A charitable & foundational partnerships to ensure that portions of proceeds and/or profits are channeled to organizations dedicated to building better lives for underprivileged kids.
The Omaha World-Herald’s Momaha, “where Omaha moms connect,” published a wonderful write-up on the Top 10 list that Wear the Cape issued today about the importance of encouraging your kids to volunteer. Reporter Josie Loza opens the article, “10 reasons to encourage your child to volunteer,” with some brief background on Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation. From the piece:
Wear the Cape is a brand with a mission to empower kids to be heroes.
In fact, its KidKind Foundation was built on the hope that it could teach children to have empathy, to be kind and to restore good character.
All great traits you’d find in a superhero, right?
Josie then goes on to share:
It’s a cool initiative that released a Top 10 list why parents should encourage their kids to volunteer. All research-based reasons that Dr. Phillip Brown, a senior consultant at the National School Climate Center, studied in character education.
To read Josie’s story in full, head on over to the Omaha World-Herald’s website. And to read Wear the Cape Founder Leigh Ann Errico’s reflections on the value in volunteering as a family, as well as Dr. Brown’s insight about the positives of engaging in meaningful service activities, find the press release here.
Recently I went back to West Morris Mendham High School after 26 years since I graduated. Life moves so fast, and I am always “busy being busy,” but I regret that it took me more than two decades to get myself back there. The school’s wonderful awards evening made it evident that I should have visited sooner.
The places where we grew up really are “home,” and they shaped who we are. The memories and flashbacks that went through my brain as I walked those halls again were almost too much to process – some good, some big disappointments, but they all helped define my character and who I am today.
It was really nice to see some of my old teachers and faculty who are STILL there. I was so sad to hear that so many of my former colleagues and fellow students had passed away over the past decade – some quite tragically. It was heartening to see scholarships in their honor, and to hear the speeches and tributes to these great people who left us too soon was moving to the core of my heart.
I attended to proudly give away the kidkind foundation’s first Wear the Cape Hero Scholarship to the graduating senior who embodies the values and mission of our kidkind foundation – the person who truly Wears his/her Cape in everyday life and does what is right, not just what is easy.
I am really thrilled that we selected a fine young gentleman named Frank Piacenti from Chester, NJ, who will be attending George Washington University in the fall. I met the Piacenti family, and they were beyond gracious. I cannot explain the chill in my body that I experienced awarding this $2,500 scholarship to a great guy. When I spoke to the faculty about Frank, or Frankie as he is affectionately known, people instantly said what a wonderful human being he is…and that was simply awesome to hear. That’s what we are all about – finding the good – and recognizing the people who are inclusive and tolerant and give of themselves.
Frank will be an ambassador for our brand, and I am really excited to have his counsel.
I want to thank all of our donors to date for helping us raise funds to go out into the world and recognize the good in people. We cannot do this without all of you.
Congratulations, once again, Frank Piacenti; the sky is the limit for what you can do out in this world. We are excited to be part of your current and future success.
Choose kind,
Leigh Ann
P.S. To read more about this scholarship and see what Frank had to say about being recognized, read the press release on our Media page.
The inaugural 5K race for kidkind held this past Saturday was an all-around success, filled with big smiles and big hearts. When runners, volunteers and families arrived at the Warren, NJ Municipal fields, they were greeted by one of the first beautiful days of spring after a grueling New Jersey winter. It was the perfect setting as we joined together to raise money for kids in need while showing the kids we love the power of kindness and character.
The mud on the trails did not stop the 117 runners who came out to support the kidkind foundation, Teens Connecting with Teens and the Warren Recreation Commission’s Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and participants, the event raised over $10,000, meeting our goal! We’d like to thank Gotta Dance for not only being the race for kidkind’s lead sponsor, but also for delivering one of the day’s highlights: dedicated dancers with inspiring routines.
Beyond monetary donations, a big predictor of good character is the giving of ourselves in support of our communities, as we all know. We were so fortunate to have about 50 heroic volunteers who were so generous with their efforts, committed to the success of the fundraiser. The Contender Cheer team was also so giving of their time and talents, posting up at the race’s finish line to encourage runners as they sweated to earn the last mile. This amazing group of young ladies has been supportive of Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation since our launch last fall, and we are so grateful to them for their unrelenting championing of our mission.
As a whole, the event embodied what Wear the Cape is all about: bringing out the best in others, bringing to light the positive in our world, and bringing about a change in our society.
The outpouring of support from local businesses, volunteers, and the town of Warren was not just a means to an end, but an exercise of camaraderie that strengthened our community, reminding us all that we’re in this together and together we can make a BIG impact.
Recognizing Cape Kid Sami Saunders and highlighting the passion of Cape Kid Olivia Perlmutter, founder of Teens Connecting with Teens, has not only helped balance out all the negative news we hear involving our youth, but these young ladies’ stories have served to inspire others to also be courageous, to find ways to help those in need, and to be Better Than That—above bad choices that hurt themselves and others.
Lastly, little ones seeing these role models and the grown-ups they look up to elevating kindness and virtue as cool and worthy of respect helped spark change in kids’ perspectives and, it is our hope, the way they interact with the world.
Many commented that optimism and goodwill radiated throughout the day at the 5K race for kidkind and Family Festival – we agree, so MISSION ACCOMPLISHED…with the help of all of you!
The Omaha World-Herald’s Momaha, “where Omaha moms connect,” published a wonderful write-up on the Top 10 list that Wear the Cape issued today about the importance of encouraging your kids to volunteer. Reporter Josie Loza opens the article, “10 reasons to encourage your child to volunteer,” with some brief background on Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation. From the piece:
