially reduce the risk of dementia.

While there is growing overall interest in brain health, many people still don't know how to begin caring for their brain. The Alzheimer's Association 2026 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report shows that nearly 9 in 10 people say brain health is important, but only 1 in 10 say they know how to maintain it.

The Alzheimer's Association developed (re)think your brain to help close that gap, making brain health science easier to understand and turn into meaningful action. Through its “6-Step Challenge,” the initiative encourages people to:

· (re)think your habits: Check your current habits and build a personalized brain health action plan.

· (re)think your day: Start with one habit and build from there by incorporating everyday changes into your routine.

· (re)think your movement: Get moving. Regular physical activity supports brain health and overall well-being.

· (re)think your diet: Eat right. Track what you eat and look for ways to improve your nutrition.

· (re)think your mind: Challenge your brain by learning something new.

· (re)think what's next: Monitor your health and invite a friend to take steps toward better brain health with you.

"The Alzheimer's Association is committed to translating the latest science into practical guidance people can understand and use right away to proactively care for their brain health," said Joanne Pike, DrPH, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. “Through (re)think your brain, we're helping people take meaningful steps today to help support brain health for years to come."

This World Brain Day, take the opportunity to (re)think what brain health can really mean for you.

To begin building your own brain-healthy habits, visit www.rethinkyourbrain.org.

“a written self-portrait: ‘On Psychosis’ a Novella Vol. I” by Louis Gale

In the first volume of Louis Gale’s experimental series, readers enter the restless mind of Amstel, a man moving through psychotic breaks, travel, drug experiences and an increasingly unstable sense of reality. He does not understand the forces working on him, but the deeper he goes, the more difficult it becomes to separate insight from distortion.

Written in a nonlinear stream of consciousness, “a written self-portrait: ‘On Psychosis’ a Novella Vol. I” reflects the rhythm of Amstel’s thinking through repetition, abrupt shifts and unconventional typography. The result is less a traditional psychological narrative than an attempt to place readers inside the experience itself.

Strange, darkly funny and often unsettling, the novella asks readers to follow Amstel without the usual guideposts. It is an unusual opening to a larger series about the mind, identity and the possibilities that emerge when familiar ways of understanding the self begin to break apart.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/written-self-portrait1.

“a written self-portrait: ‘On Tragedy’ Volume II” by Louis Gale

The second volume of Louis Gale’s series takes Amstel’s story beyond the limits of the first book and into the worlds his mind creates. Now confined both literally and psychologically, he moves through imagined realms, philosophical speculation and moments in which love still reaches him, even when its meaning is difficult to grasp.

“a written self-portrait: ‘On Tragedy’ Volume II” continues the series’ nonlinear, experimental approach while widening its focus to include higher consciousness, human potential and the uneasy overlap between imagination and reality. The book is less concerned with giving readers easy answers than with showing how Amstel tries to make sense of what he experiences.

For those drawn to unconventional fiction and inward journeys, this second installment offers a fuller view of the series’ ambitions. It deepens the mystery around Amstel while suggesting that even within confinement, the mind can still create, question and reach for connection.

Gale draws on a life that has included a year of silence, homelessness and psychiatric hospitalization. He later earned a master’s degree in consciousness studies and is pursuing a PhD in international psychology, bringing both lived experience and academic inquiry to this unusual series.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/written-self-portrait2.

“Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror” by Alex Grass

A forgotten video game with a terrifying past. A spiked dog collar wields the power to convert an entire city to the worship of a dead dog. A surgical implant promising the perfect shape gives its wealthy owner far more than she bargained for.

These are only a few of the horrors lurking in Alex Grass’s “Infernal Tramps,” a collection of 17 stories that seems determined to keep one-upping itself in strangeness. Some tales are brief and brutal; others lead deeper into worlds shaped by obsession, grief, vanity, debt and loneliness. Regardless of the topic, the familiar rarely stays familiar for long.

Grass writes with a taste for the elaborate, grotesque and macabre, spiked by dark humor that arrives when you least expect it. Black-and-white images add to the book’s disquieting atmosphere. This is horror for readers who like their fiction unapologetically bizarre and their gore grindhouse-style — the sort of collection that may have you laughing on one page and regretting lunch on the next.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/infernal-tramps.

“The Future Is Not Yet Written” by Michael Weiner, MD

History has a way of changing families in an instant. What comes after can take generations to understand.

In “The Future Is Not Yet Written,” Michael Weiner continues the story begun in “Both Sides of the Same Coin,” following the interconnected Klein, Carbone, Doyle, Roth and Bartell families from the aftermath of 9/11 to the COVID era. Across two turbulent decades, spouses grieve, children grow up too quickly, careers shift, families blend, friendships deepen and new lives take shape in the shadow of old losses.

