Based on interviews collected from Ray Leonard's radio show, listened to in 75 countries, Ordinary People Extraordinary Planet includes incredible stories of a dozen people's triumphs over adversity. Meet Mary K. Hoodhood who provides dinners for over 3,800 hungry children in Michigan daily; a quadriplegic, she coordinates it all from her wheelchair. Arturo Sandoval, the Grammy/Emmy Award-winning trumpet player, escaped persecution in Communist Cuba to live his dream. Clarel Radicella, who pushed past her pain for years to inspire and connect people, shares her final three letters to her children. Through his "Homeless by Choice Tour" Roy Juarez, Jr., has talked to over 100,000 students about his experience being homeless at 14 years old with his siblings. Share adventures from a teenager who has built four libraries in Tanzania to a mechanic's bold expedition in the North Pole. The people in this book will uplift and inspire you! Dr. Shellie Hipsky is an associate professor at Robert Morris University, author of five books, and a respected public speaker. She educates, entertains, and inspires globally. ______________________________________________________________________________ Each chapter provides contact information for charitable organizations that spotlighted people support with their time and energy. OPEP will be giving back 25% of net profits at benchmarks to the featured charities. Who are these dozen amazing people and their charities? Roy Juarez Jr. - Motivational Speaker with his "Homeless By Choice Tour" reflects on being homeless at 14-years-old; has spoken to over 100,00 around the country and was featured on CNN CHARITY: Homeless By Choice Tour homelessbychoice.com Russell Hayes - Founder of International Dwarf Advocacy Association (a non-profit organization); this American solider helped sponsor an Iraq family in need CHARITIES: Little People of America LPAonline.org and dwarfchildren.org Arturo Sandoval - World Class Musician who escaped from Communist Cuba is the winner of four Grammys, six Billboard Music Awards and two Emmys CHARITY: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital stjude.org Xiaobo LaPresta - Widow after 22 years; Love story of happiness, loss, and healing CHARITY: One Foundation (Affiliated with Jet Li and Jacki Chan) Bryan Mark Rigg - Author and motivational speaker who was once considered "...brain damaged"; Yale University awarded him the Henry Fellowship for graduate study at Cambridge University CHARITY: Starpoint School coe.tcu.edu/starpoint.asp Tasha Eichenseher - Environment Editor and Producer at National Geographic CHARITY: National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) neefusa.org Clarel Radicella- Single mother of three who had a brain aneurysm and stomach cancer and went on to start her company Mind Your Business for those who have or support people with disabilities CHARITY: Mind Your Business mindyourbiz.com Sandie Andersen - Barista at Starbucks who donated a kidney to a customer/stranger CHARITY: Donate Life donatelife.org Shannon McNamara - 18-year-old Founder of SHARE in Africa a non-profit organization that built 4 libraries in Tanzania CHARITY: SHARE Shannon's Afterschool Reading Program shareinafrica.org Qun Queeney Tang- Former Cardiologist experienced "sub-health stress", came to America, and now leads a team of 3,000 people for USANA CHARITY: Children's Hunger Fund Randy Swanson - Adventurer who walked 200 miles to the North Pole in 16 days CHARITY: Gilda's Club gildasclub.org Mary Kay Hoodhood - Founder of Kids Food Basket a non-profit organization and recipient of Presidential Citizens Medals 2010; a quadriplegic whose organization feed 3,800 children daily CHARITY: Kid's Food Basket kidsfoodbasket.org