Tag: Cape Kid of the Month

Cape Kid of the Month Michael Mancino Shares Simple Ways You Can Spread Kindness Every Day!

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Wear the Cape is proud to introduce its first Cape Kid of 2019! Michael Mancino is an everyday hero in the 6thgrade at Warren Middle School in Warren, New Jersey.  He is a valued member of the Watchung Hills Pop Warner football team, Warren youth travel basketball team, and the town’s winter and spring lacrosse teams.

Both on and off the field and court, Michael can be found helping others. This ongoing mission, along with his generous heart and determination to stand up for what is right, shows that Michael is committed to being BETTER THAN THAT™ – better than doing the wrong thing, even though it’s often the easier choice!

After a friend stood up for Michael when he was being teased in elementary school, he made the commitment to he himself be an Upstander – someone who sticks up for others when they are being bullied or mistreated. Michael realized at that moment that it only takes ONE person to make a difference. He shared, “The teasing made me feel anxious and belittled. However, when someone stood up for me, it made me feel valued. I wanted to be the person to do this for someone else…to make others feel worthwhile and befriended, like I did that day.”

In an effort to spread kindness throughout his former elementary school, Michael proposed starting a Kidkind Clubto his teacher and principal, before he graduated. The school officials were so impressed with the plan he presented that they put it on the agenda to seek implementation in 2019. He is aiming to bring a Kidkind Club to his middle school this spring, as well.

Michael also spreads kindness by giving his time. He has volunteered at Wear the Cape’s annual holiday fundraiser in December for the past four years. This summer, he joined The Lunchbox Movement to bring lunch to underprivileged children at Jerry Walker’s summer camp in Jersey City. During National Volunteer Month, in April, he provided support for The Bounce Factory of Warren’s Gentle Bounce Session, where he assisted children with special needs. Presently, he helps coach first and second graders in basketball!

Michael lives by a special mantra instilled by his father: “Good character and not reputation is what I value.”

Below are simple ways Michael suggests you can spread kindness every day:

  1. Stand up for others. When you see someone not treating another person the way you would want to be treated, say something! It takes courage, but the more you do this, the easier it becomes.
  2. Compliment others. A kind word can turn someone’s bad day into a happy one. Be the hero who saves someone from the doldrums, just by saying something nice!
  3. Be a good friend:  A good friend is consistent, trustworthy and kind. Be that to others, and you’re more likely to build meaningful, lasting friendships.
  4. Be kind to yourself: Being kind to yourself puts you in a state of mind that helps you be kind to others. Love yourself for who you are. Do your best. Forgive yourself. Take care of your own needs. When you’re happy within, you can spread that sunshine.

Would you like to promote kindness in your school by starting a Kidkind Club? We’ve made it super simple for you to do. Access our “KIDKIND CLUB PROPOSAL TEMPLATE” by clicking here.

Cape Kid of the Month – Michael Ricciardi: Volunteering from the Heart

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Michael RicciardiIt is a pleasure to introduce to you Michael Ricciardi as our Cape Kid of the Month for the month of November. Michael has grown up with many great role-models, including his parents and three older siblings. He watched his older sister and brothers volunteer and help others throughout his childhood. Observing the sense of pride and accomplishment that his siblings received from volunteering, gave Michael the desire to volunteer himself.

Like most 11th graders, Michael is very busy. Every summer, he travels between Virginia and Massachusetts for his summer travel team’s lacrosse tournaments. During the school year, in addition to his school studies at Mendham High School, in New Jersey, he plays on the varsity Lacrosse team. This is something he has done since his Freshman year. He also plays intramural basketball with his friends noting that, “It is competitive along with being a fun time.”

Michael Ricciardi and sister Brielle RicciardiMichael admits that finding time to volunteer is difficult. However, he finds time in his off season schedule because he also knows the reward is great. “What motivates me as a volunteer is helping people and giving back my time while not seeking anything monetary in return. It makes me feel good and that I am accomplishing something good in the world,” he states.

For the past 4 years Michael has volunteered at Glen Ridge’s Rotary Turkey Drive, where he hauls heavy turkey donations to gathering trucks, where they then go to those in need. This was done, always with a smile, in rain, snow, and cold temperatures.

Taking his passion for lacrosse and turning it into a volunteer experience, Michael assists younger children at Kiddie LAX programs in his town. During the summer months, he volunteers at a children’s reading and writing camp. His director stated that Michael is, “kind, caring, and hard working.” He has also helped to prepare a reception for Confirmation candidates at St. Joseph’s Church, in Mendham, NJ.

