The Be Kind People Project came across Ms. Karen Schuch at Imagine School at Avondale during their week of deliveries to over 120 schools.  And Ms. Schuch is a shining example of why we need to thank teachers for their dedication and caring for our children!

Ms. Karen Schuch, Inspirational Art Teacher at Imagine School at Avondale (playfully wearing a BEE KIND sticker!)

From the moment we walked in to the school, Ms. Schuch was talking with the office staff, and they all welcomed us in immediately.  We told them that we were there to deliver Teacher Appreciation Gifts to each teacher on staff and to wish them Happy World Kindness Week.  They were bowled over that someone would anonymously recognize their staff!

We could see how embracing their school was of kindness, and how much they embrace and believe in their teachers…

Inspiration starts in the front office at Imagine School at Avondale!

Ms. Schuch took us back to her class, and told us about the art projects they are working on, and how much her kids grow through each project.   She said, “It’s not what you teach, it’s how you teach it”.   Right on!  We see why her kids love her so much… check out the letters of thanks and appreciation from her students…

Featured art projects and thank you letters on Ms. Schuch's board

Note the kind words of encouragement her kids send…

And we loved the message she features on her board to inspire her kids everyday:

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Thanks Ms. Schuch for inspiring the next generation of leaders!

Can Kindness really be a cure for all the ailments of today’s society?  The lyrics from Glen Campbell’s song,
“Try a Little Kindness” might lead us to believe that.  We wish!  But we know that’s not really true.

However, a little kindness can do A LOT when it comes to today’s youth.  A new non-profit organization called The be Kind People Project sprang up this month.  Here’s what they say about their mission:

Our goal is to recognize teachers
and ignite the concept of intentional kindness
in students and classrooms across America.

They are delivering 10,000 Teacher Reognition Gifts to teachers in Phoenix, AZ and Kansas City, MO.  And, they are starting this really cool program for kids and teachers alike:  “I’m A Kind Kind” Pledge Program.

Teachers, download the pledge form and have your classroom kids sign it.  Then go to the Facebook page for The Be Kind People Project and post how many kids from your class signed it.  They’re choosing a random class each week between now and the end of the year to deliver a surprise.

And, pick up a pack of the “I’m A Kind Kid” pledge cards. Kids can sign them and have a reminder of what it means to be kind.  Anyone can use the cards…. teachers, home schoolers, PTA, church organizations and any other organizations!

I'm A Kind Kid Pledge Card

I'm A Kind Kid Pledge Card

We hope that will help your kids take a brief moment and try a little kindness… today, and every day!

PS: Here’s the full words to Glen Campbell’s “Try A Little Kindness” song:

If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he’s sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say, you’re going the wrong way
You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Don’t walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

For you video lovers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=0XBnj80nRpo

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We collectively grasped hands this week and remembered the fallen from 9-11.  As it is every year, the memory bubbles up fear, anger, disgust and a host of other unspeakable feelings.

But there’s another feeling that fiercely bubbles up from tragic events like this:  UNITY.  And one group in Phoenix has chosen the date to celebrate this is a special and unique way.

For several years, Tulip Tree Florist owner Judy Haenel has hosted an event to give away 4,000 free roses to the public and several area nursing care facilities.  She does this in remembrance and in unity. And she did it on the 10th anniversary of 9-11 for a variety of reasons.

She remembered her friend Peggy Bowers who passed away from cancer.  A life so loved that was whisked away far too soon.  Nearly all of us can identify with this, right?

She remembered her community and how they need relationships, how they need something to make them feel that all is right in the world, how they need connection.  Connection to each other and to our creator.  We get that need, right?

She celebrated in spirit of Good Neighbor Day.  Doesn’t that just sound great?  Good Neighbor Day!

So then you ask, “How does something like this get done?  How can I do something like that?”  Well, we’ve found it ALWAYS gets done through a unified group who selflessly dedicates their time to getting it done.

Judy recruited 25 volunteers from her friends at Red Hat, Northwest Women’s Network and Soroptimist International to help prepare these individual buds and give them away to passersby.

Carry Kindness Forward says, “Go Judy!”  “Go volunteers!”  “Go everyone.. go out and do something to unify those around you!”  And then we’ll all be connected.

