Well, that seems just about limitless. Raquel corrosco i justi feel like im doing something great that needs to be done. Raquel are these two Christmas Trees . Garvin raquel corrosco and Antoine Delcayre are heading up this years fifth annual branham makeawish rally. They began months ago by passing out 1500 of those blue stars to every student and teacher with one simple request make a wish for yourself or someone else. Many wishes, antoine says, were small but the big ones, he admits, were an eyeopener. That, in such a wealthy region, so many classmates were struggling. Antoine they had to skip meals because they didnt have enough money or they were in thousands of dollars of debt because of medical bills. Female ty newin wished for a jamba juice gift card. Lets go. Garvin so for months, while fulfilling hundreds of the small wishes, theyve been working on the big ones, ones they feel deserve a big stage and the whole school watching. Antoine senna hanna, can you please come down . Garvin it is a nonstop 45minute assembly of awesomeness and emotion. Raquel coach cooper, can you come on down here . Garvin of students wishing their coach be recognized for all her hard work. [screaming] garvin a boy wishing financial help for his girlfriends family over the holidays. Female she mentioned that she had no computer at home. Garvin a teacher wishing a home computer for her colleague so there arent as many late nights at school. Female well, because weve been through everything together. My grandma garvin and a girl just wishing something nice for her mom after two strokes and years in the hospital. Female and im glad that shes finally home for this christmas. Thats all i wanted. Garvin as all teenagers know, it can be tough to stand out in high school for the wrong reasons. But in this high school, at least, they know they dont have to stand alone. Antoine theyre gonna remember this for the rest of their lives. Theyre gonna remember that their community saw their problem and their community had their back. Garvin a San Francisco woman is also bringing others to tears, by making a place no one wants to be, beautiful. Nancy ballard is fortunate that neither she nor anyone in her immediate family has had to deal with cancer, which is why it surprised her as much as anyone that she has chosen the mission she has. Garvin when it comes to directions, taking a left where you normally take a right can lead to some unexpected places. In her Doctors Office for a routine visit 6 years ago, Nancy Ballard took such a turn and hasnt turned back since. Nancy ballard yeah, i really didnt think that that was the path i was gonna be taking. Nancy i hate to hurt your heart. Garvin that left you see led to a chemotherapy treatment room. The place where Cancer Patients spend hours upon hours, depressed nancy in a matter of seconds. Nancy seventies sad. Id say 70s sad. When i saw that room and i knew what people had to go through in there, it kind of clicked. Like i said, i wouldnt wanna be there on a good day, let alone a day that i was fighting for my life. Nancy but thats something that can be delivered tomorrow. Garvin nancy vowed to remodel that room. And though not a designer herself, she found some to help her. And she hasnt stopped since. This past weekend, through her rooms that rock 4 chemo nonprofit, nancy and her team madeover three rooms at San Franciscos Saint Francis hospital. Add that to the more than 150 other rooms in 15 facilities and nancy has touched spaces that see 800,000 Cancer Patients a year; patients nancy will never see. Shes gone long before they can ever say thanks. Nancy its not about seeing the persons gratitude but its knowing that if your mom or dad or your kid or your somebody was in there, youd want them to be in a room like this too. [applauding] garvin nancy did stick around, though, long enough this time for former giant and cancer survivor, dave dravecky, to dedicate all the hard work. Dave dravecky it creates an environment where for just a few moments in their day or, you know, sometimes its more than a few moments, as theyre getting their chemo, they can actually push the pause button and look around them and experience something other than the pain that they are going through. And that is a beautiful thing. Garvin this next woman youll meet captures in photos the lifechanging milestones of some of societys most vulnerable. Virginia becker says its the most fulfilling work she has ever done, once, of course, she figured out how to do it. Virginia yeah, have a seat. Garvin when it comes to taking pictures virginia you can kind of lean forward garvin virginia becker will tell you as little as 5 years ago virginia ready . One, two, three. Garvin she knew nothing more about cameras virginia youre gonna love this. Garvin than how to turn one on. Virginia i didnt know the difference between an fstop and a bus stop. Virginia and let me see your right shoulder. Garvin since then, though, virginia has snapped more than 60,000 images and, in the process, brought her lifes purpose into clear focus. Virginia everything that i had done in the past, i think kind of built up to this. And this is, like, the big crescendo of why am i here . Garvin virginia started the family album project as a way to help people print out their precious memories and not leave them forgotten in cameras or on hard drives. Virginia and i think were losing a big part of our history by not printing, by not having that shoebox of prints. Garvin what virginia soon discovered, though, was that many of lifes most important moments werent being captured at all, particularly among societys most vulnerable. Virginia right there. Love my new liver garvin like the sick kid getting a second chance. Virginia thats a milestone, all right. Virginia perfect. And look right here at me. Garvin the foster child graduating high school, or the homeless family finally getting a home. Virginia there are so many people that want their story told. Garvin and virginia is now there to tell it. Not with words virginia one more. Garvin but with a picture. A hard copy printed out, right there and then, with the help of husband