Born This Way Foundation

Founded by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta in 2012, Born This Way Foundation is committed to supporting the wellness of young people and empowering them to build a kinder and braver world. We do this by working directly with young people and by leveraging innovative programming, quality research, and authentic partnerships.

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#BeKind21: What’s next?

By Maya Smith

My text messages are buzzing as I’m trying to get through my to do list, with kind messages congratulating our team on a successful #BeKind21, wishing me a happy last day of the campaign, or, in the more personal ones, celebrating the day that my friend Gabriela ‘gets her Maya back’ and I can go back to sitting on the couch with my laptop closed for a full episode of reality television. I have the urge to respond to my loved ones to let them know #BeKind21 isn’t over, we still need your kindness, and I personally still need to witness your kind acts unfold in the world because they bring me hope and serve as my anchors in this uncertain world.

Over the past 21 days, together, we’ve catalyzed more than 143,000,000 pledged acts of kindness. I had the opportunity to contribute to those 143 million acts of kindness by picking up trash day on my walk to school with my kids, our co-founder Cynthia bought coffee for folks at her neighborhood cafe, our co-founder Lady Gaga donated to three organizations who are helping to welcome and support refugees from Afghanistan, our program director Alex helped carry boxes of donations for the Precious Dreams Foundation and Hopeloft, our digital director Mitu got to celebrate Mayor Bowser’s Be Kind Day proclamation in Washington, D.C., our program associate and #BeKind21 boss Taylor stood in awe (and us, in gratitude) of the kindness that their hard work brought to the world this year, and our whole team collectively reminded Josh of how much we love him as he said goodbye to a family member.

A million times over, these small acts of kindness added up. The person that you held the door for, the new student in your class whom you gave a welcome note, the educator who felt the gratitude you shared with them, the coworker you sent a kind compliment to, every time you modeled respect and affirmation by introducing yourself with your pronouns and inviting someone to share theirs. You have been actively building a kinder, braver world and I implore each of us to keep going.

Our team at Born This Way Foundation will rest for a couple of days at the end of this week and while we do, we want to learn from you. What happens now? What happens when we exceed even the wildest goals for this global kindness movement? How do we continue to encourage, invite, and acknowledge each other in the big and small ways we show up for each other every day? This is what I am going to ask myself, and then I’m going to ask our team and while they’re thinking about it, I’d love to ask you – our community – the people for whom and with whom we do this work. What do you need next from kindness, in kindness, and with kindness?

Let us know online using #BeKind21 or send us a note at [email protected].

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#BeKind21 2021: Thank you

By Cynthia Germanotta

At the end of last year’s #BeKind21 campaign, I emerged with a renewed sense of hope. Even though we weren’t able to show up in person for events as we normally would, we found new and innovative ways to remain connected and unite through kindness. This year, we looked forward to September as a beacon of hope, as all of us – myself included – continue to face an array of challenges. In the midst of this time when the world still feels heavy, our focus for #BeKind21 was to work together to lift each other up.

Here at the end of these 21 days, I feel lighter, braver, and even more hopeful than before. That’s all because of you. Together, we cultivated a community of over 6.8 million people pledging to over 143 million acts of kindness. My heart is so full reflecting back on what we’ve been able to accomplish as what my daughter refers to as the “global kind community.”

My #BeKind21 began when Alex, Josh, and I dropped in on our friends at the Ali Forney Center’s Bea Arthur Residence. We met with the residents there to share about our work and #BeKind21 and learn more about their stories. In discussing what acts of kindness are meaningful to them, we brainstormed a collective list for the 21 days on the spot. A few of those actions that particularly touched me were: Be mindful with words and ‘kindful’ with actions, tell someone you believe in them, daydream about your future, and one I found especially important – listen and understand.

I’ve been so moved by the creative ways you’ve all shown up for yourselves, each other, and our world this year. The best part of my day has been searching the #BeKind21 hashtag on social media and scrolling through all of your posts, as well as visiting ChannelKindness.org to learn about your stories of kindness from around the world. The young people who organized drives in their communities to support their unhoused neighbors, educators who decorated their classrooms with kind activities and affirmations, and the workplaces that encouraged intra-office connection and care. Click here to share your own story with Channel Kindness.

