Orange County – October 20, 2026 -- Radiant Health Centers is running community health education programs across Orange County that cover nutrition, reproductive health, HIV and STI prevention, and chronic disease management. The programs are open to people of all backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community.

Orange County – October 20, 2026 -- You don't need to wait for a crisis to see a counselor. Radiant Health Centers, an LGBTQ+ clinic in Orange County, outlines four everyday situations in which mental health counseling can help.

Sterling, Ill. – October 19, 2026 -- A 40-year barber from Maryland has won the fifth Wahl Benevolent Beards Contest, taking home $5,000 for himself and $20,000 for his charity, and he will be honored at a free beard grooming event before the Baltimore Ravens game on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026.

Robert Cradle of Odenton, MD, founded Rob's Barbershop Community Foundation (RBCF). The charity brings grooming services, hygiene products and barber training to underserved communities. Wahl will park its Mobile Barbershop on RavensWalk from 9 a.m. to noon EST for the event.

New York – October 16, 2026 -- Anyone can now join the global blood stem cell donor registry from home: Gabriel & Co. has opened a digital donor drive that mails a cheek swab kit to supporters, as the jewelry brand marks 10 years of partnership with the blood cancer nonprofit DKMS.

Belleville – October 16, 2026 -- Third, fourth and fifth graders in Illinois American Water's service area can submit artwork to the "Water Keeps Life Flowing" contest through Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, with up to 10 winners earning classroom prize packs worth roughly $100.

Entries open Oct. 16 and close Nov. 13

Students are asked to capture what high-quality water service means to them. Submissions opened Oct. 16, 2026, one day after the U.S. Water Alliance's Imagine a Day Without Water observance on Oct. 15.

Dallas – October 16, 2026 -- The 21st annual Sam's Night raised $1.7 million, based on preliminary totals at press time, for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), and donations are still open at SamsNight.org. The Killian family of Rockwall, Texas, hosted the fundraiser on Thursday, October 15, at Victory Social.

Frederick, Md. – October 15, 2026 -- Frederick County parents of neurodivergent children now have a new link to specialized tutoring: the Parent Resource Center and LINKZ have partnered to connect local families with educational resources and support.

Downtown hub meets specialized tutoring

The Parent Resource Center, located in downtown Frederick, serves as a hub for parents of neurodivergent learners. It connects families with community partners, resources, events and support.

Plano, Texas – October 15, 2026 -- Two nonprofit leaders who open up youth sports to more girls and kids received $25,000 grants each from Toyota at the 2026 espnW: Women + Sports Summit in Ojai, California. Markeshia Grant of EPIC for Girls and Rhiannon Potkey of Goods4Greatness are the 11th class of Toyota Everyday Heroes.

Ventura County – October 14, 2026 -- Tickets are available for the St. John's Healthcare Foundation's 2027 gala, Adventure. Seats cost $450 each, and all proceeds go to cancer care in Ventura County. The black-tie evening takes place Saturday, May 1, 2027, at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village.

Chicago – October 14, 2026 -- Beltone's third annual Hear2End Hunger Food Drive collected 20,640 non-perishable food items in September for local food banks and hunger-relief organizations across the United States. The total beat the 20,000-item goal and is more than 41% higher than the 2025 haul.