It is a privilege to name Dean Ciccarelli as our Cape Kid for the month of May.  Dean, who is a student at Chatham High School, in New Jersey dedicates much of his time to kindness…and we are incredibly proud!

Dean has been involved in his school’s sports teams, as he was a member of the Cougar’s varsity wrestling team and freshman lacrosse team.  As well, he has shown great commitment and determination to both himself and his peers, as he spent seven years training to become a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, when he was a fifth grader. When he was overwhelmed and wanted to quit, Dean persisted until he reached his goal.

With all this, Dean makes time to volunteer, and serve his community, on a regular basis. Each year Dean is a Cape Kid volunteer at kidkind foundation’s holiday event, where he collects guests’ donations for our military overseas and gifts for underprivileged children.  Also at this event, he works with our youngest Cape Kids to help facilitate a fun evening.

Along with his Youth Ministry group, Dean volunteers to make food for the homeless throughout the year. He also volunteered at a local food pantry with his lacrosse team, to help those in need.

Dean has been a constant source of support to Wear the Cape, his family, and friends.  His mom, Ann states, “Since the day he was able to talk we knew that Dean was going to be one special kid.  He has always been wiser than his years and always has been very concerned with others well being. I have seen various occasions where Dean has seen something that just didn’t seem “right” to him and stepped in to make sure that kids are OK and not being treated poorly. “

With this in mind, it came as no surprise that Dean met with his superintendent of schools to propose a kidkind kindness club, which he will facilitate, in his district’s elementary schools.  It is Dean’s goal to work with middle school students to help transition them to middle and high school, while promoting kindness, heroism, good character and being BETTER THAN THAT™.  As Dean states, “Being BETTER THAN THAT™ is doing good things, whether that means to be accepting of someone or to even just hold the door for someone.”

Dean, we thank you for your commitment to kindness. You are a true example of being BETTER THAN THAT™ and we are excited to see your kidkind club come to fruition.