What those young people at the Ali Forney Center reminded me of that morning and what you, as a member of our Foundation community, have showed me throughout #BeKind21 is none of us can do this work of building a kinder, braver world alone. Which is why I’m so grateful to have had you on my Kindness Team. You’ve given me, our entire team at Born This Way Foundation, and the world strength and hope that will carry on well beyond this year’s campaign. As long as you continue to think about what you need, what your community needs, and the essential role that you can play in helping meet those needs, you’re making a difference.

Please also remember that I’m always on your team. You are so loved, you matter, and you are not alone. If you or someone you know is having trouble believing that, I invite you to check out PleaseStay.us to find resources to support your mental wellness, expert-curated self-care tips, suggestions for anchors, and a pledge asking you to promise to stay. The kindest thing you can do today – for me, for yourself, and for the world – is to stay.

Your kindness challenge today: As is our hope every year, we hope you carry the spirit of #BeKind21 into the rest of your 2021 and beyond. May the light we shined on all the kindness that happened during #BeKind21 give inspiration for more ideas and stories, build more connections, and continue to remind everyone of the inextricable link between kindness and mental health. As always, continue to be kind and stay brave.

In Kindness,

Cynthia Germanotta President and Co-Founder

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#BeKind21: Hope for Afghanistan – What You Can Do Today

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Team Born This Way Foundation.

Kindness is ensuring our neighbors and community members feel welcomed and affirmed in our spaces. You have the power to do that every time you share a smile, open the door for someone else, buy the person’s coffee behind you in line, or anything else. When you intentionally welcome and affirm someone, you are validating their experiences, sharing profound love and kindness, and are helping to remind them that they are not alone; that support is available.

Sometimes–and especially lately–it feels like the world can be a hard place.If you’ve turned on the news, chances are, you’ve come across stories about what is happening in Afghanistan. We know international conflicts like this one are complicated, and as heartbreaking images flash on our television screens, it can be easy to feel helpless as human lives are victims of conflict. Although we are not naive and it can be easy to become overwhelmed, we do believe hope and change can be sparked acts of kindness. The spark might be dim, but it’s still there–and you and your welcoming spirit can help it shine.

Your kindness challenge today: A few suggestions for how you can support those affected by what is happening in Afghanistan:

Welcome new community members from Afghanistan and support those in the country. Check out and get involved with organizations like Miry’s List which welcomes families who are resettling in the United States as refugees. Click here and here to find more organizations to support such as Women for Afghan Women, one of the largest groups supporting women in Afghanistan, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, which is supporting refugees upon arrival with airport pickups, meal assistance, and more, and Homes not Borders which is specifically serving the asylum-seeking population of the D.C. area.

Help combat Islamophobia. This 2017 Pew Research report shows that in 2015 and 2016, assaults against Muslim people reported by the FBI were actually over 30 percent higher than they were in 2001. Click here to learn how to build kinder, affirming communities with no space for Islamophobia.

Continue to educate yourself. Educating yourself on the issues that marginalized people face is a crucial way to show kindness. With the news and the internet at our fingertips, we have access to information on all sorts of issues; but remember to check the facts using reliable sources like government websites (ending in .gov), reputable news outlets, or peer-reviewed studies as it is also easy to fall prey to misinformation.

Kindness is action. Take action to welcome and affirm others today.

In Kindness,

Team Born This Way Foundation

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Share your story

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Team Born This Way Foundation

One of our favorite parts of #BeKind21 is scrolling through the hashtag across social media to check out all the different ways you’re showing up for yourself, your loved ones, and your community. You’re making the Internet (and world) a kinder, braver place every single time you choose to share your kindness journey.

We’re writing to kindly invite you to share your story on our storytelling platform Channel Kindness. Your stories have the power to put even more kindness into the world, inspire others to action, and remind those reading your story that they are not alone.

Your kindness challenge today: Channel Kindness today by finding and sharing inspiring stories of kindness on ChannelKindness.org.

In Kindness,

Team Born This Way Foundation

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Support LGBTQIA+ Youth

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from The Ally Coalition.

At The Ally Coalition, we work to provide support for organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth and raise awareness about the systemic inequalities LGBTQIA+ populations face.

This generation of young people is engaged, hopeful, diverse, and ready to build a kinder world where all are affirmed for who they are, celebrated for their similarities and differences, and connected with the resources they need to survive and thrive.

Across the U.S., states are introducing anti-trans legislation targeting youth. Transgender and gender non-conforming young people are already subject to harassment and bullying, and experience higher rates of family rejection, homelessness and mental health challenges.