Richly detailed and deeply compassionate, this multigenerational saga traces how love, illness, ambition, service and chance redirect even the best-laid plans. Weiner’s wide cast of characters reminds us that resilience is rarely simple or sudden. It is built choice by choice, through the people we hold onto and the futures we dare to imagine.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/the-future-is-not-yet-written.

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a non-surgical treatment performed by an interventional radiologist. A catheter is inserted through a tiny incision and guided using real-time medical imaging to the blood vessels supplying the fibroids. Small particles are injected to block blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink over time. Compared to open surgical options, UFE typically results in less pain and a shorter recovery period.

“Before UFE, my entire life was planned around my fibroids — what I could wear, where I could go—all to manage the symptoms and pain I was experiencing,” said Kenya Green, a patient who has experienced fibroids for decades. “When I asked my OBGYN what my options were, I was told I could go on birth control or that I needed to have a hysterectomy.”

Uterine fibroids are not cancer. They are growths that develop in the uterus that can significantly impact menstrual health, causing heavy bleeding, bloating and severe pain. Women often suffer in silence, or think that surgery is their only option – it is not.

“I was in my early 30s and I was not ready for the changes hysterectomy would bring,” Green said. “I found out about uterine fibroid embolization from a friend who referred me to an interventional radiologist, who was able to help.”

“Fibroids are the number 1 reason why women undergo hysterectomy, which is unnecessary in the significant majority of cases and can be replaced with the much safer, less invasive, nonsurgical UFE procedure,” said John Lipman, MD, an interventional radiologist and founder and medical director of the Atlanta Fibroid Center. “Compared with surgery, UFE is much less invasive, less expensive, has a much shorter recovery time (days versus weeks or months), and is covered by all major insurance plans.”

Awareness and access to fibroid diagnosis and treatment are vital. Uterine fibroids are three times more common in Black women and twice as common in Hispanic women, but 36% of Black women and 22% of Hispanic women mistakenly believe they are not at risk of developing fibroids.

“It has been shown in multiple medical studies that most women suffering with fibroids do not hear about UFE as a treatment option from their doctor despite full endorsement from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) back in 2008,” Lipman said. “Women are entitled to know all of their treatment options and not just the surgical ones. UFE is an absolute game changer for fibroid sufferers, but the biggest problem is that most patients are unaware of this outstanding procedure and need to obtain a second opinion from an interventional radiologist.”

After UFE, Green has experienced a marked improvement in her quality of life. “Since I had my UFE, I no longer have to plan my life and my wardrobe around my fibroid symptoms,” Green said. “I am pain free and living a life of abundance, enjoying time with friends and family without worry.”

As we recognize July as Uterine Fibroid Awareness month, all women deserve to know their uterine fibroids treatment options. For more information, visit the Radiology Health Equity Coalition Uterine Fibroid Resources page.

As noted in the SCSP’s recent Quantum Tech Scorecard, China has committed more than double the government funding to QISET over the past seven years than the United States (approximately $15 billion vs. 6 billion).

Diverging Strengths: Networking vs Computing

China’s primary quantum advantage lies in quantum networking, which leverages quantum states to enable more secure communications and enhance network resilience. 

Quantum networking has been a long-term strategic priority for the Chinese government and, as a result, China has deployed the networking infrastructure at scale by mobilizing government resources, setting national standards, and executing sustained long-term plans, according to the SCSP’s Quantum Tech Scorecard. By contrast, the U.S. approach is decentralized and market-driven, leaving it exposed to inconsistent funding from annual budget cycles.

However, in quantum computing, the United States still maintains a lead over China, given the support from private companies, universities, and capital markets. American platforms continue to dominate global quantum developer workflows, according to SCSP. For instance, data from December 2025 shows more than 450,000 downloads of IBM’s Qiskit compared to approximately 4,000 for China’s comparable software development kit (SDK). “In addition, between 39 and 73 quantum computers have been deployed by U.S. entities, versus an estimated 15 to 18 in China,” according to SCSP experts.

Closing the Lab-to-Deployment Gap

Looking ahead, the U.S. has made a $2 billion investment that targets a key area of quantum technology competition: the transition from laboratory results to deployed, operational systems. However, the National Quantum Initiative Act—the federal government’s primary framework for coordinating quantum activities—is scheduled to end in 2029, on the heels of several key provisions that expired in 2023, while China’s financial commitments to QISET are rooted in long-term plans.

Congress is currently considering legislation to reauthorize the initiative and revise its mandate. The Act would help boost American competitiveness in several ways:

-Modernizing federal quantum research programs.

-Coordinating across federal agencies across key federal agencies, including the addition of NASA as a formal quantum research partner.

-Supporting workforce development to meet growing quantum industry demands.

-Expanding cooperation with allies to maintain U.S. competitiveness.

