Goodable

Public libraries are true joys of the community! Mychal, an inspiring librarian on Instagram recently witnessed a heartwarming moment at his workplace here a child asked their non-Spanish-speaking parent to read a book in Spanish. A series of heartwarming gestures followed: another child offered to read, then another child kindly tried despite not knowing the language, until finally, an older child stepped in, and the three of them read the book together.

Public libraries bring so much to their communities, as evidenced by a librarian who witnessed the sweetest interaction. Known on Instagram as Mychal, the young man recently shared a video about something that happened at his workplace. He says that he overheard a child asking their dad to read them a book in Spanish. The parent didn’t know any Spanish, but another child came up and offered to read it out loud.
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Love in Action *Handing out Flowers to Strangers*
Adorable, right? Well, the story didn’t end there! Another adult approached the dad and apologetically explained that the second child didn’t actually know any Spanish, either. As the two grown-ups shared a laugh, an older child saw the two small kids struggling with the book. Thankfully, the third child actually understood the language and wanted to help.
“Can we all read the book together?” they asked before stepping in.
After sharing this cute story, the librarian ended by saying that “library kids are going to save the world.”
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Watch: This Sweet Moment at a Library Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity

People

When Jordan Howlett walked onto the baseball team at UC Riverside, he wasn’t chasing clout. He was chasing the dream — the one where you get drafted, go pro, and make it big. By his senior year, he was in serious conversations with the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Then COVID hit, and it was over.

“I didn’t want to leave the sport feeling like I could have done more,” Howlett told PEOPLE. “I was very grateful to know I put my absolute everything into baseball.”

With pro ball off the table, Howlett was left scrambling for income — and identity. He took fast food jobs, worked 9-to-5 shifts, and tried to make sense of a world that had just flipped on its head.

He started filming videos. Just for fun at first. Just to figure out who he was.

“Social media wasn’t really a thought for me at that time at all,” he said. He remembered seeing someone with 8,000 followers and thinking, “I’ll never get to that number.”

Fast forward to today and @jordanthestallion has over 32 million followers across platforms — a TikTok juggernaut known for his direct-to-camera mirror videos and signature line: “Come here.”

Now, he’s up for Storyteller of the Year at the inaugural U.S. TikTok Awards, with the results to be announced December 18. And while the recognition is huge, Howlett admits he almost missed the news entirely.

“When you’re in that mode, running around that much, you get tunnel vision,” he said. “I looked up and my manager told me about the nomination. My immediate thought was there’s a laundry list of people on social media that definitely deserve to be there. So I’m just grateful that I’m even considered.”

Howlett first found traction with his Fast Foods Secret Club series, sharing insider restaurant tips from his time behind the counter. But what really stuck was him — his energy, honesty, and self-deprecating humor.

“People just wanted to watch stuff because of who I was as a person,” he said. “It was very sweet. In sports, you're constantly told you’re a replaceable asset. So to have people who just want to hang out and relate — it’s truly amazing.”

That authenticity, plus a background in competition, helped him grow fast. “It turned competitive, in a healthy way,” he said. “I’d see my peers posting consistently, growing, and I wanted to match that work ethic.”

Then came the celebrity collaborations. Kevin Hart was the first.

“That opened my eyes — like, whoa, we can actually do this with more people,” Howlett said. But working with someone like Hart wasn’t just about clout. It meant real prep, writing, and structure — something very different from Howlett’s usual off-the-cuff style.

“I can’t really walk in and be like, ‘We’re just gonna riff,’” he said, laughing. So he wrote jokes. For Kevin Hart. “It was very validating as a writer.”

Since then, he’s filmed with stars like Michael B. Jordan and Donald Glover — but the gravity of those moments rarely hits him until later.

“It doesn’t hit me until three days later and I’m home like, Oh my gosh, we actually just did that.”

Even with all the fame, Howlett’s not gunning for Hollywood. He says he loves traditional media — movies, TV — but doesn’t necessarily want to act.

“I’d love to write a little more,” he said. “But what I really want is to create a space where I can help other people from social media show their talents in traditional media fields.”

He’s learned that bridging the two worlds isn’t always easy. “Having to explain the importance of social media — especially to people over a certain age — is hard. If you can’t articulate it quickly, they might just blow it off.”

But to him, it’s simple: social media is full of real talent. “The rewards are there, and so are the people who are ready for the spotlight.”

And those MLB dreams? He doesn’t dwell on what could’ve been. “Of course I would’ve loved it,” he said. “But in the end, [baseball] gifted me with a career I could’ve never imagined. I’m very appreciative of that.”

