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