When a big-hearted NYPD officer bought a pair of shoes for a homeless man in Times Square recently, he became an Internet hero. But Officer Larry DePrimo's incredible gift wasn't the best thing that's ever happened to the man we know now is Jeffrey Hillman, a former New Jersey resident. The homeless man is already back to being barefoot.

It's a fact that is already drawing the Internet's ire. The grumblings of "ungrateful" and backlash against the homeless community has begun. But let's just hold on to our righteous indignation for a moment, shall we? Jeffrey Hillman lives on the streets. He understands them much better than we do. And hiding a pair of $100 Sketchers is the right move here.

Are you feeling the holiday spirit yet? The carols doing their magic? No? Maybe this will. A Secret Santa has been wandering around areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy handing out $100 bills to every storm victim he meets.

His elves are members of the NYPD, New Jersey cops, and even some folks from the FBI who are keeping the red-suited guy and his load of cash -- literally, it is all his own money -- safe. But somehow that just makes this whole thing that much more inspiring. And his message that much more clear.

You, me, we could all do more.

Roland Dow and Jessica LinscottThere is little in this world that strikes me as worse than parents who hurt their kids. But Roland Dow and Jessica Linscott have topped even that. Cops arrested the parents of a little boy fighting for his life while they were at Universal Studios in Florida. The boy? Oh yeah, he was way back in their hometown in New Hampshire.

Yes, you got that right. These "parents" were tearing it up at a place made to put smiles on children's faces and meanwhile their little boy had been burned and beaten so badly he was in a hospital clinging to life hundreds of miles away.

This Breast Cancer Awareness month has been filled with the usual pink ribbons, charity walks, and PSAs. But a new way of raising awareness debuted this year, inspired by one of the hottest selling book series. That's right: Fifty Shades of Grey. Obviously! So, how do you tie breast cancer awareness in to the BDSM love story? With Fifty Shades of PINK tees, of course!

The tees showed up this past weekend in Staten Island, where locals -- many of them survivors -- marched to raise awareness and money for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimated that more than 6,000 people were on hand for the 5-kilometer Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. And it was a group of participants from Staten Island University Hospital who were sporting the trendy new tees.

Lance Armstrong is stepping down as chairman of his Livestrong charity, strong-armed out by the media. According to a statement posted by the group's website, he says: 

I have had the great honor of serving as this foundation's chairman for the last five years and its mission and success are my top priorities. Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship.

Within 10 minutes of this official announcement, Nike announced that it was terminating its contract with Lance Armstrong due to the insurmountable evidence that he may, in fact, have doped while racing. If it’s true, so much for cheaters never win.

Every once in awhile you hear about guys like the Rev. Carl Keyes, the pastor who now stands accused of stealing much of the money that came into his charity after 9/11 (and later Hurricane Katrina). There's no question that September 11, 2001 is one of the darkest days in our nation's history, but the way people reached deep into their pockets to try to help the victims was one of the more wonderful outcomes of that tragic day. But then you have guys like Keyes.

They're the sick schmucks who take advantage of people's good hearts and generosity. They're the jerks who make it hard for people to be generous.

Citizens actively engaged with their communities sustain American values. Whether it is at the local church bake sale, or voting in a presidential election, Americans taking part in things that are distinctly American build us up as a community. Yes, America as a whole is a community -- a large one -- but still a community. 

For the most part, we Americans all want the same things: Health, happiness, and a better tomorrow for our children. We want equal opportunity, poverty to be eradicated, a robust economy, and for people to stop abusing animals because that ASPCA commercial with Sarah McLachlan always make us feel awful.

It isn't common, but every once in a while, we witness an act of kindness that is so touching, so selfless, so ... rare in our me me me society, that it's impossible to not have it affect our day -- for the best. At least until we get stuck in traffic and "can't believe the universe is doing this to us again!"

A bus driver in Winnipeg, Canada recently shocked his passengers -- in a good way -- when he pulled his bus over to help a homeless man out who was shivering in the cold weather. No, he didn't give the man a ride. He did something much kinder.