TikTok Star Jordan Howlett Rose to Fame After COVID-19 Halted His MLB Dreams

Gavin Rossdale has a holiday message he wants everyone to hear loud and clear: adopt, don’t shop.

The 60-year-old Bush frontman, longtime animal lover, and proud dog dad is launching a new campaign to help shelter dogs find homes this December. Partnering with Best Friends Animal Society, Rossdale’s “12 Days of Dogmas” campaign will spotlight one adoptable pup each day starting December 10. He’ll feature the dogs on his social media accounts, complete with photos and details on why each one could be your next best friend.

“The importance of adopting to me is that you save an innocent life,” Rossdale told PEOPLE. “And the best thing about rescuing a pet is that you think you're doing them the favor, but actually, because life is bizarre and wild, it turns out that they do you the favor.”

Rossdale says rescue dogs helped launch his career, got him through some of his toughest days, and continue to bring joy to his life. His first dog, Winston, was a major turning point. “I had to be responsible for him. I couldn't go out for two days straight and be a crazy maniac in London,” he said. “So through my desire to be with him more, I just stayed in more, began to work, had more focus. And that's how I began Bush.”

Another dog, Chewy, helped him weather emotional storms. “I rescued him from someone, and he was just incredible. He just gave me so much comfort in the worst times of my life,” Rossdale said. “He was there for me, and I’d just take him everywhere.”

While Chewy was small, Rossdale didn’t let that stop him from feeling proud. “It takes a real man to walk a Pomeranian down the road and still feel nice and strong. And I did!” he said.

Today, Rossdale shares his life with Kaya, a working dog who keeps him grounded and energized. “I love our 7 a.m. walks, and I love training him. I also love feeding him — lots of canned fish, ancient grains, and good protein, no kibble — to try and keep him healthy.”

His three sons, whom he shares with ex-wife Gwen Stefani, are just as smitten. “They've always wanted dogs, so they’re just so over the moon to have a real big dog to play with,” he said. “They missed Chewy so much when he passed, which was two years ago now.”

Rossdale has also teamed up with PETA to promote their “Adopt Don’t Shop” campaign, in which he tells the story of Kaya and urges people to stop supporting puppy mills.

“Puppy mills are gross,” he said bluntly. “The cliché is that shelter animals are difficult, and that’s just not the case. What they’ve been through is difficult, and what they need is a kind reversal back into life.”

His message is simple: when you adopt, everyone wins. “Those animals really need you,” Rossdale said, “and the bond you’ll get and the rewards are immeasurable.”

Gavin Rossdale Attributes Music Success to Early Dog Ownership

Sunny Skyz

A California family’s attempt to help their daughter find work has turned into something much bigger — a pizza shop with a mission, and a message.

In the small town of Alpine, just outside San Diego, the Baker family opened Pizzabilities, a restaurant that creates real jobs for people with special needs. The idea came from their 19-year-old daughter, Grace, who has Down syndrome and struggled to find employment.

“Finding a job is just very hard with someone with special needs,” said Grace’s father, Josh Baker. So instead of waiting for the right opportunity, the Bakers created one.

They had no background in restaurants. But they knew Grace loved two things: pizza and people. That was enough to get started.

Last summer, Pizzabilities opened its doors. Grace works there as a proud co-owner, helping to make pizzas from scratch and topping them with her favorite ingredient — pepperoni.

But the restaurant has become about more than just pizza. According to Amy Baker, Grace’s mother, the number of job applications from people with special needs has been overwhelming. So many, in fact, that the family believes they could open several more locations based on interest alone.

Josh says the most emotional part of the process happens during job interviews.

“Tears just start flowing when the kids say, ‘You mean I am really hired?’” he said. “Then you look at their families, and they’re crying because they see their kid get to have an opportunity like the rest of us.”

Pizzabilities hasn’t just earned support because of its mission. Customers keep coming back because the food holds up. One customer said he originally stopped in to support the cause but became a regular because of how good the pizza was — from the sauce to the crust.

Now the Bakers are thinking bigger. They dream of expanding Pizzabilities into hundreds of locations across the country, and maybe beyond.

Printed on the back of every employee’s shirt is a motto that sums it all up: “Where pizzas and abilities rise together.”

This Family Opened a Pizza Restaurant To Employ Individuals With Special Needs

Talker News

Dark chocolate might be doing more than satisfying a sweet tooth — it could be helping to slow down aging.

