Think Kindness

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012                                                          

Think Kindness Family Assistance Fund raises more than $40,000 for Air Race victims

Fund helps those in need after tragic accident

RENO, NEV. – Immediately following the tragic accident at the National Championship Air Races in September, Think Kindness, a local non-profit who seeks to encourage thousands across the country to inspire others through random acts of kindness, created a fund to help the victims and family members affected. Since that time, Think Kindness has managed to raise more than $40,000 that will be used towards living and medical expenses, home renovations and more.

“This past year has been a challenging one for northern Nevada but the incredible people of this community have been inspiring, optimistic and heroic,” said Brian Williams, founder of Think Kindness. “Their uplifting spirits have given us the encouragement to continue moving forward to help all of those affected by the terrible tragedy that occurred at one of our community’s most significant events.”

Over the past several months, Think Kindness has coordinated with Home Depot Foundation to remodel a home in Washington for one victim who has suffered from a severed right hand and crushed right leg and foot among other things. Additionally, the “Kindness Crew” has helped to coordinate two major fundraising events including the Nevada Day Governor’s Banquet which raised funds for the victims of the IHOP and National Championship Air Race tragedies. More projects are in the pipeline and Think Kindness expects to continue helping families through 2012.

To make a contribution to the Think Kindness Family Assistance Fund, visit any local Wells Fargo bank and reference routing number 582500507 and account number 3854301920. Donations can also be mailed to Think Kindness at 522 Lander Street, Reno, NV 89509 or made online at thinkkindness.org. All of the proceeds will support those who are in need of financial assistance for clothing, food and support services. All donations are eligible for a tax deduction.

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About Think Kindness

Think Kindness is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization that aims to inspire thousands from coast-to-coast to change the world through seemingly simple random acts of kindness. We’ve created several elementary, middle, high school and corporate programs that challenge individuals to “Change the World in 15 Days.” Each event draws everyone together for one common purpose, to make a difference. In addition to school challenges, the organization creates unique fundraising events that draw hundreds within the community to participate in a massive community act of kindness. To date, the organization has challenged over 58,992 students, documented over 203,235 acts of kindness, collected over 130,000 shoes for Soles4Souls, and received the 2009 Thornton Peace Prize for the impact on the nation’s youth.

Reno, NV (May 13, 2011) – Washoe County School District schools have shown they have heart when it comes to soles. The District recently won the first “15 Days of Kindness” nationwide challenge among 21,000 youth in the United States to inspire their community to donate shoes for children in need.

With the help of nine high schools, several elementary schools and more than 50 local businesses, the WCSD brought in 55,000 pairs of shoes in less than 30 days, according to Think Kindness spokesman Brian Williams.

“I think once students realize they can make a difference, their eyes open up, especially when doing something so simple as donating a pair of shoes,” Williams said.

In the District, the leadership students at high schools including TMCC High, Reno, Galena, Hug, Wooster, Reed, Spanish Springs and Washoe and Depoali Middle School and several classrooms from various elementary schools held their own campaigns to inspire the community to donate used shoes to benefit other countries. The “15 Days of Kindness” campaign encouraged students to perform random acts of kindness as simple as opening a door for a fellow student or high-fiving each other. Other schools offered root beer floats in exchange for a pair of shoes.

Of the 55,000 shoes collected, more than 2,000 have been given out to families in Washoe County. Other shoes will be going to Kenya, Nigeria, Cambodia and Japan.

Dylan Schindler, a senior at TMCC High, helped organize the effort on his campus, which produced 588 pairs of shoes.

“I never thought we’d get that much for Think Kindness,” Schindler said. “That was a great success.”

Originally, the campaign was born in WCSD in May 2010 when Superintendent Heath Morrison, staff and students challenged a school district in Maryland to donate as many shoes as possible for Soles4Souls. Other districts caught the fever this year and joined in the challenge from Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Nebraska. Students organized and held their campaigns within the last quarter from

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January to April, with WCSD’s collection taking place in mid-March through April.

More than 50 businesses and non-profit groups in the Reno-Sparks area also made the shoe collection a success, including the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, UPS, the Boys and Girls Club and Gold’s Gym.

A video showing the efforts of students in Washoe County and other school districts can be found at http://vimeo.com/23624641.

“It just shows that the leadership of principals, teachers, counselors and students made this happen,” said Katherine Loudon, coordinator of counseling for WCSD’s Safe and Drug Free Schools program. “It promoted a positive school climate and culture in our schools and empowered our students to make a local and global difference.”