Tag: school assembly

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

 

 

 

 

Johnny Veglia: Looking Inside His Heart & Thinking Outside the Box

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Amidst the holiday season, and in the spirit of giving, we find it most fitting to name Johnny Veglia our Cape Kid of the Month for December. We’re confident you will agree after reading about Johnny below.

As a 15-year-old sophomore and a theatre major at The UCTVS Academy of Performing Arts High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Johnny keeps busy with practices and rehearsals. These time-consuming commitments, however, do not stop him from giving back in a way that is near and dear to his heart.

“Johnny has always loved Halloween and Disney,” explained his mother Cheryl Veglia. When he was in fifth grade, Johnny asked

her if he could turn his Scotch Plains home into a Haunted House for the Halloween season.

Johnny Veglia

Sadly, a beloved family friend, whom he called Aunt Cathy, passed away from breast cancer during the planning of his big debut. It was then that Johnny decided to ask for a suggested donation of $1.00 as admission to the Haunted House, which he chose to donate to a charity in memory of his Aunt Cathy.

Over the past five years, Johnny has raised over $5,500 for the Rutgers Cancer Society by enlisting the help of over 45 family

members, who range in age from 2-years-old to 70, and friends, who gladly dress up and play assigned roles.

 

All are amazed at the detailed preparations for the big event. Each year, Johnny creates a theme, which is carried throughout the main level and basement of his home, as well as around the entire property. Friends, neighbors, and classmates come out to walk through the heart-warming haunted house. “It is a fabulous night enjoyed by many – and all for a great cause!” shared Johnny’s aunt Michelle Blum.

Johnny Veglia

Well-deserved, Johnny was one of only four people to receive the distinguished Certificate of Congressional Recognition for “…outstanding and invaluable service to the community” for his work on the haunted house.  “It’s come full circle,” his mom stated. “Aunt Cathy introduced me to John (Cheryl’s husband), and now Johnny does the haunted house in her memory.”

In addition to the haunted house, which takes Johnny a full year to plan, he is an Alter Server at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scotch Plains. He is also active in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Men’s Choir, where his Tenor voice melts hearts. What’s more, he is an event coordinator for Student Government, a Leadership Convention Representative, Relay for Life team captain, and serves as his school’s Student Government Event Coordinator. Despite all of his extracurricular activities, Johnny has remained on the high honor roll list since 6th grade! His dream is to one day work for Disney as an Imagineer.

Truly Wearing the Cape, Johnny is known as a friend who always includes others. In fact, he goes out of his way to make sure everyone is invited and welcomed to all activities, so that no one ever feels left out.

What an incredible honor it is to showcase Johnny Veglia this December! We thank you, Johnny, for your exemplary kindness and for being a role model to others (in such a creative way, we might add!).

 

Nick & Bella Caramico – Cape Kids of the Month – November 2017

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AMAZING Siblings with Big Hearts

Congratulations to Nick and Bella Caramico for being named our November Cape Kids of the Month! This brother and sister duo are well deserving of our award. They are shining stars in their schools, community, and family.  They embody Wear The Cape’s Mission; which is to be BETTER THAN THAT™ and be a hero!

A middle school student in Hillsborough, New Jersey, Nick wears his cape on a daily basis.  He consistently helps others, even strangers.  His mother, Cynthia, shared an example of when Nick was Wearing The Cape at the grocery store: when she turned around, she saw him helping an elderly man who was having trouble lifting his grocery bags.  At another time in the store, he picked up a bag of food and stated, “Mom, we really need to buy a few of these and give them to families that need them.” What a great Kid!

Outside of school Nick plays lacrosse, soccer, and is on two basketball teams. His dedication and hard work helped his Montgomery Flag Football team not only reach the Super bowl this year; but win! Nick’s teammates respect and admire him. They know he is always looking out for their best interests, as well as others. This is evident in his volunteer work in several children’s activities, and at a local food pantry. As well, he donates his time every year for the kidkind foundation annual holiday event; where he greets guests with that wonderfully big and warm smile.

We are not the only ones who recognize Nick’s efforts. He was honored to receive the Award for Character Excellence, also knows as the ACE Award, from his school. This award is given to students who are a fine example of the school’s six pillars of character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.

Nick truly is an outstanding role model for all kids; but especially his younger sister, Bella, who shares that big, beautiful smile and amazing heart, with her big brother.

When Bella was asked to choose a topic for her 5th grade CCD program, she immediately chose to spotlight Wear The Cape. Her mom explained that she is so passionate about Wear The Cape’s mission that she wanted to share with her entire CCD program, which included adults and children. She worked diligently with a friend to create a perfect presentation, which included Power Point slides, pictures, and quotes of her encouraging others to “…always Wear The Cape, [and] be kind, not hurtful.”

An avid competitive dancer, Bella is graceful and kind both on and off the stage. She helps her fellow dancers through her encouragement, kind words, and positive attitude. Her love of dancing has brought much joy to her life, and her kind heart has brought much joy to ours.

We commend both Nick and Bella for their kindness, heroism, and “hearts of gold.” They are incredibly thoughtful and giving! Keep up the great work, Nick and Bella. We are so proud of you.