First day of summer? A fresh call for action.

United Way Worldwide, one of the nation's largest charitable networks, kicked off its fourth annual "United Way Day of Action," a day of service that attracts thousands to difference-making events across the country.

New to the program this year? A call for 1 million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors.

"We know that education is the cornerstone to a productive and successful life. This year's Day of Action combined with United Way's commitment to recruit 1 million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors underscores how much a community can do for the education of America's young people," United Way Worldwide president and CEO Brian Gallagher said in a statement.

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Talk to any father today and most would agree -- raising children can be challenging.

Paul Pauca is well-aware of these challenges. His 6-year old son Victor suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes breathing problems and poor motor control, and as a result, has been hospitalized several times over these years.

Yet despite these struggles, Pauca, a computer science professor at Wake Forest University, has focused on "the better" by providing his son with the best care possible. And thanks to these efforts, his son has flourished.

"He now loves to play outside, swinging, sliding, climbing his play structure," says Pauca. "He attends a wonderful school for disabled children in Winston-Salem, NC, where he receives physical, occupational and speech therapy."

Now, with a little help from his Wake Forest students, Pauca has created "VerbalVictor," a smartphone app that not only helps his own son overcome any communication challenges he faces but one that is already helping other children and their parents as well.

I caught up with Pauca last week in advance of Father's Day to learn more about these efforts and what advice he might have for other dads when facing parental challenges.

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He's there for you no matter what, and with Father's Day around the corner, it's your opportunity to thank him back.

Stumped on what to give that special dad in your life this Father's Day?

Have no fear. Here is a list of Father's Day gift ideas sure to please ... and do a whole lot of good!

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By Bob Woodruff, Special to USA TODAY - Kindness

I know that most of us during this time of economic difficulties don't think everyday about the men and women serving in our military. But we have to remember that we are approaching a decade of being at war. It is almost 10 years since the attacks of September 11th thrust us into conflict.

In this decade roughly 2.2 million Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Less than 1% of our population has served there, compared to 12 percent in WWII. I remember during the days of the Vietnam war, our neighborhood was filled with teenagers who were heading to the battlefields of southeast Asia. The families with loved ones overseas were on almost every street. I was born in Michigan in August 1961 (exactly 2 weeks after President Obama was born in Hawaii). So by the time both of us turned 18, the draft was over and serving and enlisting became voluntary.

I did get a chance to go back to Afghanistan with Admiral Mike Mullen almost two years ago, and when we were there I asked one of the soldiers where he was on 9/11. He said he was in his 4th grade class. He was 10 years old when this war began.

As a nation, we need to do everything we can to support our troops. Those who are injured especially deserve help from the rest of us who have benefitted from their willing service. The injuries in these wars are often invisible. When I was hit by an IED in Iraq, my head injury was obvious. I was unconscious for 36 days but was surrounded by love and family and I recovered. But thousands bear the internal scars of hidden injuries.

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What if you could save three lives in the next hour?

On this World Blood Donor Day, we're all reminded that we can indeed save lives with a blood donation. In fact, according to the American Red Cross, you can save up to three lives with just one donation or 1 pint of blood.

I caught up with supermodel Niki Taylor last week, who knows the lifesaving power of blood donations all too well.

"In May 2001, I was in a one-car crash with a friend when our car slammed into a utility poll. I remember the impact of my body against the seat belt and my knees hitting the dashboard. There were no outside signs of injury, but I began having severe stomach pains," Taylor said. "The last thing I remember is being in a fetal position off to the side of the car in the grass, thinking of my twins. I was in for the biggest fight of my life."

Taylor was swiftly taken to a nearby hospital in Atlanta where she had about a one in ten chance of survival after losing 80% of her blood, she said.

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151 lives lost. An estimated $3 billion in damage. 10% of the buildings completely destroyed.

The people of Joplin, Mo., have a long road ahead, as they seek to rebuild the lives they lost to a devastating tornado that struck in late May.