Be sure to post a comment here (bottom of page) and tell them how much you appreciate their efforts!

“You can do it!”  and “You have to try!”  Those are two key phrases that keep coming to mind when I think of Ann Meyers Drysdale’s pep rally with the kids and Parents of Phoenix Advantage Charter School at the Phoenix Mercury game last night.

Ann blazed the trail for women in basketball and in sports.  An Olympian, former WBL player and Hall of Famer, she was the one and only woman to try out for a men’s basketball team (The Pacers)!   She’s now the GM of Phoenix Mercury and Vice President of Phoenix Suns.  She made it from humble beginning to be a woman who impacts many with her positive message.

Ann Meyers Drysdale's Pep Rally with PACS

260 kids, parents and teachers got to hear Ann's inspiring talk!

All the kids were Kindness Stars!

And the kids had a great time handing out Kindness Buttons to all the fans – over 4,000 were handed out!  Here are the Kindness Stars, nominated from each class, who helped us (Ali and Christian, you guys have a future in sales!  You were terrific!)

Kindness Stars from PACS

We had so many cool interactions with people.  The best was to cross paths with a Sharon Freeman who’s son had received our Kindness Buttons in the mail from Jessica, our Kindness Spotter!  She told us how touched she was to be recognized out of the blue.  We LOVE that!!

The loop closes on someone who had been spotted for her kindness!

And the kids had a great time cheering for the Phoenix Mercury (we are bummed they lost, but loved how hard the players worked!).

PACS Doing the Twist!

Everyone got into it!

He gets the award for showing the most cheer for the team!

Everyone from PACS had a great time!

PACS had great signs!

PACS cheered the loudest!

And our very own Chelsea nearly drowned out the PACS kids! =-)

And, we at Carry Kindness Forward thank all of you who helped make this a special evening!  So many of you bought tickets for the kids.  You made the evening SO SPECIAL for them!  You donated backpacks to get the kids started off right.  And Carrie Kmetzo from Phoenix Mercury was a shining star to organize the evening for us!  And Sabrina Boisedu from PACS worked tirelessly to organize the kids and parents!  You all are Kindness Stars!

We had such a great time!

Oh, and I’ll close with this nugget of wisdom from Ann:  “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.  You can do anything you set your mind to.”  Like that too!

Don’t forget to tell us about who you gave your button to (leave your comment at the bottom of the post)!

Tell us who you gave your button to!

And we'll end with what the Phoenix Mercury players had on their minds just before the game... FOCUS... on what you are doing, and you'll succeed!

Post a comment here (at the bottom of the page).

We are so excited for the tip-off of the night for Carry Kindness Forward and Phoenix Advantage Charter School at the Phoenix Mercury game tonight!

Remember how it takes a village… well, the Phoenix Mercury is part of our village!

It all starts with a pre-game pep rally with Ann Meyers Drysdale, the GM of the Phoenix Mercury. This accomplished lady, both professionally and personally, is going to fire up the kids for a terrific year of education success. Check out her success story, when most women wouldn’t think of doing what she did!.

And be on the lookout for a Kindness Button somewhere in your community. The kids will join us to hand out over 7,500 Kindness Buttons to all Phoenix Mercury fans at the game tonight.

Check back for pictures… and be sure to leave a comment here (go to the bottom of the post).

You know the power of kindness, and the extra boost that recognizing a simple act of kindness brings! Well, the kids and teachers at Phoenix Advantage Charter School are all getting Kindness Buttons! They’ll be giving them away, so be sure to look for the buttons out and about.

The teachers will use these little tokens to talk about the value of being kind, and how that improves everyone’s day. They’ll teach the kids to recognize others – and see them, really see them. That’s what we love – seeing people for who they are, and celebrating them!

If you make someone smile with a button, tell use about it!. And if you’re lucky enough to receive a button, give us the scoop!

Pouches of Buttons for every child and teacher!

A Rainbow of Button Pouches!

Click here to leave a comment.

Louise chose this image to illustrate kindness…love it! One of her students made it for her.