Each of us today has the power, rooted in kindness, to remind trans youth they are welcome in their communities, to show trans youth we are here to protect them, and to reaffirm to trans youth that who they are is wonderful and they are needed in this world.

Your kindness challenge today: Read this article about three ways you can support Trans youth today (and put those ideas into practice!). And sign up for The Ally Coalition’s newsletter to learn about how you can support LGBTQIA+ youth.

In Kindness,

The Ally Coalition

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Create Bright Futures With Unhoused Youth

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Safe Place for Youth.

Kindness is integral to the work we do at Safe Place for Youth (SPY). Our mission is to empower young people experiencing homelessness to thrive by providing lasting, community-driven solutions that address racial and social inequity. To do this, we start with building a caring connection. This can start with something small such as offering someone water or a meal. These acts of kindness allow SPY staff to begin to build a bridge and connect young people to services such as housing.

SPY provides resources that allow young people to build the skills they need to create a self-directed, stable life. Education and Employment (E+E) support is critical. Last year, 105 youth gained employment and 101 enrolled in education. Our E+E team offers curated support to youth members—helping them build their resumes, prepare for job interviews, connecting them with workforce development opportunities and tutoring.

“I’ve always wanted to be a person that goes to college, but I never thought it was possible for me based on my financial situation and my prior family experience. Being with SPY and working with my Case Manager, who told me it was possible, that it may take time, that you can always figure out a way to do what you want. She helped me figure out who to call… she stuck with me even when it got frustrating and it helped keep me encouraged to continue my education.” Kyla, a resident at a SPY housing program.

Working with the E+E program youth gain the confidence to pursue their education or employment goals. Through workshops and webinars hosted by staff and community members, youth are exposed to new career paths and are able to broaden their horizons on what is possible for their future.

With support from the community and their peers, unhoused youth can create bright futures.

Your kindness challenge today: Visit SPY’s Amazon Wishlist, or organize a sock or underwear drive for SPY or for a local shelter serving people experiencing homelessness. You can also check in with your local shelters to learn if there are any volunteer opportunities for you to offer mentoring or tutoring services.

Follow SPY @safeplaceforyouth, and learn more and get involved to help end youth homelessness by visiting safeplaceforyouth.org.

In Kindness,

Safe Place for Youth

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Practice Self-Compassion

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Brightline.

Self-kindness is important to celebrate in #BeKind21 and beyond. One great way to do that is by practicing self-compassion, something we at Brightline wholeheartedly encourage our members, employees, and community to do. Here are a few tips we have for the young and young-at-heart on how to practice self-compassion, one way we believe you can achieve healthy self-esteem.

Practice kindness

Treat yourself with kindness instead of criticism, and view mistakes as lessons instead of dead-end failures. If self-compassion feels hard, instead imagine how you’d talk to a friend.

Honor mistakes

Mistakes are to be expected, and everyone makes them, including you! The next time you make a misstep, use it as an opportunity to say, “Okay, so that was a challenge! Let me think about all the lessons I’m learning.” (A sense of humor will help.)

Try a growth mindset

It’s easy for us to think some things are set in stone — for instance, that we’re either good or bad at math. Instead, focus on a growth mindset — i.e., to believe your abilities can get better with practice. All you have to do is try!

Celebrate “how”

Recognize the traits (like perseverance and effort) that help you succeed, and get excited about others’ successes as well.

Try new things

You don’t have to excel at something to try it! Just getting out of your comfort zone can be a confidence builder. Make time to explore new interests, skills, and experiences. Nervous? Bring someone along with you!

Compare less

Try not to put too much emphasis on grades, rankings, or how others did. When you compare yourself to others, you’re caring more about how you’re perceived rather than how you perceive and value yourself. Doing your best is enough.

Takeaway

Failing is normal, healthy, and not the end of the world. The more you realize you can fail and bounce back, the healthier your self-esteem will be.

Your kindness challenge today: Try these suggestions for how to practice self-compassion as a powerful act of self-love. And, if you’re a caregiver, try these suggestions with the ones you care for in your life.

In Kindness,

Brightline

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Celebrate Katie’s Kindness With Me

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from EGTcreative.

This is my best friend, Katie. When I first moved to New York City, Katie was one of my roommates in a temporary sublet. I had relocated at twenty-years-old from Los Angeles to pursue a career in musical theater. I felt totally lost and was learning how to deal with the constant stream of “no’s” that come with auditioning.

