One Hero of a Year

It has been an amazing and productive year for us at Wear the Cape and kidkind Foundation. In January 2016, we launched our Hero Assembly, a program designed to provide elementary students with tools and strategies needed to combat bullying.  In our first year alone, we booked OVER 31 assemblies throughout the state of New Jersey.  Presently, we have schools calling weekly to secure their date for 2017.

We have received FIVE STAR reviews from all schools that we have visited.  Mrs. Amy Johnson, sent us the following testimonial after watching our program:

“I had the privilege of participating in the Wear The Cape assembly in October 2016.  This hour-long interactive assembly showed the children how to handle bullying and uncomfortable situations through role playing, videos and discussion.  The student responses warmed my heart.  They all want to do good for themselves and others. Wear the Cape reminded them to STOP and THINK about how their reaction may help or hurt others.  Everyone left the assembly with tools to use if needed and feeling good about themselves.”

We thank Mrs. Johnson for her kind feedback and welcome all who have seen our assembly to let us know your thoughts.  For further information on our program, or to bring our assembly to your school, email leighann@wearthecapekids.com.

As promised, we donated an assembly to an underprivileged school in October. School #16 in Elizabeth, were most appreciative of our program and even contacted the local newspaper to share their excitement.  The Star Ledger also wrote an article on the importance and success of our Hero Assembly, which you can read here: http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2016/10/warren_program.html

Our staff has been busy finalizing our new children’s book, Titled, It’s Good To Be King-d.  The book will available on our website, as well as on Amazon, in early 2017.  To keep with our mission of being Better Than That™ we will be donating 1000 books to kindergarten classrooms throughout the nation.

This past month we held our annual holiday fundraiser to benefit kidkind Foundation.  Cape Kids modeled our newest merchandise, the White Winter Hero Hat and 15 ounce Cup of Kindness Mug, both which can be purchased on our Shopify store.

 

 

 

 

 

Women came with donations for our troops overseas, gifts for children at the New Jersey Children’s Home Society in Trenton, New Jersey, and lots and lots of cookies for a traditional cookie swap.

As another year comes to an end. I want to take the time to thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and your support.  I wish you a happy and healthy 2017.

In Kindness,

Leigh Ann Errico

Community Comes Together for Kindness

It was a magical evening in Warren, New Jersey, as Wear the Cape and the kidkind Foundation hosted its fourth annual holiday fundraiser.  What Founder Leigh Ann Errico started as a Christmas cookie exchange in a small dorm room over 20 years ago with only a handful of friends has evolved into a spectacular night every year, with almost 100 women and children gathering to support and celebrate the works of Wear the Cape and the kidkind Foundation.

Some of the original attendees joined the event this evening, including Cynthia Caramico, who gave a passionate testimonial on Wear the Cape’s elementary school Hero Assembly. The program reached thousands of kids this year through over 30 performances since its launch less than a year ago. Guests got a taste of the interactive assembly by watching a highlight video featuring real kids who acted in the assembly to spread kindness and encouragement in the fight against bullying. All were inspired and agreed that the program’s focus on courage and kindness, delivered through relatable messages, is a must for all schools.

Over 20 young children, ranging in age from four to 16, volunteered to help at the event. These Cape Kids greeted guests with big smiles and huge hearts, as they collected toy donations for underprivileged children via New Jersey Children’s Shelter of Trenton, and much needed supplies for our troops overseas via Operation NJ Cares.  YLP Parking of Kenilworth, New Jersey donated their valet fee, as a way to honor all veterans and “pay it forward.”

Coming together to toast to kindness and commemorate the achievements of the past year was a highlight of the evening. In addition to launching and performing Hero Assemblies, a number of which were donated, these accomplishments include being chosen to present at the NJASEC Convention at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ; developing Cape South, a branch of Wear the Cape assemblies in Florida; and the creation of its first children’s book, titled IT’S GOOD TO BE KINGD, which kidkind Foundation will be donating to underprivileged kindergarten classrooms and Wear the Cape will be selling starting at the beginning of 2017.

Adorable Cape Kids modeled Wear the Cape’s newest merchandise: the cozy, embroidered Wear the Cape Hero Hat – White Winter Edition and the Cup of Kindness Mug, which joined the long list of Better Than That™ items, such as lip balm, T-shirts, baseball caps, and even beach balls!

Madame Hollis provided guests with kindness fortune readings on the lower level of the event, while the talented Will Honicky, a high school student from Morris Plains, and Chris Waryn of Watchung entertained guests with their beautiful melodies on the piano.

It was an evening of sheer enjoyment. And when the night came to an end, guests left with dozens of cookies to share in their own homes for the holidays.

After 20 years, the cookie swap tradition continues – only now guests are exchanging more than cookies. They share kindness, generosity, goodwill, and hope for a brighter, kinder world, for their families and children around the world.

For more information on how to donate to the kidkind Foundation, bring a Hero Assembly to a school near you, or purchase IT’S GOOD TO BE KINGD for a child in your life or for kids in need, please email leighann@wearthecapekids.com.

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Wear The Cape’s First School Assembly of the New School Year

Wear the Cape Kids School AssemblyWe were thrilled to bring our first assembly of the school year to Our Lady of Peace School, in New Providence, New Jersey.  We send a heartfelt thank you to Mr. Castillo, his staff, and his amazing students for allowing us the opportunity to share our Better Than That message.

Mr. Castillo summed up our message perfectly when he told his students that our message is a very simple one: be kind all the time.  Thank you, Mr. Castillo for wearing your Cape and asking your students and staff to do so, as well.

For further information on how to bring a Hero Assembly to your school, please email leighann@wearthecapekids.com.

School Assembly - Stop and Think, Help or Hurt I Wear The Cape - School Assembly