We spoke with Scottsdale middle school teacher, Louise Bunker, about how a teacher can help to create an atmosphere of kindness in her classroom. She had some really thoughtful and wise advice for our readers:

“Creating a kind and caring classroom starts the very first day of school. I think the most important thing a teacher can do the first week is to establish a kind and caring atmosphere in their classroom. Teachers need to build an atmosphere of trust, where students feel comfortable in their learning environment and feel free to be themselves without worrying that their peers and classmates will make fun of them,” Bunker explains.  She continues, “When students are part of a legitimate caring and kind classroom, they learn compassion, thoughtfulness, helpfulness, and kindness by living it. They receive respect, dignity, purpose, and practice giving it in return. Through daily experiences, kindness and caring gradually become habits; part of their character”

Teachers (especially middle school teachers) trying to create a kind and caring classroom need to:

• Avoid using sarcasm, ridicule, or humiliation in dealing with students. Students will work harder, achieve more, and attribute more importance to schoolwork in classes in which they feel liked, accepted, and respected by the teacher and fellow students.
• Model standards of kind behavior, language, and tone of voice that the teacher expects and wants from students. Don’t make assumptions. Teachers can’t assume that students will automatically know how to show the kindness they are promoting. Notice when young people are caring towards one another. Practice – practice – practice.
• Honor students’ needs for respect, dignity, purpose, success, acceptance, attention, and motivation. Know each other as persons. Respect, care about, and affirm each other while refraining from peer rudeness and cruelty. Teachers want their students to do a good job – work that applies and further develops their best abilities – taking pride in quality work, not just because they want a good grade.
• Respect students’ emotional needs and listen and support their feelings and problem-solving skills in positive ways. Respond to misbehavior in a way that allows students to fix and learn from their mistakes while preserving their dignity. Kind, supportive relationships also enable students to risk the new ideas and mistakes so critical to intellectual growth.
• Immediately respond to ANY incidents involving ANY form of bullying, harassment, or threat to anyone’s safety. Address name-calling immediately! Ignoring name-calling reinforces that it is expected and okay. It is never okay!
• Be real! Be a kind person! If teachers want to create a kind and caring classroom, they have to actually care about their students!

Louise Bunker has been teaching Technology Education & Career Exploration classes for the past twelve years in the Scottsdale Unified School District. She has been honored over the years by receiving recognition from the Arizona Science Center for her contributions in developing Biotechnology modules, new exhibits and outreach programs for middle school students, the PASS (Partners Advancing Student Success) Program, and the Scottsdale Charros ‘Teacher of the Year’. She recently received the ‘Bucket of Joy Award’ at the 2010 Holiday Crafts, Cheers & Laughs event for inspiring her students and others to be kind people.

Louise volunteers and serves on the Board of Directors for Treasures 4 Teachers in Tempe, Arizona.

So many people came out with full backpacks to benefit Phoenix Advantage Charter School – THANK YOU!!

And, we understand that more of you want to donate more backpacks through this week, and they appreciate that so much. So, if you still have backpacks to donate, please drop them off at PaperJoy, or one of the Carry Kindness Forward gals! We’ll deliver them by next Monday.

We delivered 39 backpacks today. Here is the Principal, Mr. Rowe, and Mrs. Poggi with all the goodies!

Mr. Rowe and Mrs. Poggi surrounded in a sea of backpacks!

Now… on to the Event! The Phoenix Mercury game is on August 23rd. We have until August 12th to by tickets for the kids and families – only $10 each. Click here to buy tickets for them!

Click here to leave a comment (at the bottom of the page). We love to hear from you!

Carry Kindness Forward was on hand at the Arizona Science Center on Saturday to say “thanks!” to all the dancers who showed up for the National Day of Dance Flash Mob. Also, 101.5 Jamz Radio sponsored the event too, and had amazing dancers on hand to teach everyone the dances! (check out their photo gallery too!) What a terrific activity to promote health and fitness! We saw some people with serious moves… on the scale of So You Think You Can Dance quality. And then… there were those of you who gave it your best and had a wacky time! We loved the outfits… check out the photos below!

Also, we realized something… we have been asking you to nominate organizations who do kind things. Well, we are stepping out there and calling out all the folks at the Arizona Science Center for their kindness. They were fun, helpful, positive and encouraging people on Saturday. But we’ve been there so many times with our families, and we have experienced personal professionalism with their staffers every time. So, Arizona Science Center, we are going to send you something special in the mail to say “thanks!” for being a light to the community!

For more photos, check out our Facebook page too!