albert. Virginia says shes motivated to do all this for free because she just wants these people to see themselves the way she sees them. Not just folks whove had some hard knocks, but people who are thriving in spite of them. Virginia theyre heroes. There are so many Unsung Heroes out there. Garvin coming up, she saw the devastation in the valley fire in lake county and decided she had to do something. Candy alcott this is about a promise to one little boy. Garvin a promise that a livermore preschool teacher has more than kept. What a new bike means to children who have lost everything. But first, a group of women go on a secret mission to do good, one stitch at a time. Kate kelly its been in secret for months. Sewing machines have been humming. Garvin the surprise gifts that mean so much to the men and women who gave so much for their country. [applauding] garvin our next story is about an east bay man who made a trip of a lifetime to thank people he had never met for something they did long before he was born. Richard zinns father rarely talked about his time serving in world war ii. But a recent trip filled in the gaps of a Family History that a son desperately wanted filled. Male now youll notice over in this corner here, there are garvin at the National Infantry museum outside the gates of georgias fort benning, youll find a wellpreserved collection of world war ii era buildings. Richard zinn came all the way from walnut creek to soak up some of the history, though, truth be told, its not really the buildings he came to see. Richard oh, its such a pleasure to meet you. Garvin its men. Richard absolutely, these are the people who saved my fathers life. Garvin herb zinn was a member of the 95th Infantry Division and, like many world war ii vets, he didnt share much about his experience with his family. Richard any time i would ask him for detail, he would just say, i dont wanna talk about it. I cant talk about it. Garvin in fact, about all richard could get out of his father before his death was that during the battle for the french city of metz, he was one of a small group of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines for 8 days before being rescued on thanksgiving day, 1944. At least, that was all richard knew until about a year ago when he began searching for more information about the battle of metz. It was the start of a journey that eventually took him to eastern france and, with the help of a local woman, he searched for the very location of the most Pivotal Moment of his fathers life. Richard as we were close to saying, you know, were not gonna find it, i looked over and i saw this ruined concrete ruin, off in the distance. Itears coming down my face. It was the most spiritual moment of my life. All hooray for the bald eagle at metz. Garvin still, knowing the place and knowing the story are not the same, which is why richard has come to georgia for the 66th reunion of the 95th infantry, the iron men of metz. Fifteen thousand served, only fourteen are here. Richard most of them, as we know, are gone but whoever is here, i personally wanna thank. They saved my fathers life. Male it was a very inresting experience, for what it was worth. Garvin but thanking them is not all richard wanted to do. He was hoping there was someone here who could tell him more about his fathers story. Richard made a point to talk to each and every one of them until one night at dinner male zinn, i think, was in the 3rd platoon. Garvin he found just what he was looking for. Two who had, indeed, served with his father. Jerry schwartz well, we were cut off. Garvin one, telling a very familiar tale. Jerry so for 8 days we had nothing. Yeah, i would say things were pretty bad. Garvin Jerry Schwartz was trapped with herb zinn for 8 days. Richard, asking jerry every question he had always wanted to ask, absorbing every detail he had so long wanted to know. Jerry i think some guys figured they were gonna die and some guys figured they werent gonna die. [bugle playing] garvin by the time the next day, when a monument to the 95th at war was dedicated, richard was at peace. Finally given the chance to learn his history. Finally given a chance to say thanks to those responsible for his future. Garvin while richard traveled to Great Lengths to honor his fathers legacy, a group of women stayed close to home to pull off a Stealth Mission to honor their neighbors who also served this country. What these pleasanton women did took months of hard work and secrecy to pull off a celebration some world war ii veterans wont soon forget. Garvin sure, the Second World War may have ended 70 years ago but that doesnt mean all its secret missions are over. Like the one a group of women at the Stoneridge Creek Retirement Community in pleasanton have been on for months. Kate [laughing] a secret special op, yes. Garvin kate kelly says the whole operation began right around veterans day last year, when she and others began to realize just how many of their neighbors had served. Kate here at stoneridge creek, over 20 of our population have served. And thats stunning. To imagine that we have 21 living world war ii vets among us right now is incredible. Garvin with so much history around them and dwindling time to act, they began gathering the vets stories to preserve them forever. Kate here we had this wonderful opportunity and we didnt wanna waste it. Garvin but what about thanking them . Kate oh, that ones good. Garvin it was then, kate says, someone mentioned quilts of valor, a National Group that custommakes quilts for vets. Kate and her friends contacted the local chapter, then got busy quilting. And quilting. And quilting. Kate its been in secret for months. Sewing machines have been humming. Garvin all so this veterans day, they could surprise their world war ii vets and neighbors with the finished products. Kate dan ashton, United States navy, 1943 to 1946. Kate peg crystal, United States navy, 1943 to 1945. Kate gordon pathurst, United States army, 1942 to 1945, prisoner of war. Garvin months in the making, these quilts became instant heirlooms once in the hands of the grateful veteran. Male its wonderful