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.
From left to right: Ron Litz, Emily Pollard, Katherine Szczubelek, Lauren Mead, and Stephanie Taeschler
When it comes to tackling a giant challenge—say, showing kids across the country that it’s cool to be kind and that good character brings benefits in droves—words of support are HUGE. They’re the fuel to your engine, what you reach for when you need a hand to get back up. But even bigger than words are actions of assistance.
I am so incredibly grateful for the several amazing teachers from Park Middle School in Scotch Plains who have rolled up their sleeves. This awesome crew of five includes some of the key people who helped me launch Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation almost a year ago and who are still hanging in there with me today!
In addition to their passion and volunteerism, the insight they’ve delivered about very real issues that our children face in schools today has been priceless to me and Wear the Cape’s mission.
I’ve found proof in the pudding. Thank you, my friends.
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
