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.
This month we are honored to feature Brielle Ricciardi as our Cape Kid for her incredible and selfless work with her school’s Storied Lives Program.
Brielle, a Mendham High School Senior, joined her school’s Storied Lives program last May, which partnered a high school student with a Senior at an assisted living home in Morristown. Brielle knew immediately that she wanted to be part of this special program, stating, “I had a feeling that I had to do this. “ She is so glad she did!
Brielle met with Mr. Halkes four times throughout the summer. Her visits, which lasted between an hour and an hour and a half, were ones that she thoroughly enjoyed. Brielle was excited for her visits because she knew she would learn something from him, specifically, what she said is her biggest lesson learned from him, “Do something every day that makes you happy.”
Brielle has taken Mr. Halkes advice, but has added a twist. She now looks to also make others happy, whether it be with her charitable work, school, with her family or friends.
Brielle aspires to be a role model to others. She is now an advocate for seniors, asking all to, “not overlook the elderly.” She is part of Wear the Cape’s Junior Board, is featured in Wear the Cape’s video portion of our Hero Assemblies, and recently volunteered as a Cape Kid for kidkind Foundation’s annual holiday fundraiser.
Brielle plans to keep in touch with Mr. Halkes, a former educator, who states that his students were his children. In the years to come, she plans to “spend my life living-“ another lesson from her forever friend, Mr. Halkes.
High school freshman Peter Johnson graduated to a Junior Board Member for Wear the Cape and kidkind Foundation
Peter Johnson is only just starting his high school career, yet his list of accomplishments looks as if he is a senior, or even beyond! This young man has been a Cape Kid, who graduated to a Junior Board Member for Wear the Cape and kidkind Foundation, since he was in elementary school. Peter not only wears his Cape daily, but encourages his friends, family, and peers to Wear their Capes, as well.
Peter expressed that he wants to help others because he understands how fortunate he is to have “two great parents and a loving family,” which includes an older and younger sister. He realizes that not everyone is as lucky as he is, and wants to help make a difference in the lives of others.
He’s already made quite a difference! In October, 2014 Peter received the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School’s Panther Pride award for demonstrating good character, concern for others, respect for school and self, and for his cooperative spirit. In his Eight Grade year, Peter was chosen, out off 750 peers, to be the male recipient of the Somerville Elks Lodge #1068 Antler Award for his contributions to the community and academic achievements.
Peter Johnson wants to help others because he understands how fortunate he is to have “two great parents and a loving family,” which includes an older and younger sister. He realizes that not everyone is as lucky as he is, and wants to help make a difference in the lives of others.
Peter’s mother, Amy Johnson, said her son’s volunteer efforts are self–motivated. He has come to his mom, without prompting, and asked to help others in ways that have amazed her. Some include, shaving his head five times to raise money for childhood cancer, which was a fundraiser at St. Baldrick’s Church, being an assistant coach for his younger sister, Grace’s Kindergarten soccer team, as well as a member of PRIDE, which is an acronym for Peers Respecting Individual Differences at his school, and volunteering his time for Service Works at St. Bernard’s Church. Peter was also an active member of his school’s Student Council, throughout his middle school career.
One of his greatest volunteer efforts was deciding to raise money for Autism Awareness, by riding ten miles on his bike for “Pedal for the Puzzle.” Raising awareness and funds for Autism research is significant for Peter and his family, as his cousin, John Paul has Autism. His mother recalls that at his family party, following his Confirmation, Peter announced he was going to ride his bike for his cousin, with whom he is very close. “It was special,” his mother recalls.
Peter loves being a part of Wear the Cape. He volunteers every year at kidkind Foundation’s annual holiday fundraiser, and can be found not only wearing his Cape, but also wearing a big, contagious smile.
We truly value the heartfelt work done by Peter Johnson. He is a role model to all people; young and old. He makes time to help others, regardless if he is tired from his long days at school or his soccer, track, or lacrosse practices, and games. This young man has a bright future, and we are confident he will shine throughout his exciting high school years and truly continue to make a difference in this world.
The founder of Wear the Cape, Leigh Ann Errico, had this to say about Pete’s achievements, “Pete Johnson is a very extra kind of special! I always love when he is around my four children, who are younger than Pete, because I see what an incredible role model he is to them. When Pete volunteers for our Wear the Cape events, he shows up and he sets the tone, he works hard and he is completely in touch with the importance of the mission and doing good for others. The sky is the limit for this special young man!”
Thank you for wearing your Cape, Peter, and for encouraging others to do the same!
From that moment, I knew that showing kindness at school, at home, and in our community would be our “Superhero Mission.”
In the Fall of 2015, I embarked on teaching my second graders the value of kindness. As I searched for motivational ways to inspire their hearts and minds, I stumbled across a video about Leigh Ann Errico and her foundation. As I shared the video with my students, I watched their eyes light up as they embraced the connection between kindness and superheroes.
I reached out to parents and requested that my students complete “acts of kindness” at home or in the community.
From that moment, I knew that showing kindness at school, at home, and in our community would be our “Superhero Mission.” Therefore, I reached out to parents and requested that my students complete “acts of kindness” at home or in the community. My students were so pleased and proud to share how they had shown kindness to others. This inspired me to visit wearthecapekids.com to purchase superhero capes and other products to foster kindness in my classroom. My students and I were delighted when our special delivery arrived! The capes were hand-wrapped with care. In addition, we received a few extra Wear the Cape surprises with our purchases. My students were so appreciative and inspired to wear the capes.
As we became experts at showing kindness, our class chose to rotate a “super-boy” and “super-girl” of the day to wear the capes.
Initially, my students nominated peers who demonstrated acts of kindness to wear the capes each day. However, as we became experts at showing kindness, our class chose to rotate a “super-boy” and “super-girl” of the day to wear the capes. Superheroes searched for acts of kindness throughout each school day. By the end of the day, superheroes looked forward to writing and posting an act of kindness which they observed during the day.
After receiving and using our Wear the Cape products, my students and I decided to write, revise, edit, and publish a thank you email to the founder, Leigh Ann Errico, on the Wear the Cape “Connect with Us” website page. My superheroes couldn’t have been prouder that we did it as a class. Thus, they were so excited when we received a response from the Wear the Cape foundation. Thank you for making my students feel like “real” superheroes!
Our Acts of Kindness Wall
In the words of my second grade superheroes…
“Wearing the cape is an honor. You have lots of glory wearing it.”
“When I wear the cape, it helps me be kind. We can save the world with kindness.”
“Kindness is a big responsibility. I know that. Please be kind to others. You have to stop, think,
help, or hurt. Stop, you are better than that!”
“You can show kindness whoever you are. It doesn’t matter what your skin color is or if you are 50 or 21. You can still be kind!”
“When you wear the cape you feel good. You can be a hero wearing the cape.”
“We need kindness! I think that Wear the Cape can help hundreds of kids be kind. The things that they sell can make a difference in our world. Everybody needs kindness in their lives.”
This month we are honored to feature Brielle Ricciardi as our Cape Kid for her incredible and selfless work with her school’s Storied Lives Program.