Fun and Friendly Staff at AZ Science Center!

High energy and fun!

Loved the tu-tu!

Tu-tu #2

Love the Glasses!

Love the button placement!

Dancing in the heat!

Did you get a button from her?

This was cool - she wore a full body stocking. Despite 100+ temps!

And we like where she put her button!

We love that kindness is appreciated by all!

Click here to post a comment (at the bottom of the page). We’d love to hear from you!

WOW! We’ve gotten many emails that people are going today to buy supplies — THANK YOU! Please keep the chain going! We have a goal of 100 back packs filled! We are at 15 now, and have til Monday for the rest! Contact us if you want to arrange to drop it off to one of us at Carry Kindness Forward directly. Or go to PaperJoy (40th street & Campbell in Phoenix) today or tomorrow. Send us your photos and we’ll post them!

If you don’t have time for back packs, please do buy Phoenix Mercury tickets for a fun rally to kick off the year right for these kids!

Here are some cuties who have already been busy filling back packs today:

Chelsea's nephews getting into the giving mode!

Mommy, can the kids who gets these backpacks be my new friends?

Gotta get this packed just right!

Carry Kindness Forward has teamed up the Phoenix Mercury to fire up the kids at Phoenix Advantage Charter School for a successful school year.

Kids leave a mark on each teacher's heart at Phoenix Advantage Charter School!

Many of these loving K-8 kids typically come from economically-disadvantaged families. Some are homeless and others cannot afford to buy basic supplies to get ready for school. We invite you to show your kindness towards this group of 440 kids in one of two ways:

• Fill a backpack with supplies and drop them off at PaperJoy (40th street & Campbell in Phoenix) or to anyone at Carry Kindness Forward by July 31st. (See below for details of backpack and supply guidelines and drop point times). Our goal is 100 backpacks!

• Buy tickets ($10 each) for a child and a parent to attend the Phoenix Mercury game on Tuesday, August 23rd. Simply click this link and purchase up to 10 tickets at a time. Purchase by August 12th. Password: Kindness All tickets will be handed out on game night to the kids. Our goal is 800 tickets!

Fire Up the Kids!: The Phoenix Mercury will host a special pep rally in the US Airways Center on game night for the kids. Team speakers will highlight the importance of education in the kids’ lives, and how the Mercury team upholds their commitment to education with a requirement of a college degree to play on the team.

Kindness Buttons: Also, in the weeks before the game, the entire school will receive our kindness buttons and highlight the need for kindness in school, towards family members and others. The kids will also get a chance to nominate a Kindness Star from each participating class. Those Kindness Stars will be recognized on game night in front of all their peers and the Mercury organization!

And You!: We at Carry Kindness Forward want to put faces to kindness too! We’d love to hear how your participation in this act of kindness influences your kids and friends. Tell us about your experience in helping the kids. Or take a picture when buying the backpacks or tickets, and email it to us. We’ll post you on our blog! Also, be sure to check out our Kindness in the Classroom series on our blog during the month of August!

Get kids involved early in acts of kindness... it will pay off for everyone!

Thanks so much for carrying kindness forward this year to this special group of kids!

Great Students & Caring Teachers Pass Thru Here!

The Details:

Backpack & Supplies Guidelines:

• Plain backpack, no logos or characters
• Box of pencils
• Pencil sharpener
• Box of colored pencils
• Box of crayons
• Packet of loose leaf paper
• Plain file folders, no logos or characters

Additional needs for the school kids:

• Gym shoes, plain, black or brown, sizes 3-8
• Sweaters, plain pullover or cardigan style, no logos or characters

Backpack Drop Point:

• PaperJoy located at 4410 N. 40th Street, Phoenix AZ 85018
• Hours Tuesday – Saturday 10a – 5p
• Phone # (602) 667-6227
• Or contact Carry Kindness Forward to arrange a drop off to one of our members.

Phoenix Mercury Ticket purchases:

• You can purchase the tickets online by clicking here.
• Tickets will be emailed to you after purchase. You may disregard them. All tickets will be tracked and distributed to the kids and families on game night.
• Please purchase tickets by August 12th.

Jessica, a former teacher (and OUR Kindness Spotter!), and Sabrina, a current teacher

Click here to post a comment. We’d love to hear from you!