Scientists at King’s College London say they’ve found evidence that theobromine, a naturally occurring compound in cocoa, may have anti-aging effects. Theobromine is the chemical most commonly associated with dark chocolate — and also famously known as being toxic to dogs.

The study, published in the journal Aging, analyzed blood samples from 1,669 people and compared their levels of theobromine with biological markers of aging. These markers, which reflect how old a person’s body seems based on health and cellular function rather than actual years lived, are based on changes in DNA methylation and telomere length.

Participants with higher concentrations of theobromine in their blood had biological ages lower than their chronological ages, researchers found.

“Our study finds links between a key component of dark chocolate and staying younger for longer,” said Professor Jordana Bell, senior author of the study. “While we’re not saying that people should eat more dark chocolate, this research can help us understand how everyday foods may hold clues to healthier, longer lives.”

To assess biological aging, researchers used two established tests. One estimated age based on chemical changes to DNA. The other measured the length of telomeres — protective caps at the ends of chromosomes — which tend to shorten as we age. Shorter telomeres are associated with age-related diseases and faster biological aging.

The study also explored whether other compounds found in cocoa or coffee had similar effects, but the results pointed specifically to theobromine.

“This is a very exciting finding, and the next important questions are what is behind this association and how can we explore the interactions between dietary metabolites and our epigenome further?” said Dr. Ramy Saad, lead researcher on the project.

The researchers believe plant-based compounds, like alkaloids, may influence how our genes are expressed over time. Theobromine is one such alkaloid and is already known to have other health benefits, such as improving heart health. But until now, its potential connection to the aging process hadn’t been closely studied.

“This study identifies another molecular mechanism through which naturally occurring compounds in cocoa may support health,” said Dr. Ricardo Costeira, a research associate at King’s College London. “While more research is needed, the findings from this study highlight the value of population-level analyses in aging and genetics.”

One theory the researchers are now looking into is whether theobromine works alone or in combination with other compounds in chocolate — like polyphenols, which are also known to support human health.

That said, the team made it clear this doesn’t mean people should start bingeing on chocolate bars.

Dark chocolate, while rich in theobromine, also contains sugar and fat. The researchers emphasized that more work is needed before any health recommendations can be made based on these findings.

Still, for those who already enjoy a square of dark chocolate now and then, the news might be a sweet bonus.

Study Suggests Dark Chocolate Could Slow Aging, Thanks To This Key Chemical

The Toronto Raptors may have lost to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, but a pint-sized fan in the crowd made sure no one left Scotiabank Arena without a smile.

During a timeout in the quarterfinal of the NBA In-Season Tournament on Dec. 9, cameras zoomed in on a young Raptors supporter—and that’s when the real show began.

Wearing a mini Scottie Barnes No. 4 jersey, the boy lit up the Jumbotron with a full-on dance performance: pumping his fist, bouncing in place, twisting from side to side, and clapping along to the music. At one point, a nearby fan leaned in for a fist bump, and the tiny dancer didn’t miss a beat.

The NBA shared the video on social media with the caption, “This young Toronto fan showed off his moves during a timeout,” and the clip quickly went viral. Fans flooded the comments with love for the moment. “He stole the whole game. Adorable,” one person wrote. Another joked, “The Raptors lost, at least he kept us entertained all night.”

His mom later showed him the footage on the arena screen, and the kid’s reaction was just as joyful—he clapped his hands, bounced around again, and threw his fist in the air like a seasoned showman.

The NBA also posted the video in a joint Instagram post with the Raptors, adding a slow-motion close-up of the boy smiling, waving, and sticking out his tongue. “First he does it with the dance moves, then with the smile and wave 🥹 This @raptors fan is adorable!” the caption read.

The Raptors fell to the Knicks 117–110, but if the scoreboard didn’t go their way, at least one little fan walked away a winner.

Young Raptors Fan Charms Crowd With Adorable Dance Moves During Timeout

A 17-year-old Girl Scout from Virginia is auctioning off a valuable family painting to help save a small museum in the Scottish Highlands.

Amelia Cimbalo has spent her summers volunteering at the West Highland Museum in Fort William, a place she now considers her “second home.” For her final Girl Scouts project, she decided to do something bigger than just earning a badge—she started a charity and put a family heirloom up for sale to support the museum’s £6.2 million redevelopment effort.

The painting, titled Travellers on a Country Path, Possibly Ayr Beyond, is by the celebrated Scottish artist Alexander Nasmyth. It’s expected to sell for between £3,000 and £5,000 through Lyon & Turnbull, one of the UK’s top fine art auction houses.

