Random Act of Kid-ness: A Flash Mob to Feel Better

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Mandeville, Louisiana, where 800 elementary school students (and their teachers) broke out in a flash mob to cheer up their school’s Vice Principal, Tara Dragon Hernandez. Tara’s 1o month old son Grayson was diagnosed with  neuroblastoma cancer, so she took a leave of absence from her job to care for Grayson.

Seven-year-old student Jordan Sturiale said:

“It was for Ms. Dragon because her baby wasn’t feeling good and she was sad and the baby had to go to the hospital.”

Read more about Tara, Grayson, and see a video of the flashmob here.

Have you done something recently to cheer someone up? Let us know! You could be next week’s Random Act of Kid-ness!

P.S. If you, too, like to break out in song and dance, we have a secret for you.

Random Act of Kid-ness: Local Kids Helping a Classmate in Need

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us all the way from… less than a mile away! When 18 year old Fairfax High student Jose Chojolan became paralyzed from the neck down, his fellow high school classmates stepped in to help. Jose’s family is now faced with incredible medical expenses and an apartment that is not wheelchair accessible. “Jose’s Soldiers,” as one teacher calls them, have raised over $80,000 for his family through various fundraisers, like one at the Hollywood Chick-fil-A. Student Mirna Cabrera says:

“Jose is a person who was perfect, who had his whole future ahead of him and it just happened. We’re all here for the cause. We love to support. We’re a very united school.”

Read more about Jose and the Fairfax High School student fundraisers, and find out how you can help here.

Random Act of Kid-ness: YOUmanity

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Ankeny, IA, where students at a local high school started an anti-bullying program called YOUmanity. YOUmanity is being launched throughout schools in the Midwest  to promote random acts of kindness and general good will toward others. Check out what this program means to both the students and the entire community in this article.

We really love this program and encourage you to read more about it here.

Random Act of Kid-ness: Boy with Leukemia Gives Back

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Anchorage, AK, where 5 year old Leland Camara decided to use Make A Wish Foundation gift to give back to others. Leland has been living with Leukemia since September, and when he was asked what he wanted as part of his gift, he said he wanted to help others. As part of his Disneyland going-away party, Leland served at Kid’s Kitchen, a program that provides free meals to children.

Laura Bruce of the Make A Wish Foundation said:

“When I asked him he was sure he wants to serve other kids, he says, ‘so many people helped me so I want to help others.’ “

What a great story of kindness! Read more about Leland and his gift to the community here.

Random Act of Kid-ness: Trading Hair for a Home

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us all the way from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where 12 year old Natasha Moraes de Andrade cut and donated her over 5 foot long hair (!) to earn money so that her family could buy a house. Natasha, who currently  lives in a small, window-less room in a shanty town, plans on using the $4,800 she got for selling her hair toward a new family home.

Read more about Natasha’s struggle with her hair and the eventual decision to donate it for good here.

Random Act of Kid-ness: Lemonade Stand for a Sick Dad

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Gladewater, TX, where 6 year old Drew Cox opened a lemonade stand to raise money for his dad’s cancer treatments. His dad Randy was diagnosed with Seminoma cancer 3 months ago. Drew charged only 25 cents per cup of lemonade when he opened last Saturday, and by the end of the day he raised $10,000!

Read more about Drew’s lemonade stand and how you can donate money toward his dad’s treatment, click here.

P.S. This story reminds us of one of our very first Random Act of Kid-ness highlights (and one of our biggest blog supporters on Facebook!). Just wanted to give another shout out to Jack and Eric’s Pirate Lemonade Stand!

Random Act of Kid-ness: Raising Money for a Disabled Children’s Play Area

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us all the way from Borehamwood, England, where 12 year old Amber Bright did her part to raise money for a Noah’s Ark play area that provides care for children with disabilities. In preparation for her Bat Mitzvah, Amber asked her friends and family to donate money and draw their interpretation of the Noah’s Ark story onto panels of a wall hanging she designed for the play area. Amber says:

“I wanted to do something that would help the [Noah's Ark Playscheme], and it’s something really close to my heart and the work they do there is really important.”

Read more about Amber’s random act of kindness and the Noah’s Ark play area here.

Random Act of Kid-ness: Good Deeds All Year Long

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Montclair, NJ, where 3rd grader Julia Diamond-Rotman has been raising money for the American Red Cross for almost a year. After Julia heard about all the natural disasters, from floods to tornadoes, occurring around the world last summer, she decided she had to help those in need. She raised over $100 and just presented the money to the Red Cross last week.

Julia also cut and donated her hair to Locks of Love last year, when she found out one of her close family members was diagnosed with cancer.

We think that Julia is just an all-around kind kid who would do anything for those in need. Read more about her and her efforts here. And as always, let us know if you have a suggestion for our next Random Act of Kid-ness.

Random Act of Kid-ness: Cancer Buzz-Off

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Canton, MA, where 4th grader Griffin Lincoln has a goal of raising $3,000 to help kids beat cancer at Children’s Hospital Boston. Griffin is also going to participate in One Mission Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off in June, when he will have his head shaved to raise even more money for children with cancer. Griffin said:

“I have never buzzed my hair off before, but I’m more excited than nervous. It’s just hair. If I can raise a lot of money that helps just one kid, it’s all worth it.”

In the past, Griffin has done walks with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and donated Halloween candy to cancer patients at a hospital. Soon he plans to raise more money with an Easter Egg hunt, a bake sale after the Canton Little League Baseball parade in April, and a street hockey tournament.

We think Griffin Lincoln is one seriously incredible kid doing wonderful things for those in need. Read more about him and his fundraising efforts here.

Random Act of Kid-ness: Saving His Sister From A Fire

This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Louisville, Kentucky, where 10 year old Antoine Burks ran back into his burning home after he realized his 6 year old sister was still inside.

Says Antoine:

“The fire came right to us, and I didn’t know what to do, and it burnt my leg, so that’s when I ran out and I saw Trinity needed help, so I ran back in. I am her big brother, and I have to protect her.”

Read the fully story here.

Do you have a suggestion for our next Random Act of Kid-ness? Know a kid(s) doing awesome things in the world? Let us know!