Last week Heather told me a story about a remarkable college professor who for years has mailed handwritten letters to the parents of particular students. One day we might actually honor this woman for our Yellow Envelope Project because, based on Heather's account, she seems to be the epitome of Shine.

Today, though, I want to tell you how Heather's story made me feel.

It made me feel giddy,

excited,

energized,

and like we - members of the House of Shine - are one hundred percent onto something big. Really big.

The Yellow Envelope Project is good. Pure good. You can try twisting it any which way you want, but at the end of the day we - like the college professor Heather met - are surprising people with well-deserved letters of recognition.

Today's recipient and his co-workers are no exception. When the tragic tornado occurred in Missouri late last month a group of guys at a local automotive shop immediately sprang into action and found a way to help.  Read what this week's nominator had to say:

Gary and the crew at All Star Automotive in Columbia Missouri responded quickly to the crisis in Joplin by sending out a message that they would donate $1 for every "like" they received on facebook. The next day they donated $2500 to the tornado relief efforts. That in and of itself would be noteworthy however, Gary's team didn't settle for what they could do alone. Instead in a shining example of "bringing out the best in others" they issued a charge to other business in the area to step up to the same challenge. As a result there are 26 businesses in Missouri donating $1 to the relief effort for every facebook "like" the get. 

This will be fun. Gary and his co-workers used social media to mobilize thousands of people to donate money for a tornado relief fund in Missouri. In response, we are going to reply the good old fashioned way. With yellow envelopes sent by mail. I love it.

Thanking Gary and his crew will is easy. Simply write them a short note announcing that you think they are great, ingenious, creative, thoughtful, generous, innovative, and inspiring. Thank them for being the kinds of citizens who don't hear the news and assume it is someone else's job to help, but who instead, take responsibility for doing their part.

Once your letter is written seal it in a yellow envelope and send it to the mailing address listed below. Remember we like remaining anonymous, so place the words "Yellow Envelope Project" in place of your return address.

I love the idea that a group of grown men could be standing around an automotive shop reading countless letters of gratitude for their thoughtful gesture. For some reason that seems extra special. Help me make sure these men receive the credit they deserve by doing what they did - using social media to mobilize thousands.

Shining off until tomorrow...