“I love coming to the Highlands and to the museum, which celebrates the rich history and culture of the West Highlands,” Amelia said. “I really wanted to make a contribution to the Museum’s future and am so excited to see what the painting fetches at auction.”

Amelia’s charity, American Friends of Highland Culture, is aimed at supporting cultural institutions across the Highlands. Its stated goal is to “educate and inspire a deeper appreciation for Highlands heritage,” while raising money for local organizations.

Her father, Jeff Cimbalo, says he couldn’t be prouder. “I’m so proud of Amelia and of her drive and determination to set up the charity to benefit a whole range of causes, beginning with the West Highland Museum. We’ll both be on tenterhooks on the day of the auction!”

The museum, located in Fort William’s Cameron Square, has become a popular stop for Outlander fans, thanks to its extensive Jacobite-era collection. But like many small museums, it’s facing financial pressures. The planned redevelopment will expand gallery space, protect its historic collection, and add new educational facilities for the local community.

The painting Amelia is donating isn’t just any landscape. Alexander Nasmyth, born in Edinburgh in 1758, was a pioneer of the Scottish landscape tradition and a close friend of Robert Burns. He’s widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most important early artists.

“What an amazing Girl Scout Amelia is, to have established not only a charity for her final Scout project, but one that will support Highland heritage,” said Alice Strang, a senior specialist at Lyon & Turnbull. “Travellers on a Country Path, Possibly Ayr Beyond is a gem of a painting by one of Scotland’s most important artists and its sale will help the West Highland Museum’s exciting redevelopment plans.”

For Amelia, it’s a personal cause. While she lives across the Atlantic, her heart—and her charity—are focused on the Highlands.

An American Teen Sold Her Family Painting to Help the British Museum's Redevelopment and Future

Gizmodo

A team of researchers in the UK says they've found the earliest known evidence that humans knew how to make fire—by choice, not by chance. And it didn’t happen 50,000 years ago, as previously thought. Try more than 400,000.

The discovery, published in Nature, pushes back the timeline for fire-making by at least 350,000 years. The site in question is a former Paleolithic settlement in Barnham, England, where ancient humans appear to have mastered one of the most powerful tools for survival: creating fire whenever they needed it.

Until now, scientists believed early humans mostly used fire they scavenged from natural sources like lightning strikes or wildfires. But the team behind this study, led by British Museum curator Nick Ashton and project curator Rob Davis, believes the new findings change that picture entirely.

So what did they find? Among the soil layers dating back more than 415,000 years, researchers unearthed heat-shattered flint handaxes, a large patch of burned clay that had been repeatedly exposed to extreme temperatures, and two small pieces of iron pyrite. None of these were random.

The heated clay—burned to over 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 Fahrenheit)—was found in the same spot as the handaxes and pyrite. That’s not just a campfire. It’s repeated use in the same location, likely a hearth, suggesting early humans knew how to keep the fire going—and maybe even how to start it.

Here’s why that matters. Iron pyrite is a mineral that sparks when struck against flint. And it’s not local to Barnham. That means whoever left it there likely carried it in, knowing exactly what it was for. “This rare presence of pyrite in an area where it doesn’t occur naturally suggests intentionality,” the authors wrote.

While the team didn’t find physical wear marks on the pyrite or flint to prove they were used to create sparks, the context makes the case compelling. “Fire-making is a uniquely human innovation,” the researchers wrote. “Controlled fire use provided adaptive opportunities that had profound effects on human evolution.”

The benefits of fire are obvious—warmth, protection, cooking, light. But the ability to make fire is something else entirely. It freed early humans from having to guard a flame for days or weeks on end. It allowed them to set up camp wherever they liked. And it let them eat cooked food on demand, a critical factor in developing larger brains.

The timing is notable. Around 400,000 years ago, humans across Europe were undergoing major changes. Archaeological sites in the UK, France, and Portugal all show signs of intensified fire use from that period. Some experts now believe this is when humans truly started to use fire as a deliberate, daily tool.

Before this discovery, the oldest known evidence of fire-making came from Neanderthal sites in France dating to about 50,000 years ago, where handaxes were believed to have been used to strike pyrite and make sparks. The Barnham site predates that by over 350,000 years.

Ségolène Vandevelde, an archaeologist at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, reviewed the paper and noted that without direct use-wear evidence on the pyrite or handaxes, the claim of intentional fire-making remains just shy of bulletproof. But she agreed the findings were significant.