One day I was home alone and sitting on the kitchen floor when Katie came home. As soon as she walked in the room, I burst into tears. She scooped me some ice cream while I rambled on about some dream job I didn’t get. She patiently listened until I was done, and then loudly told me to “get my butt off the kitchen floor.” I did as she told me, and then she said, “Your feelings are valid. This sucks. You get 24 hours to feel those feelings, then after that you are going to stop wallowing, and move forward because you are resilient.”

Katie passed very suddenly last month and the grief feels impossible. This year, every day, I am going to check off one of Katie’s items on her 2020 #BeKind21 Kindness Calendar list she made last year. Her list of simple and profoundly kind tasks encapsulate who she was, and inspires me to be the resilient person she would want me to be.

Your kindness challenge today: Pick something off Katie’s list (you can find those kindness suggestions in the photo above) to work into your day. If you’d like, tag me on Instagram @EmilyGraceTucker to share how you’re honoring Katie’s list so we can celebrate together. And when you are done, treat yourself to ice cream in her honor.

If you are able to donate to her memorial fund, please visit Pitch Her Productions, a non-profit production company formed for the purpose of encouraging, fostering, and promoting the advancement of women in the film industry, including the creation of more roles for women, both in front of and behind the camera.

In Kindness,

Emily Grace Tucker EGTcreative

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Thank a Teacher

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Pencils of Promise.

At Pencils of Promise, our mission is to provide access to quality education for all. Our Teacher Support program ensures teachers are supported and trained to create learning environments where students will be set up for success. The curriculum includes digital learning and social-emotional learning to create an engaging environment where children can feel safe, affirmed, and validated.

The Ghana Teacher Prize is an annual celebration by the Ghanaian government of teachers and their contributions to educational development. Awards focused on “Teacher leadership in developing crisis education response.” Last fall, the Best Kindergarten Teacher award went to Ms. Felicia Ahotor from the Kpando Kpodzi E.P. Primary School in the Volta Region. An educator of over 17 years, she credits PoP’s school building as a factor in winning the award.

“It has helped to reduce absenteeism among the kids. First, they didn’t like coming to school because the old building was not attractive to them. But now, every day they are in school. In the new building, now we have displayed a lot of TLMs (Teaching and Learning Materials) in the classroom so that anytime the teacher is absent, the children can do individual learning.”

Your kindness challenge today: We’ve experienced firsthand the impact education and interactive teaching can have on a student’s life. A school building with access to resources and an engaging teacher can make all the difference. For today’s act of kindness, thank a teacher who has helped you learn, or pay it forward and teach someone something today.

In Kindness.

Pencils of Promise

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Donate to a Local Shelter

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Catching Joy, Inc.

The most important lesson I’ve learned is the power of empathy and kindness – these are the driving forces that can change the world.

When I was four-years-old and holiday shopping with my family in Back Bay, Boston, I saw a man standing alone. He was dressed differently to my young mind. He wasn’t wearing a coat, hat, mittens, or socks. In one hand, he grasped a tin can, and in the other hand, he held a cardboard sign with one word: “help.” My parents and I put some change in his cup, and I heard a “clink” sound. I wondered to myself whether his cup was empty, how long he was there in the freezing weather without help, and if he was invisible to others because people seemed to be ignoring him. Before this experience, my sheltered young self did not know or understand that not every person has food, clothing, shelter, or support.

Since my earliest memories, I have been leading Catching Joy, Inc., a nonprofit that promotes volunteerism and acts of kindness beginning with kids, teens, and families. I organize hands-on service projects to help share the responsibility and joy of giving. For over a decade, I’ve helped mobilize an estimated 100,000 people, mostly youth. I aim to empower my generation to get informed, get involved, raise our voice, and take action. I’ve never forgotten the man I saw when I was four-years-old. His story is a part of my story, and now it’s part of your story, too.

Your kindness challenge today: Donate food, toiletries, or socks to a shelter serving people who are unhoused in your community. These necessities keep people safe and healthy, and also offer comfort and dignity.

In Kindness.

Maxwell Surprenant CEO + Co-Founder of Catching Joy, Inc.

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Knowledge Is Kindness

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from The STEAM Connection.

Growing up, I saw my little sister obsess over science and technology. But, she struggled to access the educational opportunities that so many other kids had. It turns out that there were many kids like her, and they were getting left behind.

