WEBVTT

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Thank you.

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My grandfather passed away
in August of 2010.

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His death left a major impact on me.

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I began to understand
just how precious life is

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recognizing the true vulnerability
of the elderly.

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Being just ten years old,

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I was truly struck by the vulnerability
and loneliness of the elderly.

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Seeing someone you love so dearly
in such a weak and miserable state

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is really heartbreaking.

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I wanted to make a difference
in the lives of the elderly

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in honor of my grandfather.

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This motivated me to begin volunteering
in my local nursing home, Montefiore.

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There, I had the incredible opportunity

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to establish strong relationships
with many of the residents.

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Sadly, I have seen many
of my old friends come and go.

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In particular,

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I forged a beautiful friendship
with the sweetest woman named Cynthia.

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Unfortunately, I was her only visitor.

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I would walk into her room
every Sunday afternoon,

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excited to delve into the world of stocks,

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participate in a heated debate
on Obama's healthcare policies,

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or just listen to enlightening tales
of her childhood.

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It was easy to overlook
the labyrinth of tubes

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running throughout her room

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and her inability to move
the majority of her body

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because once I got to know

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the wonderful woman
inside the 77-year-old Cynthia,

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I knew I'd found myself a true friend.

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On February, 7 of this year,
Cynthia passed away,

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but her memory
will always live on in my heart.

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She made it clear to me

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that the elderly have really paved
the pathway of success for my generation,

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and they have so many
invaluable experiences

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that we can all benefit
our own lives from.

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My experiences at Montefiore
really opened my eyes

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to the reality of isolation and loneliness
that so many elderly people face.

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I got to witness firsthand
the situations of nursing home residents:

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having little connection
to the outside world

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and nothing to which
they can look forward.

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I wanted to change this.

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By combining my passion for letter-writing
and my desire to give back to the elderly,

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I founded an organization
called Love for the Elderly.

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So many elderly people in our nation
are neglected, isolated, and forgotten.

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The elderly are
an incredible group of people,

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and they deserve to be appreciated.

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It is so imperative to demonstrate
kindness and love to the elderly,

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an awe-inspiring assemblage

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who have immense wisdom and knowledge
from which we can all learn.

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Even if they are living in nursing homes,

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possibly immobile
or dependent on medication,

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they are still human beings,
amazing ones at that.

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Wouldn't you want someone to support you

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with love, with kindness,
and with compassion

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during your final
and most precious stage of life?

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We need to treat the elderly
the way they deserve to be treated.

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Since December of 2013,

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I've collected
handwritten letters of kindness,

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written by strangers
from all across the globe,

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which I then distribute
to various nursing homes

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throughout the country.

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These letters are
simply short and sweet notes,

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filled with the words of kindness,

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designed to make
the elderly recipient feel loved,

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thus combating isolation
and loneliness in nursing homes.

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It is so important that we make sure

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that the elderly are appreciated
and do not feel alone.

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I started this organization by myself,

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in the comfort of my own living room
writing my own letters.

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Soon, I gained the support
of a few of my friends,

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which pushed me to teach myself
about branding and marketing,

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search engine optimization

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(Laughter)

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and website design.

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Now Love for the Elderly has really grown

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beyond where I could have
ever imagined it being.

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People from all across the globe
have united with me

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in an attempt
to spread love to the elderly.

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To this day, I've received
over 10,000 letters

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from 43 countries in six continents.

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It's really heartwarming to see
the outpour of support

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I've received from various nursing homes.

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(Applause)

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Here's one response I received

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from a nursing home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
called Prairie Hills Nursing Home,

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"I just finished distributing
the stack of letters

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that your organizations sent us and wow!

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I am blown away!

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After dinner,
when I gave them the letters,

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each of our residents
went to bed with a smile!

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The letters are all so wonderful,
they are true gifts of love and kindness!

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Thank you so very much
for sending these letters.

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The smiles on the faces
of our residents were priceless

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when they read the letters!"

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It is so heartwarming
to read these responses,

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and it continues to motivate me

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to make a difference
in the lives of the elderly.

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Whether it'd be through my organization

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or simply by reconnecting
with the elders in your life,

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you can generate change
in the lives of the elderly.

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Kindness is like a spark;

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once lit, it spreads uncontrollably.

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Ignite your spark.

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(Applause)

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(Cheers)

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I think that all of you have postcards

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on the back of your name badges.

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If you would take those out,

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along with the pen you received
when you came in here,

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I would absolutely love it

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if all of you could write letters
for my organization.

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These letters
are just short and sweet notes,

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filled with words of kindness,

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designed to make
the elderly recipient feel loved.

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Tell them about yourself,
tell them a joke or a riddle,

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and make sure that they know
that they are appreciated.

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Please address them as "Dear friend,"
or even a simple "Hello there!"

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One person can make a difference,
and everyone should try.

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So we're going to try right now.

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Bob Herzog: You realize you just got
an entire room full of adults

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to do exactly what you wanted them to do?

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(Laughter)

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You get how cool that is?
I mean, you know, right?

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(Laughter)

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Jacob Cramer: Thank you all so much
for writing letters for my organization

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and for being such a wonderful audience;
I really appreciate it.

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BH: How about Jacob?
Thanks buddy! Thank you.

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(Applause)