PRESS RELEASE
(Cleveland, OH) As tomorrow’s presidential debate is shaping up to be both heated and contentious, the site of the debate, Cleveland, Ohio, has already been thinking about how to move forward as a united community during and after this divisive election.
Recent history has shown us that just as easily as our country can come together in a time of crisis, it can be torn apart by meanness, intolerance, and hatred. Cleveland, non-profit organization Values-in-Action wants to focus on how kindness can continue to be the inspiring link and the bridge that brings our nation together as we work to find solutions and common ground. Cleveland will serve as the example for the rest of the country by focusing the collective efforts of its surrounding communities, businesses, schools and local organizations on creating and sustaining a unified sense of kindness, compassion, empathy and understanding. These values will be the guiding force behind the community coming together to find solutions to our nation’s most prominent issues including navigating through the COVID-19 crisis, social justice, racism, and political polarization.
Earlier this month, Values-in-Action launched its “Cleveland to Kindland” initiative as part of its national Just Be Kind® campaign. The goal is for Cleveland to become the kindest community in the country. Clevelanders are encouraged to be a “Citizen of Kindland” and visit www.Kindland.us to take the kindness pledge and document acts of kindness on social media using #kindland. Values-in-Action aims to document one million acts of kindness by the end of 2021.
Values-in-Action is a Cleveland-based, non-profit organization that empowers students and adults to build communities of kindness, caring and respect through programs that teach, promote, and provide skills and tools to enable individuals to make positive, values-based decisions every day.
For additional information about Kindland, call 440.463.6205 or visit www.viafdn.org/kindland-toolkit
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Guarnieri
Values-in-Action Foundation (Project Love)
6700 Beta Dr. Ste. 120
Mayfield, OH 44143
440.463.6205
Values-in-Action's Mission:
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To empower students and adults to build communities of kindness, caring and respect through programs that teach, promote, and provide skills and tools to enable individuals to make positive, values-based decisions every day.
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Why Kindness:
Recent history has shown us that just as easily as our country can come together in a time of crisis, it can be torn apart by meanness, intolerance, and hatred. We want to focus on how kindness can continue to be the inspiring link and the bridge that brings our nation together as we work to find solutions and common ground.
Kindness has the ability to make us feel good, and a community that leads with kindness will be able to achieve more because it is good for life and good for business. The effects of kindness have been proven to have an impact on personal, medical and workplace issues and overall effect on a person’s quality of life.
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Kindland Objective:
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Kindland is a Cleveland-focused initiative as a part of Values-in-Action’s national Just Be Kind campaign, which aims to make kindness the overriding, embedded, and unifying national value in America.
The objective is to make Cleveland and its region the kindest place in the country. Cleveland will serve as the example for the rest of the country by focusing the collective efforts of our surrounding communities, businesses, schools and local organizations on creating and sustaining a unified sense of kindness, compassion, empathy and understanding. These values will be the guiding force behind our community coming together to find solutions to our nation’s most prominent issues including navigating through the COVID-19 crisis, social justice, racism, and political polarization.
Kindland Goal
To document 1,000,000 acts of kindness in Cleveland by the end of 2021.
Kind acts are collected via social media by people sharing news of kind acts and including the #KINDLAND
Acts of kindness are collected here
Follow Kindland on Social Media
Please post your support and encourage others to do the same.
If you share an act of kindness on your social media, don't forget to use #KINDLAND
Take the pledge to be a Citizen of Kindland
Encourage your friends, family and colleauges to do the same. Post to your social media.
Take the pledge at www.kindland.us
What are "acts of kindness"?
Acts of kindness can be big or small. When you see one, share the story and include #Kindland
Here are some examples: 10 Ways to Be a Citizen of Kindland
Start Your Own Kindness Project
Don't just report other acts of kindness, start your own project!
Businesses, employees, communities and neighborhoods can work together on any project that makes a difference to others. Just make sure you report it by posting it along with #KINDLAND and promote that you're doing it because you live in Kindland!
Validation Card
Use this image on social media to recognize someone for doing something kind.
Don't forget to comment and use the hashtag #Kindland
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For example, you see the post:
Blank Co. employees volunteered their time at the Food Bank.
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You Reply, Share or Comment with the image of the Validation Card and comment:
Nice work, @Blank Co. #Kindland
Merchandise & Materials
One of the best ways to spread the message is to wear it!
Kindland Merchandise is being sold at www.shop.viafdn.com
Custom bulk orders are available for your employees - add your own logo to show your support
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Download a Free Window Sign here
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If you're interested in larger promotional signage, please contact Amanda at 440.463.6205
Become an Official Member of Kindland
Encourage your friends, family and colleauges to do the same.
For just $1 a month, you can support our mission to make kindness Cleveland's #1 priority and spread kindness far and wide via Values-in-Action's Just Be Kind campaign AND it's a fun thing to do with your friends and family.
Member Benefits:
a month
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Download a Kindness passport and do acts of Kindness throughout Cleveland
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Log your acts of kindness and EARN rewards towards free merchandise and other amazing incentives
Media & Supporting Materials
If anyone needs further information aboud Kindland, consider sharing the following resources:
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Video References
Article References
Useful Images
Save the below images to your device so you can easily include them in your social media posts and any promotion
Dropbox Link for Download
