The Best Is Yet to Come

December 22, 2015December 21, 2015 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

“A great accomplishment shouldn’t be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward.” –Harvey Mackay

I find it rather fitting that I stumbled upon the above quote as I was reflecting on the work that’s been done via the kidkind foundation in 2015. Many of the projects on which we have been focused this past year are, in fact, foundational for kidkind’s “next leap forward.”

We’ve had a busy year at the kidkind foundation, and the fruits of our labor are now in sight. Setting our goals high, we tackled major projects that will truly move the needle on restoring the power of kindness and heroic character. Some 2015 highlights include:

School Assembly: A team of talented educators, in coordination with Wear the Cape character education expert Dr. Philip Brown, created a stellar anti-bullying assembly for elementary schools, which includes a video with Cape Kids and Junior Board Members displaying the strategies and skills needed to be BETTER THAN THAT™. For further information on how to bring the assembly to a school near you, starting in January 2016, contact me at leighann@wearthecape.com.
Children’s Book: Hard work during 2015 writing and illustrating our first children’s book will come to fruition in 2016, as we are now in the final stages of publishing. Expect a fun-filled story that engages young kids with magical details and vibrant illustrations to convey that it’s better to be a hero than a bully. We promise not to disappoint.
Holiday Fundraiser: Late last month, Wear the Cape brought together kids and adults for its third annual holiday event promoting kindness and giving to those in need. Over 20 Cape Kids volunteered their time to collect the thousands of dollars in supplies that were donated for American troops overseas and the hundreds of toys, such as Barbies and Legos, which warmed hearts at the NJ Children’s Shelter. The fundraiser also raised over $8,000 for kidkind to continue teaching children about the importance of doing good in 2016!
Raising Awareness: Wear the Cape’s resident character education expert Dr. Philip Brown produced valuable educational materials provided to parents for free to help them understand how best to raise Cape Kids of good character. Examples include:
New Gear that Spreads the Message: Due to popular demand, Wear the Cape has added new merchandise to our Hero Collection. Check out the Hero Hat (Winter Edition), Keepin’ It Kind Tee (Long Sleeve), and Powerful Pucker Lip Moisturizer in our shop!

I am so proud of all the Cape Kids who have helped further the mission of restoring the power of kindness and heroic character and am so grateful for the love and support of my dear friends and family, who give me the courage and grace to live each day a little kinder than the last.

Together, let’s strive to make 2016 even better than 2015!

Choose kind,
Leigh Ann

Tonight, Everyday Heroes Banded Together for Kindness

November 18, 2015November 18, 2015 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

Tonight marked the third annual holiday event for Wear the Cape’s kidkind foundation, and it just might have been the best one yet. With over 90 women in attendance, 20 Cape Kids who volunteered their time, and many vendors who donated their services and specialties, the kidkind foundation raised over $9,500(estimate) to use for GOOD.

Thanks to generous donations, in 2016 Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation will be bringing to elementary schools a fun and inspiring, hour-long assembly with a new, positive approach to preventing and stopping bullying, publishing a children’s book that beautifully illustrates that it’s better to be a hero than a bully, and putting money toward scholarships for deserving young men and woman who embody Wear the Cape’s mission.

As the near 100 guests arrived, they were greeted by young Cape Kids decked in red capes, who assisted them with their generous donations. They also came laden with much needed supplies for our troops overseas via Operation NJ Cares, toys for underprivileged children via NJ Children’s Shelter of Trenton, and delicious treats for a cookie swap. By sharing one tray of cookies each with all, women were able to bring home tins of “kindness cookies” to enjoy and be reminded of the good in the world throughout the holiday season.

Guests even gained an early start on holiday shopping. Cocoa Fete, Fabulously Frilly, Eileen McDonald, Silpada, Rosie Posie Botique, Pampered Chef and Petit Lily were among the vendors who donated a percentage of their profits back to the kidkind foundation. Wear The Cape also introduced its new merchandise – a comfy long-sleeve tee, a warm and fuzzy hat, love-inspiring lip moisturizer and a beautifully crafted Cape pin – complete with “hero tags” that coach kids on making the right choices and being “BETTER THAN THAT™”.

Additionally, several local business owners, including Ann Nappi, Sandrine Boegart, Ann Fournier, and Danielle Mazzurco donated to a for-goodness-sake raffle. Pink Buttercup donated a cake and the valet fee was donated by YLP Parking, as well.

But the fun didn’t stop there! Madame Clare entertained and inspired adults and children with positive fortunes of their heroic deeds in the future. Colleen Grunfest of Warren, a beloved, local teacher who is committed to building good character in kids, donned a costume to play the part.

A highlight of the evening was watching the video trailer for Wear the Cape’s soon-to-be-released assembly, which will be brought to schools in New Jersey and beyond beginning this January 2016. One awesome Cape Kid summed up the video by saying, “My favorite part of making this movie was showing that it really is cool to be kind.”

For more information on how you can preview the assembly and bring the interactive, multimedia presentation to your child’s school, please email Leigh Ann Errico at leighann@wearthecapekids.com.

Letter from Leigh Ann: Warm Wishes from Wear the Cape This Holiday Season

December 24, 2013December 24, 2013 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

Wishing you the joy of family, the happiness of friends, and the wonder of the season. May the spirit of the holidays be with you throughout the new year.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the many friends who have helped Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation get off to an exciting start this year, reaching kids across the country with encouragement and education on the power of kindness and good character. Both the Cape and the foundation focus on helping kids understand what good character looks like in everyday life and on giving them the confidence to do what’s right, not what’s easy.

The Wear the Cape team is beyond excited about the foundation’s first major project, which is already underway. Our goal is to touch as many kids as possible and truly move the needle on the youngest generation’s attitudes, behavior and outlook on the world. From consulting with experts, teachers and parents, it’s clear that children are very impressionable in the early elementary years. Based on our discussions, we set our sights on publishing a children’s picture book that will paint an easily-understandable picture of good character and communicate that choosing to not bully, even when in a relative position of power (e.g., a student in class who is more athletic, smarter or more popular than others), is more honorable and respectable than being unkind.

The book is being written in a powerful way that we hope will stay with children throughout their lives (I, to this day, remember books that I read as a kid, don’t you?). The next steps are editing, illustration and publishing. The plan is to produce thousands of copies and donate them to Kindergarten through 2nd grade classrooms across the country, particularly in underprivileged areas.

On behalf of the thousands of young children who, in the new year, will receive a free book that could greatly impact their lives, I thank you for your generosity in helping to bring the gift of greater knowledge to kids. Helping our youth understand the powerful values that shape one’s life every day will make their futures even brighter and our communities better places to live.

Separately, the kidkind foundation will also be creating a scholarship program, and we are holding focus groups to identify more ways to make a big impact with your generous donation. Ideas are welcomed.

Thanks, again, for your kindness. It’s so uplifting to see others join the movement and lend their support to this important cause.

All the best to you and yours,

Leigh Ann and the Wear the Cape for all kidkind Team