The new U.S. government investment signals a commitment to retaining global leadership across all areas of quantum technology. However, “the final outcome of this competition will be determined not by which country produces the most impressive research results, but by which can produce operational quantum systems at scale, and sustain the will to do so over a decade-long horizon,” according to SCSP’s experts.

Visit scsp.ai to learn more about SCSP’s research, and find out more about how the U.S. and China compare at scorecared.scsp.ai.

Published in a new anniversary edition on July 4, 2026, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American Independence, We the Presidents looks at a full century of American leadership, from Warren G. Harding to Donald J. Trump. But this is not a standard march through presidential biographies. Gruner is less interested in personality, party labels or political theater than in consequences. What did these presidents actually do? What problems did they inherit? Which decisions echoed far beyond their term in office?

Many of the issues dominating today’s headlines — immigration, inflation, income disparity, civil discord, war and the expanding power of the executive branch — did not appear overnight. Gruner traces their roots across administrations, showing how one presidency often sets the stage for the next. In his telling, American history becomes less a series of isolated chapters and more a long chain of choices, reactions — and sometimes, unintended consequences.

Gruner brings an unusual perspective to the subject. Before turning to history, he spent 40 years as a business leader, founding and serving as chief executive of three successful technology firms. That background informs the book’s results-oriented lens. He writes with an eye toward outcomes: what worked, what failed and what changed the country in ways Americans are still living with today.

The book is also designed for readers who may be tired of the usual partisan framing. We the Presidents examines presidential decisions without leaning on labels like Democrat, Republican, liberal or conservative. The result is a clear-eyed history that invites readers to think beyond team politics and look instead at leadership, policy and impact.

It helps, too, that the book is built to be accessible. With more than 140 images and charts, many in color, the anniversary edition gives visual context to a century of change. Reviewers have praised the book as “essential reading for every conscientious citizen” and “a compelling education on the issues which have shaped the American century up to the present day.”

That may be the real promise of We the Presidents: not simply that it teaches us what happened, but that it helps us understand why the present looks the way it does. At a time when public conversation often feels loud, fractured and impatient, Gruner offers something more durable — historical perspective.

For readers who want to better understand America’s current divisions, the growth of presidential power and the long shadow of executive decisions, We the Presidents is a timely and thought-provoking guide. It reminds us that every president inherits a country shaped by those who came before — and leaves behind a country the next one must answer for.

Purchase at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KFD1SY/ or learn more at https://wethepresidents.us/.

A recent survey commissioned by the Coalition to Empower our Future (CEF) found that seven-in-10 registered voters and nearly three-quarters of parents worry that policies centered primarily on banning or severely limiting young people's access to phones and technology could lead to unintended consequences. Instead of concentrating on a single issue, respondents expressed greater confidence in solutions that address the many influences on youth mental health.

The research, conducted by Mercury Analytics, included a nationwide survey of 2,000 registered voters, expanded polling among parents in California, New York and Texas, and a series of focus group discussions. Many parents participating in the study said that restricting technology by itself may fail to address deeper mental health challenges while leaving young people less prepared to use digital tools responsibly as they grow.

One parent from California noted, “I don’t necessarily support taking the phones away. It’s like solving a symptom but not necessarily the problem.” Another from New York said, “Speaking from my own experience, I was open with [my parents] about what I was doing. Bans, with no questions asked, are not a good solution because it’ll be like ‘okay, I’m not allowed to do this, so now I have more of an inclination to do this.’”

Survey participants consistently favored a more comprehensive approach. Nearly three out of four respondents said improving youth wellbeing requires collaboration among parents, educators, healthcare professionals, community organizations and policymakers rather than relying on a single policy solution.

The findings also highlighted widespread support for digital literacy. More than 80 percent of voters and almost 90 percent of parents agreed that children and teens should receive instruction on how to safely and responsibly use emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). Respondents also emphasized the importance of equipping parents with guidance and educational resources so they can help their children make informed decisions online.

As AI applications, social media platforms and digital learning tools become increasingly integrated into daily life, many parents believe education, support and skill-building may be more effective than bans and outright restrictions alone. Participants pointed to the value of teaching responsible online behavior, critical thinking and healthy digital habits that can benefit young people throughout their lives. On digital literacy, one Texas parent said, “I think kids are technologically savvy, but not digitally literate. A lot of them are unable to use higher-order thinking skills to understand what they are watching or experiencing.”

Overall, the research suggests that respondents view youth mental health as a complex issue shaped by numerous factors, including family support, school environments, community involvement and responsible technology use. Rather than emphasizing bans, many favored balanced solutions that combine mental health services, digital literacy education, parental engagement and community support.

The study was conducted in April 2026 in partnership with Mercury Analytics and included a nationwide survey of 2,000 registered voters, oversamples of 600 parents each in California, New York and Texas, and live conversations with parents across those states. Additional information about the research is available through the Coalition to Empower our Future.