that they remember. Wonderful that were still here to hear them say it. Im just overwhelmed, i really am. Garvin just one more way, the quilters say, of thanking them for all we have to be thankful for today. Garvin coming up, three berkeley grads show real heart in revolutionizing a medical equipment mainstay. Connor landgraf we wanted to be on the forefront of something that was exciting. Garvin what they did to turn a stethoscope into smart technology. But first, a livermore preschool teacher is on a roll, going above and beyond to help families who have lost so much in the valley fire. [music] garvin the devastating valley fire has been out of the headlines for a while now but the people of lake county are still struggling with the disaster. Thats where an east bay woman comes in. She made a promise to a young boy there and delivered in a big way. Garvin to live in lake county these days is to be reminded every single day of the devastating power of nature. Candy i need all volunteers down here. Garvin how nice it must be then, to meet a force of nature candy okay, all the chairs go behind the tables down there. Garvin working to build them back up. Candy kids helmets right here, adults helmets on that table. Garvin candy alcott is not a trained relief worker. Shes a preschool teacher from livermore. She used to live in lake county though, which is why she was so moved by what she saw on her tv screens in september. Candy and i saw middletown on fire. Garvin feeling she had to do something, candy packed her minivan with supplies and started making trips to the disaster zone. When the bike repair class at Del Valle High School heard what she was doing, they donated 18 bicycles. Candy handed those out one day in september. But one little boy got there too late. Candy and i didnt have any more bikes. Garvin she promised to come back. Candy and thats where the promise comes in. This is about a promise to one little boy. Candy and this is about you, mizraim. This is about this little boy right here, garvin. Garvin candy did come back in october, but not just with one bike for mizraim. She brought 300 more. And this past weekend, the bike angels united returned once again, this time, 500 bikes in tow. Candy we have approximately 220 new bikes and 300 used bikes. Male thank you garvin many of these families are in the process of having to replace absolutely everything they owned. And while a bicycle might not seem high on that list, candy disagrees. She has seen firsthand what a lift a little ride can give. Candy if the kids are happy, the mom and dad can deal with the everyday issues that were speaking about. Garvin but even now, with 800 bikes rolling around lake county, candys not done. She says someones going to need to repair them all and shes promised to come back and do that. And, as the people of lake county have already learned, when candy makes a promise, you can be sure she will deliver. Garvin coming up, the stethoscope reimagined. Meet the bay area design team thats going to their own beat and now riding a sound wave of success. [music] garvin lack of experience isnt always a bad thing in business. Its the people not rooted in the way things have always been done who are sometimes best at seeing how they can be done better. That certainly looks and sounds like it was the case for three recent berkeley grads. Tyler crouch its performing just as it did before garvin the journey from dorm room to Conference Room has been a swift one for connor landgraf, tyler crouch, and jason bellet. Barely 3 years ago, the three cofounders of eko devices met as uc berkeley students. Yet they are already making waves in the medical devices field. Tyler and this is the bundle. Garvin audio waves, to be exact. Tyler and the sound travels straight through this chassis. Garvin in september, their eko core, a smart stethoscope, was approved by the fda and went on sale. It is, the three suggest, the most fundamental upgrade to the stethoscope since it was invented 200 years ago. And just why was it needed . Well, connor says that became apparent to him after a group of stethoscopewearing primary care physicians visited his design class. Connor and one of them, i still remember, he said something superinsightful. He said, we dont get that much value out of this. We kind of just wear it around because thats what physicians do. Thats what doctors do. And that was mindblowing to me. I just felt, like, you know, this is crazy. Garvin crazy enough that the three set about bringing this 19th century invention into the 21st century. The genius of it is that, while looking and working just like a traditional stethoscope that doctors and patients are already comfortable with, the eko core, when activated, pairs with a smartphone to record and display the patients heart and lung sounds. And while that may be of some help to the physician in the room, it all becomes revolutionary when you consider where it can go from there. Jason bellet at thecaptured at the point of care, whether that person is located in rural montana or, you know, a village outside of mumbai, capture that sound and then send it to the specialist wherever they are. Connor we wanted to be on the forefront of something that was exciting and feel like we had a career or an opportunity to do something that mattered. Garvin the three say, in general, innovation in the medical devices field is slower than other areas. There are, after all, legitimate concerns over safety and privacy. Still, what they have discovered is that, given the right idea in the right hands, innovation can sometimes move at the speed of sound. Garvin thanks again for joining us for this bay area proud special. You can see new bay area proud stories every tuesday and thursday evenings in our 5 p. M. Newscast. And all of the reports are on our website. Just go to nbcbayarea. Com and scroll down to the bay area proud segment. If you know someone who should be featured in our bay area proud segment, id love to hear from you. Go to our website. Its there youll find links to my facebook, twitter, or how to email me; have a great night. [music] [music] [music] cc by aberde