This is a big problem, and these youths are most often youths like me: Indigenous girls. Indigenous peoples account for less than 1% of the technical workforce in the United States according to Intel. Our voices deserve to be heard.

A small step that helped me create the change was sharing my knowledge with others. That knowledge was in science and technology!

I started when I was ten after seeing animal puppets at the store and begging my mom to let me teach a little science class. It was then that I discovered sharing my knowledge enabled me to make a difference in my community. I could help teach kids about robots, computers, and design. I saw those skills enable my students to help others and pursue their own passions.

My nonprofit, The STEAM Connection, was born in 2019 so students could continue to have their perspectives amplified. We are student and minority-run and have reached hundreds of thousands of youth. We create diverse, accessible, and affordable science and technology educational opportunities through robots that we invent, manufacture, and donate. We use innovative teaching principles to empower the next generation of brilliant minds with skills necessary to engage in the 21st century and beyond.

Your kindness challenge today: Whether you are skilled in technology, storytelling, arts, building Kindness Calendar lists, telling a great joke, or anything else, meaningfully share that knowledge with someone else.

In Kindness.

Danielle Boyer Founder, The STEAM Connection

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Serve your community

By Maya Smith

Twenty years ago on September 11, 2001, I had just entered my first year of college and thought I was ready to face the world. With fellow New Yorkers and people around the globe, I watched unspeakable tragedy unfold. On that same day, I also witnessed people spring to action in service of our community in unbelievable ways that inspired me to a lifetime of working in support of our collective wellness.

On that day, my mom, a psychologist, was in Manhattan at her office with patients. As the attacks took place in front of her, my mother calmed me and my new friends in the dorm room down, searched desperately for my father as the phone lines to his Union Square office were shut off, and ensured my brother got home safely from high school. She made sure we were OK first, and then instead of coming home, she went to the Armory to offer mental health support to victims of one of the biggest tragedies her adopted country had ever experienced.

I’ve written about my mother before, but it didn’t become clear to me until recently that she is the one who gifted me with a deep sense of obligation to support others. She never told me to care for others, I just witnessed her in action, and September 11, 2001 was especially pivotal in showing me how urgent it is not to turn away even during the hardest of circumstances.

As we work through our feelings about today and the global crises that persist, I want to remind you (and myself) of a few truths: Your feelings are valid, you matter, you are needed, and you have the power – through your kind acts toward yourself and others – to support our collective ability to survive and thrive in the world.

Your kindness challenge today: Show up for your community today by donating your time, gently used items, food, dollars, or anything else you are able to safely give. Here are a few ideas from our friends at 911Day to get started.

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#BeKind21: Radicalize Kindness

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Mighty Kind.

In honor of the #BeKind21 movement, we want to challenge you to embrace a new kind of kind.

As members of this community and champions of kindness, you know kindness is more than being polite. Kindness is action. It is filled with purpose, fueled by human connection, and has the power to transform the world for the better.

Today, we are excited to invite you to #RadicalizeKindness with us! Within each of us is the capacity to learn more, listen more, and invest effort in doing more. The “Mighty” in Mighty Kind means taking action. The children in our lives are ready to be activated along with us!

At Mighty Kind we believe children deserve to be empowered with resources and tools that allow them to bring humanity, honesty, and empathy into their everyday learning experiences and practices. To that end, we source stories, authors, creators, and artists from around the world to amplify diverse voices and perspectives in our quarterly kids publication. We use kindness and compassion as a foundation for anti-bias learning. With open hearts and open minds we can seek meaningful opportunities to connect with the people in our communities as well as serve as helpers, cheerleaders, and allies.

Your kindness challenge today:

1) Take an inventory of the perspectives that have a seat at your table (including the social media accounts, podcasts, shows, and books you enjoy) and find diverse perspectives to add into the mix.

2) Find one opportunity to celebrate differences with a kiddo in your life- read a children’s book that features a character from an LGBTQ+ family, tune in to the Paralympics together, find a show or movie that centers people from another culture or community than your own. Maybe even pick up a copy of Mighty Kind and chat through it!

3) Seek out ONE opportunity for allyship with a marginalized community- sign an impactful petition, call an elected official, search for local organizations needing volunteers or support at events, make a donation to move social justice projects forward.

