Pediatricians Lionel Herrera and Sam Pejham have not been strangers to doing good deeds, having been physicians for a number of years. But their thoughts on altruism go beyond the Hippocratic Oath.

"We all know that negativity will not improve a situation, but complimenting or rewarding a job well done will actually prompt more of those good activities," Dr. Pejham said.

With that in mind, the pediatricians launched a Do A Good Deed contest aimed as inspiring local youth to do just that. Participants could perform a variety of acts and submit their reasons for taking action in an essay. In a close competition, the doctors selected 16-year-old Danville resident Haley Anderson as the good deed winner.

Haley wrote about playing piano for seniors at senior care homes. She regularly visits seven different elderly care homes in Danville, Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill where, once a week, Haley will play for 30 minutes as residents listen and sing along.

"Every single one of the residents has touched my life in some way, and I certainly hope that I have touched theirs," Haley wrote. "Playing piano at these senior care homes has been something that I really enjoy and I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to do it on a weekly basis."

Impressed with Haley's joy and dedication, Pejham and Herrera awarded the teen with a new computer at prize-giving ceremony last week.

"We love giving back to the community whenever we can. We are happy that this contest encourages the young people around us to always think about how to help another person and make another person's life easier and happier," said Dr. Pejham.

Both doctors believe that people helping one another have been one of the prominent strengths of our country. Additionally, the two believe that the spirit of giving and helping is needed more than ever during difficult economic times.

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