Michael’s compassion and generosity have not gone unnoticed. He was chosen by his church administration to be on the SEARCH teen retreat team. His role was to provide a religious weekend for his peers, while making it fun. His biggest challenge was to suspend all cell phone use throughout the weekend. Although this was tough, it was beneficial. It allowed those teens in attendance to form new friendships without the use of technology.

Next June, Michael will be going on a mission trip to Kentucky to help the underprivileged in Appalachia. In this one week he will spend his time helping families better their living conditions, by assisting in rebuilding and restructuring their current homes.

Michael’s mother, Debra Ricciardi shared, “Michael is a very humble and kind young man. He is very caring and a good hearted person. He has a great sense of humor and fits well in any situation. He is confident and demonstrates maturity.”

Thank you Michael for showing others that it’s COOL TO BE KIND through serving others. You are a great rolemodel and we are grateful for what you give back to the world.

To nominate a Cape Kid, please contact Leighann@wearthecapekids.com.

In Kindness,
Leigh Ann Errico

Looking Back with Great Appreciation, Looking Forward with Great Expectation

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Wear The Cape help or hurt“Goodness is about character – integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.” – Dennis Prager

This past year reinforced that teaching our children the lesson above makes a real difference. Showing goodness in how we treat others changes the world, one interaction at a time. At Wear the Cape, we call this being BETTER THAN THAT™, or embodying heroism by standing up for what is right and choosing kindness over bullying.

We received countless messages from parents, teachers, and children in 2017 sharing how Wear the Cape has changed their lives, or the lives of those around them, for the better. One parent, in tears, relayed her son’s story. For months his classmates bullied him, but he didn’t tell anyone for fear that it would get worse. After watching Wear the Cape’s Hero Assembly, this first grader gained the skills and confidence needed to stand up to those tormenting him. He also made the choice to tell his parents, teachers, and guidance counselor, who all worked together to help resolve the situation.

This past year, the number of Hero Assemblies that Wear the Cape has brought to schools throughout New Jersey climbed to 41. Students as far as Sarasota, Florida learned how to STOP and THINK whether their decisions will HELP or HURT – and the assembly was even featured on Suncoast News! Sycamore Drive Early Education Childhood Center in Hazlet, New Jersey was so impressed with Wear the Cape’s assembly that they created a presentation based on the program for their November Board of Education Meeting. Wow! What an honor.

In 2017, Wear the Cape was also thrilled to create and publish its first children’s book titled, It’s Good To Be Kingd, written by Lauren DuBois Rosemond and illustrated by Marco Cutrone. Many bloggers praised the book, and many a home and classroom have enjoyed hearing the story of Leonard the Lion—admired by all other animals as King of the Jungle—who wears a red cape and uses his power and status to make a positive impact on those around him..

Additionally, children in Paterson, Bound Brook, and Camden are reading It’s Good To Be Kingd in their classrooms, as Wear the Cape’s kidkind Foundation gifted books to underprivileged areas as part of its initiative to donate 1,000 books to Kindergarten classrooms across the nation. It’s Good to Be Kingd can be purchased on Amazon.com or Wear the Cape’s website, where copies can also be donated.

What’s more, Wear the Cape introduced two new Hero Items this fall: the “Don’t Bottle Up Your Love” Thermos and our Kindness Spinner. Both can be purchased in our online shop!

At Wear the Cape’s annual holiday fundraiser, 30 elementary, middle, and high school-aged kids volunteered their time and talents to make the night a huge success. Children greeted guests with big smiles and even bigger hearts, as guests brought gifts for orphaned children at the NJ Children’s Home Society and donations for our troops overseas, which will be shipped via Operation Cares NJ.

Wear the Cape has its sights set on another giant goodness-making initiative in 2018. On the heels of great success with our elementary level presentation, we will be developing an assembly for middle school students. Be on the lookout for the big reveal this spring!

Restoring the power of kindness and heroic character is our mission at Wear the Cape…and words can’t describe how it feels to hear that our mission is being accomplished. Our team is beyond grateful for all you have done to show our youth that they can be heroes every day and to spread kindness throughout our communities. Love, after all, is the only way to win against hate.

Let’s fill the world with warmth this holiday season! And we wish you a happy, healthy, heroic 2018!

In kindness,

Leigh Ann Errico