The 12-year-old who saved his grandmother from foreclosure

A tween do-gooder turns the focus of his charitable "Dream Catcher Network" to a cause that's awfully close to home

Noah Lamaide is not your average 12-year-old. Since he was 9, the Wisconsin boy has been active in community service, largely inspired by his grandmother, Janice Sparhawk, who has served as a foster parent to hundreds of local children. When foreclosure threatened his grandmother's century-old house recently, the young altruist leapt into action. Here, a short guide to this unusual story:

What exactly happened?
After taking out a 2010 loan to put a new roof on her circa 1900 home, Janice Sparhawk, 72, fell behind on the mortgage payments. Eye surgery and complications from asthma forced Sparhawk out of work, making it more difficult for her to pay back what she owed. Her home, which had been in the family for three generations, was slated for auction on Feb. 15, 2012.

SEE MORE: Obama's mortgage plan: Who really benefits?

And her grandson came to the rescue?
He sure did. With his mother's help, Noah had previously set up a website, Noah's Dream Catcher Network, to promote his various charity projects. On Jan. 5, the boy refocused the site to raise money to save his grandmother's home. "My Grandma, in case you don't know her, has a heart of gold," he wrote on the site. "If I have 400 friends give $25.00 I can give her her home back for Valentines Day!!!" Donations poured in from all over the country, and within a month, Noah had raised $10,500. On Monday, he signed checks over to the local bank, allowing Sparhawk to stay in her historic house.

And Noah has a history of charity?
Yes. When he was 9, Noah's mother challenged him to do one community service project each year. Rather than just completing a few hours of volunteer work here and there, Noah focused his efforts on raising money for food banks, or sending a family friend with cancer on vacation. Some years, Noah even gave up his birthday presents so he could make contributions of his own. 

SEE MORE: Short sales: The answer to America's housing crisis?

Sources: ABC News, Consumerist, The Huffington Post

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Can America's relationship with Egypt be saved?

Egypt's refusal to back down from its decision to arrest 19 Americans deepens a worrying rift between the longtime allies

Tensions between the U.S. and Egypt's provisional military rulers went from bad to worse this week. Egyptian leaders, including newly elected Islamist lawmakers, refused to back down on their decision to arrest 19 Americans and 24 other non-governmental organization workers accused of aiding violent protests. In response, Washington threatened to cut off $1.5 billion in annual aid to Egypt, arguing that Cairo was launching an illegitimate crackdown on foreign groups that are only trying to promote democracy. Should the U.S. forget about repairing the alliance it had with Egypt for decades under Hosni Mubarak?

Face it. The partnership is over: An Egyptian ambassador to the U.S. once said that "the U.S.-Egypt relationship was like 'a mature marriage,'" says Steven A. Cook at the Council on Foreign Relations. By putting these NGO employees on trial, "the Egyptians are serving divorce papers." The strategic alliance once helped contain Soviet influence and forge peace between Arabs and Israelis, but the new Egypt clearly wants to distance itself from the U.S. We should oblige by ending aid, and moving on before "more damage is done."
"Egypt and the United States: It's not you, it's me"

It's not over yet: This will indeed put U.S.-Egypt relations to the test, says Dina Ezzat at Egypt's Al-Ahram. But the U.S. has cut aid to Egypt before — typically over human rights questions — without prompting a total breakup. Egypt's new government just feels it is "defending its sovereignty." That doesn't necessarily mean these two nations have to go their separate ways. 
"Targeting of NGOs puts Egypt-US relations to test"

It's time to patch things up: "Both sides have mishandled things," says Anne Penketh at The Hill. Egypt, led by its international cooperation minister, Faiza Abul Naga, "a holdover from the Mubarak era," has been irresponsible. But the U.S. overreacted by giving some of the NGO workers refuge in its embassy. Washington needs to "stand up for human rights," but "Egyptian national pride is at stake, so the United States should tread carefully." Both sides need to "walk back" from this fight, and make up.
"U.S. and Egypt should walk back on NGO row"

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