Best News of Last Week
Welcome, welcome! You’re reading Feel Good News with Erica — the little corner where we collect reasons to smile.
1. Billie Eilish Donates $11.5 Million To Charity, Encourages Billionaires To Do The Same
Billie Eilish was honored at the WSJ Innovator Awards with the Music Innovator Award. In her acceptance speech, she urged the world’s wealthiest people, including billionaires in attendance, to donate part of their fortune to those in need. Eilish emphasized the current state of the world being “really bad and really dark” and called for empathy and help, especially in the United States. She specifically addressed the billionaires, questioning why they have amassed such wealth and encouraging them to give it away to help others. Eilish herself has donated $11.5 million USD from her recent tour proceeds to support important organizations and initiatives focused on climate justice and environmental work.
2. Portland coffee shop raises over $72,000 to feed people losing SNAP benefits
The Heretic Coffee Co., a volunteer-run, nonprofit coffee shop in Southeast Portland, has raised over $86,000 to help feed people losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown. The coffee shop, which trains people to become baristas and coffee roasters, has been soliciting donations for less than a week to pay for breakfast for those affected by the loss of SNAP benefits. The owner of the coffee shop, Josh White, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, stating that “when the system fails us, it’s on everyday people to take care of each other.”
3. Jesse Eisenberg Reveals He Is Donating a Kidney to a Stranger: ‘A No-Brainer’
Jesse Eisenberg, the Oscar-nominated actor, has announced that he will be donating one of his kidneys to a stranger in the next six weeks. Eisenberg has been a regular blood donor for years, and now he is taking his altruistic giving to the next level by becoming a non-directed kidney donor. He explained the process, where his kidney will go to a recipient in need, and in turn, that recipient’s intended donor will donate their kidney to someone else, creating a chain of donations. Eisenberg also said he has put his family members on a priority list for a living kidney donation should they ever need one, ensuring that his donation is risk-free for his loved ones. The actor is excited to make this selfless contribution, as there is currently a shortage of organ donors in the United States, with around 90,000 people on the kidney transplant waitlist.
4. Christina Applegate to Join ‘Married With Children’ Cast Reunion to Raise Money for Race to End MS
The stars of the hit 1980s Fox sitcom “Married…With Children” are reuniting in January 2026 for a live event that will serve as a benefit for the Race to Erase MS organization. The cast, including Ed O'Neill, Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate, and David Faustino, will gather on stage at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles to share never-before-heard stories, rare behind-the-scenes moments, and plenty of laughs as they reminisce about their 11-season sitcom. The event is being produced by Live Nation Concerts and Blunt Mgmt., and $2 from every ticket sold will go to the Race to Erase MS charity. This isn’t the first time the “Married…With Children” family has reunited, as they have appeared together at various events over the years.
5. China develops “plastic” from bamboo cellulose that can replicate or surpass the properties of many widely used plastics
Bamboo is a highly renewable resource that can be used to produce a hard, mouldable plastic suitable for use in cars and appliances. Researchers have developed a process to extract cellulose from bamboo and convert it into a plastic that is as strong and durable as conventional engineering plastics, but is also recyclable and biodegrades easily in soil. While not suitable for the most common plastic uses like packaging, this bamboo-based plastic could help address the sourcing and sustainability concerns of some traditional engineering plastics. Though not the cheapest option, the plastic’s recyclability and biodegradability make it an attractive alternative in certain applications.
6. Good Samaritan gets donated jaw surgery after protecting trans woman
Jarod Adkison, a 33-year-old man from Austin, Texas, was assaulted at Barton Springs Pool on July 26, 2025 after he stepped in to defend a trans woman who was being harassed by a group of intoxicated men. Adkison had a broken jaw and a concussion from the attack. Despite not having health insurance, Adkison was able to get the necessary jaw surgery through the help of a local plastic surgeon who performed the procedure for free. Adkison initially felt reluctant to ask for financial assistance, but the community rallied around him, raising over $74,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to cover his medical expenses and time off work. Adkison is now fully recovered and is seen as a hero by his 9-year-old son for defending the trans woman.
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That’s it for last week :)
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