Let’s move forward together in radicalizing kindness. Go out and be kind, Mighty Kind!

In Kindness,

Mighty Kind

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: You Can Make A Difference

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Tiltify.

“As a kid, my mom always taught me to give back whenever I could.”  

Ashley, better known on Twitch as MsAshRocks, is a remarkable content creator who has helped raise more than $100,000 for nonprofit organizations. Inspired by her mother’s generosity and commitment to giving, Ashley first started volunteering at events when she was only four years old. After growing up with a single parent and enduring homelessness as a child, Ashley shares, “I know what it feels like to need help, which is why nothing makes me happier than being able to help others.”

When Ashley found an opportunity to start giving through her Twitch community, she set the goal of raising $150 for her first fundraising campaign on Tiltify, our digital fundraising platform that helps content creators raise money for social causes. When she exceeded her fundraising goal and raised more than $1,000, she became even more motivated to keep giving.

To continue expanding her impact, Ashley recently joined the team at Tiltify as a Community Manager. Her role allows her to highlight the stories of fellow content creators who share her passion for sharing kindness online.

With a following of 30,000 on Twitch, Ashley’s mom remains her biggest fan and cheerleader. “She tells me every day that she loves me and that I’m beautiful. She’s a powerhouse of a mom and supports everything I do.”

Your kindness challenge today: Identify one way that you can use your skills, energy and talents to support a social cause you care about. Whether you’re interested in raising money for a nonprofit organization or donating your time, dollars, or gently used items to organizations in your community, you have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. Click here to find suggestions for kind actions you can add to your Kindness Calendar to get started.

In Kindness,

Team Tiltify

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Bring Joy; Do What You Love

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from VolunteerMatch.

Our basic human kindness is the heart of how we serve the growing needs in our communities. Recovery and renewal springs ultimately from the seed of profound human connection.

VolunteerMatch exists to foster this connection through serving and empowering nonprofits to accomplish their missions — organizations who are extending their kindness and giving back to communities to support them when they need it most.

COVID-19 has had a massive impact on communities across the country and served to magnify the racial, social, and economic inequalities in our society. It is especially true when we look at the learning and relational losses students have suffered due to the pandemic.

That’s why after witnessing the urgent need to help students, we are partnering with nonprofits in 2021 to support kids to be ready for school in 2021 and beyond. Everyone has something to contribute to support others serving young people through tutoring. Click here to find opportunities to tutor.

Beyond tutoring there are so many ways to make a positive impact in your communities. Being a volunteer is the ultimate act of kindness, and contributing to something greater outside of ourselves makes us feel good.

Your kindness challenge today: Start today by volunteering around something you love and feel passionately about. If you don’t know where to begin, one great place to start is through helping a child reach their full potential by becoming a tutor.

Need some more inspiration? With over 7M volunteers needed in 29 distinct cause areas on VolunteerMatch, you decide how you want to make a difference.

In Kindness,

VolunteerMatch

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Unlock the Black Boxes

This generation of young people is hopeful, engaged, and ready to act in support of their own and their loved ones’ mental wellness. They are also being faced with overlapping and ongoing global crises affecting their mental health. The BLKBX Project aims to unlock those “black boxes” that many of the teenagers in our lives keep deeply hidden.

Finding a path toward healing requires each of us to unlock thoughts, feelings, and secrets in non-intimidating environments. It’s important to provide safe spaces that connect teenagers with resources for support on their own terms and in their own time, remind them they’re not alone, and encourage them to choose how to forge their own path.

Your kindness challenge today: Practice a mindfulness exercise like these and spend intentional time with yourself, working to unlock the black boxes and live in truth and affirmation. 

In Kindness,

BLKBX Project

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.

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#BeKind21: Kindness At Home

Today’s #BeKind21 message is from Bumkins.

We’re honored to partner with Born This Way Foundation for #BeKind21. As a community of parents and caregivers, the roles we play in children’s lives position us to navigate a sea of emotions, address challenging discussions, and make often difficult but necessary decisions. This responsibility’s weight is multiplied by each little human we provide for, educate, and protect.

We believe the foundation for kindness begins at home, and we hope you and your loved ones stay on this journey with us.

Your kindness challenge today: Click here to download our kindness calendar, click here for our self-care tips for caregivers, and click here for self-care tips for children.

In Kindness,

Bumkins

P.S. Invite someone to join the challenge: bornthisway.foundation/bekind21.