In a step toward recovery, the town got a big boost last Thursday from Missouri native Brad Pitt.

Through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, the 47 year-old star and his partner, Angelina Jolie, donated $500,000 to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, which will go toward helping rebuild the devastated town of 50,000.

[Related article: How to help victims of the Joplin, Mo. tornado]

"With the devastating loss of 30% of the city, the Joplin community faces great challenges ahead," Pitt told local TV station KSPR. "Having spent much of my childhood there, I know these people to be hard working, humble and especially resilient."

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To see Haley Moss at Samsung's 10th annual "Hope for Children Gala" on Tuesday evening, one might assume this polished 17- year-old had done many of these events before.

Not only did the young artist have deep pocketed New Yorkers bidding thousands on her artwork for charity, Haley walked the red carpet with A-list celebs like Jennifer Lopez and Demi Moore and sports celebs like Dan Marino with grace and confidence.

She even happened to pick up the top honor that evening -- Samsung's Teen Hero Award -- and a hat tip from the night's other award winner, former president Bill Clinton.

"I can't believe I'm here today. If you had told me and my family five years ago -- even three months ago -- that I would be here today, we would have told you you're crazy," she told me at the event. "I keep a pretty low profile at school. Most of my peers and friends know I usually leave school early, but they don't know much about what I do. I never would have guessed or dreamed I'd be here."

Haley was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Doctors told her parents that they shouldn't expect much from her at the time. But they refused to listen.

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After coming under fire for charging an army unit returning from Afghanistan $2,800 in out-of-pocket expenses for extra luggage, Delta has announced a change in policy.

Troops traveling in coach class can now check four items without paying an extra fee, Reuters reports. The limit had been three. Those traveling in first or business class can now check five bags.

Delta apologized on its blog, saying that there had been a miscommunication.

"Our men and women in uniform deserve ultimate flexibility when they travel, on orders especially," Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant said (via Reuters).

These changes came after two soldiers posted a video on YouTube publicizing their complaint. According to Staff Sgts. Fred Hilliker and Robert O'Hair, who appeared in the video, Delta charged them for the extra luggage, including weapons they said were used in conflict, during a flight from Baltimore to Atlanta, even though their military orders said they could carry four pieces of luggage.

For a company with a best-selling product, the next step can often prove a challenge. How do you develop something that can equal, or even top, the product that made you famous?

This is where TOMS Shoes found itself at the end of last year.

As you may have caught here in Kindness, TOMS is famous for pioneering what they call the "one-to-one" charity business model where for every one pair of TOMS shoes sold, another pair goes to a child in need. With over one million pairs of new shoes given to children, founder Blake Mycoskie took the next step on Tuesday, only a few blocks from the apartment in Santa Monica, Calif., where it all started, announcing the company's next one-to-one product -- eyewear.

"I am really was excited about this announcement. The sunglasses come in three style and have three hand-painted stripes on the side, with each line telling a story. The first stripe represents you, the purchaser. The stripe on back is the person you've give sight to. And the white stripe in TOMS. It's important for the TOMS community to be reminded that every time you put on our shoes and, now, eyewear, you've changed someone's life," Mycoskie said by phone after the announcement.

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From Istanbul to New York City, young people are taking center stage when it comes to giving back. This is the International Year of Youth -- a United Nations-proclaimed year of events and initiatives created to tap the collective power of youth to make a big difference in the world.

The year (which officially kicked off in August 2010) will culminate this August with several large-scale events with one summit on Aug. 11, in particular, focusing on what role young women can play in their communities.

I recently connected with the first-ever U.N. Youth Champion and High School Musical actress Monique Coleman, who is hosting the day-long summit for young women along with AllyKatzz, a media company that provides online and offline platforms for girls and young women to speak out. According to Coleman, the 192 delegates will be selected from various organizations that support girls and young women.

Coleman shared more details on the summit and what role youth can play in changing the world:

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