Even with that caveat, the broader implications are hard to ignore. Being able to make fire on demand could have helped humans colonize colder regions, supported social bonding at night, and even helped lead to innovations like adhesive glue for hafted tools.

And in a detail unlikely to be missed in Britain: the discovery wrestles the fire-making title away from long-time rivals in France. For a certain kind of archaeologist, that’s likely as satisfying as the science itself.

The research adds to growing evidence that fire became a central part of human life much earlier than previously thought—and that the skill of making it wasn’t an accidental discovery, but a deliberate turning point in human evolution.

The Earliest Evidence of Fire-Making was Just Found in England, and Its Rewriting Human History

Artnet

A painting by Pablo Picasso, valued at over $1 million, could be yours this spring — for the price of a single raffle ticket.

That’s the pitch from a French charity aiming to raise millions for Alzheimer’s research by raffling off Tête de Femme, a 1941 portrait by the Spanish artist, through an online draw held by Christie’s Paris on April 14.

Each ticket costs €100 (about $116), and only 120,000 will be sold, capping the total pot at €12 million ($14 million). Most of that will go to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, with around €1 million ($1.1 million) set aside for Opera Gallery, the current holder of the painting. If the raffle doesn’t sell enough tickets to cover the cost, buyers will be reimbursed.

The painting, which depicts a distorted woman’s head in muted, ghostly tones, dates back to World War II and represents one of Picasso’s lesser-known but still valuable wartime works. The winner will walk away with a piece of 20th-century art history, while everyone else contributes to research into one of the world’s most devastating neurodegenerative diseases.

“This is a way to further Picasso’s own lifelong commitment to the most vulnerable,” Claude Picasso, the artist’s son, said before his death in 2023. “The public’s enthusiasm deeply moved me.”

The raffle is the brainchild of French TV producer Péri Cochin, who launched the first of these high-stakes charity draws over a decade ago, inspired by her mother’s fundraising work. Unlike exclusive art auctions limited to elite buyers, Cochin’s raffles open the door to anyone with an internet connection and a credit card.

Her first raffle, in 2013, offered L’Homme au Gibus, a 1914 Picasso drawing, and raised €5 million ($5.8 million) to preserve Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Lebanon. The winner? A 25-year-old man from Pennsylvania.

A second raffle in 2020 offered Nature Morte (1921), a still life of a newspaper and a glass of absinthe. That campaign also raised €5 million, which funded clean water and hygiene programs across Africa. The winner was an accountant in Northern Italy who got the ticket as a Christmas gift from her son.

This year’s raffle marks Cochin’s most ambitious target yet. The Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, founded in 2004, is the leading funder of Alzheimer’s studies in France. The group supports clinical trials, postgraduate fellowships, and research teams across Europe. With the funds raised, the foundation plans to launch a major international call for new research projects in Europe, the U.S., and Canada.

Despite decades of research, Alzheimer’s — the most common form of dementia — still has no cure. An estimated 55 million people worldwide are currently living with the disease, with numbers expected to rise sharply in the coming decades.

By turning a rare Picasso into a public fundraiser, Cochin hopes to not only make high art more accessible, but also funnel attention and money into science that could change lives.

Raffle tickets for Tête de Femme are available now through the official website, with the draw set to take place on April 14 at Christie’s in Paris. For someone out there, it might be the best $116 they ever spend.

You could own a $1 million Picasso for $116 — and help Alzheimer’s research at the same time

Suffolk, England — When Daisy Greenwell’s eight-year-old daughter asked for a smartphone because “everyone else has one,” it sparked more than just a family discussion. It launched a global movement.

Together with her partner Joe Riory, Greenwell co-founded Smartphone Free Childhood, a grassroots campaign urging parents to delay giving children smartphones — and social media — until they’re older. What started as a single Instagram post has now grown into a community with chapters in 39 countries.

“That post went viral,” Greenwell told CBS News. “Thousands of parents joined the group overnight.”

The couple’s motivation is simple: they want their kids looking up at the world around them, not down at a screen. And they’re not alone. The group’s core message — “no smartphones before 14, no social media before 16” — is resonating with thousands of families worldwide, especially as concerns about online safety and mental health gain momentum.

“This isn’t an anti-tech movement, it’s a pro-childhood movement,” Riory said. “We’re not saying no smartphones ever. We’re just saying children don’t need unrestricted internet access in their pockets 24/7.”

