What is that special something that makes a person charismatic? Think of people like Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, Gandhi. Ronald Riggio, Ph.D., has studied charisma for three decades and he says they all possess a collection of social and emotional skills that allow them to affect and influence others at a deep emotional level.

Love this approach to genuine and joyful giving! A New Yorker decided to start the Secret Society for Creative Philanthropy by giving each of nine friends $100 to give away. The only requirement was that they show up at a party in a month and account for what they'd done with the money. That was 5 years ago, and the idea spread as far as California and Georgia, where others have started their own chapters of the Secret Society. Some of this year's recipients and how they spent their $100:

What a charge! Our staff is still glowing from the visit by MSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski and how they were bowled over by our kids. Said Joe: "It's an amazing program doing great stuff with disadvantaged kids" when he mentioned WINGS on his program the next morning. He had fun teaching the kids how to do a "grip and grin" handshake that he learned as a congressman from Florida. Mika, towering on high heels, wanted to race the kids - could have been dangerous for her!