To learn more about the research, visit: https://empowerourfuturecoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CEF-Unintended-Consequences-National-Memo_June-2026.pdf

(NewsUSA) - As the United States prepares to mark 250 years of independence, a new national poll has found one of the clearest points of agreement in American public opinion today: 80% of adults say the country places too little emphasis on civic education.

More than half of respondents said the country places “much too little” emphasis on civic education, defined as teaching people how government and democracy actually work, while another 29% said “somewhat too little.” Just 13% said the current level is about right, and almost no one said the country teaches too much.

The survey, conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies for NBC News and sponsored by More Perfect and the Daniels Fund, polled 3,000 adults nationwide from May 29 to June 7.

It also found that more than half of Americans surveyed believe people share the same core values but disagree on policy, and that majorities see more uniting than dividing Americans across lines of gender, race and ethnicity, and immigration status.

“Eight out of ten Americans telling us we need more civic education is a wake-up call to educators and policymakers,” said John Bridgeland, co-founder of More Perfect, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to advancing democracy. “People want to understand how their government works, the role of civil society, and how they can engage in helping to improve our union. The good news is that a growing movement is already answering that call, from Presidential Centers to classrooms to the National Civics Bee.”

“This research confirms what we hear every day in communities across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming: people are hungry for the tools to participate in their democracy, not just watch from the sidelines,” said Hanna Skandera Grady, President and CEO of the Daniels Fund, a foundation dedicated to positively impacting American life. “As America approaches its 250th anniversary, investing in civic knowledge and engagement among our nation's rising generation is more important than ever, and the answers are often already taking shape, emerging from local communities across the country."

The poll also found that young and older Americans diverge sharply on national pride and views of the Constitution, but largely agree that the “American Dream” is harder to achieve than it was a generation ago — a sentiment shared by 78% of all adults.

The poll's findings come as a wide range of civic education efforts are already underway nationwide, including:

● The National Civics Bee, of which the Daniels Fund is the founding sponsor, has expanded to all 50 states and draws students into civic competition outside the classroom.

● iCivics reaches roughly 145,000 teachers and 9 million students each year, with a new Rule of Law unit for high schoolers.

● The National Constitution Center's Civics Quest offers families a play-based way to explore American history together.

● 44 Presidential Centers have come together for the first time around civic education and democratic renewal, a notable moment of cross-ideological alignment.

● More Perfect's In Pursuit initiative has generated nearly a million views with essays and insights about every U.S. president and first lady, ahead of an hour-long PBS documentary set for October 2026.

To learn more about More Perfect's work, visit joinmoreperfect.us.

In support of this initiative and in the spirit of National Fishing Week, Toys for Tots partnered with local Toys for Tots Coordinator Gina Capate to host a hands-on fishing event in Maple Shade, New Jersey—giving foster children a chance to connect with nature in a fun, supportive setting.

On a warm morning, 24 local foster children gathered by the water, not only to learn how to fish, but to experience something deeper: a sense of belonging. Alongside volunteers, local leaders, and law enforcement officers—many of whom personally invited and mentored the children—they practiced patience, teamwork, and resilience. What organizers fondly referred to as the “Cops and Boppers” event became more than recreation—it was a powerful example of how relationships and trust are built through shared, positive experiences.

Each child left with a fishing pole and a bag of their own, but also with an enduring feeling that their community sees them, values them, and is willing to invest in their happiness. Moments like these may seem small, but they are seeds of confidence and possibility that extend far beyond a single day.

“This fishing event was about more than spending time on the water—it was about creating moments where children feel supported, encouraged, and included,” said Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Sometimes all it takes is one opportunity to spark confidence that can last a lifetime.”

For millions of underserved children, access to these opportunities is far less certain, but no less important. Safe outdoor play, educational toys, and enriching books are not always within reach.

Ensuring opportunities for these children is the heart of our Give and Go: Outdoor Adventures Start with You initiative.

“Outdoor experiences help children discover confidence, patience, and a sense of possibility that stays with them long after the day ends. Every child deserves the chance to step outside, try something new, and realize what they are capable of,” said Lieutenant General Laster.

It is often in these moments that children begin to recognize their own potential. These aren’t grand experiences, but they are powerful ones. Through Give and Go: Outdoor Adventures Start with You, donations are transformed into fishing poles that teach new skills, soccer balls that spark a new hobby, books that ignite curiosity about the world, or games that encourage creativity and problem-solving. These experiences create space for children to simply be children.

This is what the American public’s generosity makes possible—and why outdoor play, educational toys, and meaningful experiences remain at the heart of Toys for Tots’ mission. Your generosity helps ensure that moments like this aren’t the exception—but something all children can count on.

Because Outdoor Adventures Start with You—and every child deserves to be celebrated.

To learn more about Toys for Tots and its year-round mission or to donate, visit toysfortots.org.