Greenwell, a mother of three, began researching the issue after her daughter’s request. She found a growing body of evidence linking early smartphone use to mental health struggles in children and teens. The more she read, the more determined she became to help shift the cultural norm.

The movement’s success is in part due to its community-first approach. Parents who join are asked to make a pact: no smartphones for their kids until 14, and no social media until 16. The idea is that when families act together, it removes the pressure of being the “only one” holding out.

“If children know several classmates are also delaying smartphones, the peer pressure dissolves,” Greenwell said. “It becomes easier for families to wait a few years. A brick phone in the meantime isn’t that hard. We can do this.”

Sales data suggests the message is landing. In the United States, purchases of basic “brick phones” — which allow calls and texts but not social media apps — have jumped 150% among 18 to 24 year olds, according to a study published in the Partners Universal Innovative Research Publication journal.

The shift reflects a growing unease about digital dependency among both parents and young adults. The movement’s message has even inspired a viral U.S. advertisement, where a parent tells a child: “There’s a box in the corner with all the pornographic material ever made. I’m trusting you not to look in there, okay?” The punchline is clear — giving a child unfiltered internet access is a gamble many parents are rethinking.

Governments are beginning to take notice. This week, Australia became the first country to ban social media accounts for anyone under 16. The law forces companies like Meta and TikTok to enforce age limits or face major fines. In the UK, Culture Minister Lisa Nandy said the government is monitoring Australia’s move, though there are no current plans to adopt similar legislation.

At the local level, though, parents like Greenwell say change is already happening — not through mandates, but through collective action.

“It’s really tough,” Greenwell admitted, when asked what she’d say to working parents who rely on smartphones for convenience. “But delaying the smartphone is free, it’s simple, and it gives your child the best chance to thrive.”

According to Ofcom, one in four British children between the ages of 5 and 7 already own a smartphone. But Greenwell believes that with enough local momentum, those numbers can change.

“There’s still a cultural norm to disrupt,” she said. “But we’ve seen what happens when communities come together. If you want to delay the phone, you don’t have to do it alone.”

For now, she and Riory are focused on growing the movement, one town and one school at a time — encouraging parents to reclaim childhood for what it used to be: time outdoors, with real friends, and fewer screens.

These UK Parents are Leading a Global Push for Smartphone-Free Childhoods

BBC News

Comedian Ricky Gervais has donated nearly £2.5 million to 22 animal charities across the UK and beyond, including two in Kent and one in West Sussex, using profits from his most recent stand-up tour.

Gervais, 64, known for The Office, Extras, and After Life, announced the donations in a Facebook post this week, writing: “These are the lovely charities I’ve chosen. Merry Xmas, critters.” He called the donation a way to “celebrate the spirit of Christmas.”

Among the beneficiaries is Flori’s Friends Animal Rescue in Chartham Hatch, Kent, which received £100,000. The organisation specialises in rescuing paralysed dogs and fitting them with custom wheelchairs.

“This is absolutely incredible news,” said founder Natalia George, speaking to BBC Radio Kent. “I think Ricky was looking for an up-and-coming charity carrying out specialist work. Our mission is to normalise disabilities in dogs. Ricky has made such a difference to so many paralysed dogs.”

Another Kent-based group, Retreat Animal Rescue in High Halden, also received a share of the funds. And in West Sussex, Safe Haven for Donkeys in Haywards Heath was given a boost, with CEO Andy Foxcroft highlighting the donation’s impact on their work in the Middle East.

“Ricky’s generosity comes at a time of exceptional pressure for our teams supporting donkeys in Gaza and the West Bank,” Foxcroft said. “With demand for urgent veterinary care continuing to rise, this donation will help us keep our life-saving work going in extremely challenging conditions.”

In total, four charities received £150,000 each, 17 were given £100,000, and the final £132,000 was donated to Nowzad, a UK charity supporting animal welfare in war zones.

Gervais took a typically irreverent tone when explaining the gesture: “My mum always used to say ‘you can’t take it with you’. No I can’t mum. But I could’ve bought 30 speedboats and raced them round the Med with my mates. Anyway. Too late now.”

This is not Gervais’ first major donation to animal charities. In 2023, he gave away £1.9 million from a previous tour. A long-time animal rights advocate, Gervais has frequently used his platform to campaign against trophy hunting, animal testing, and cruelty in farming.

The donations come at a time when many small and medium-sized animal charities are struggling with rising costs and growing demand. Gervais’ contribution offers a lifeline, especially for groups doing specialist or emergency work.

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