Vegas Foundation Launches Campaign for Monthly Kindness

April 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Vegas foundation launches campaign for monthly kindness

Posted: Apr 05, 2012 1:53 PM PDTUpdated: Apr 05, 2012 2:23 PM PDT

Posted By Danielle DeCuir, Associate Producer - email
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -A Las Vegas-area foundation announced Thursday a full list of new initiatives for its “Take 5 To Be Kind” program.

The program by the Josh Stevens Foundation is designed to encourage people to simply be kind to others on the fifth of each month.

The foundation’s namesake inspired the mission. Josh died in an accident in 2008 at the age of 12, but organizers say his legacy of kindness lives on through his foundation.

In honor of Stevens’ birthday on Oct. 5, the “Take 5 To Be Kind” program designated the fifth of every month for people to perform the acts of kindness.

The Josh Stevens Foundation has planned a full year of themed acts of kindness to promote easy, fun gestures people can do.

For April 5, the organization is honoring National Card and Letter Writing Month.

On May 5, it will recognize National Military Appreciation Month.

The foundation lists examples of kindness that include surprising underprivileged families by helping pay for layaway gifts in stores; donating money to feed children in Haiti; and helping to support grieving families.

For more information about the Josh Stevens Foundation, upcoming events or how to get involved, visitwww.JoshStevensFoundation.org.

Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.


Filed Under: News, Press Release, Take 5 for Kindness Tagged With:

Random Acts of Kindness; Take 5

April 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Josh Stevens Foundation: Random Acts of Kindness

Read full article at LA Family.com

The Josh Stevens Foundation: Random Acts of Kindness

The Josh Stevens Foundation was inspired by Josh Stevens who passed away at the young age of 12 years old. The Foundation was created to honor his life and his kindness.

The Spring Initiative for The Josh Stevens Foundation’s “Take 5 to BE KIND” program is meaningful to the family. The program inspired kids – and everyone – to do something very kind for another person on the 5th of every month. Of course, doing something kind for others should not be done only on the 5th, but every day. The foundation stresses the 5th because Josh was born on October 5.

Some examples of the random acts of kindness the Josh Stevens Foundation suggests are surprising needy families by helping pay for layaway gifts at retail stores, donating money to feed children in Haiti, supporting grieving families and much more.

The Josh Stevens Foundation has compiled a great list of spring acts of kindness. Of course, these are only suggestions.

APRIL 5

  • National Card and Letter Writing Month: Josh was very good at writing his family notes.
    • BE KIND: Write letters to a nearby nursing home center. Send cards that either tell stories or simply say “hello.” Or instead of texting thanks, put it into a handwritten card.
  • National One-Day Without Shoes Month: Josh loved his Puma and Ed Hardy shoes.
  • BE KIND: Organize a shoe drive. Ask neighbors and friends to donate shoes and bring them to a local shelter.
  • BE KIND: Sam’s school is also collecting change from students with all proceeds to benefit the “One Day Without Shoes” charity which raises the awareness of children who live without shoes. Students from Sam’s school will be playing a game of football at Joshi’s Park in Henderson, Nev. without shoes to honor the charity. Afterward, the kids will be enjoying pizza – a favorite of Josh’s.
  • BE KIND: Cook grilled cheese sandwiches with friends and invite neighbors over.
  • National Grilled Cheese Month: Also a favorite food of Josh’s.

MAY 5 

  • National Military Appreciation Month
    • BE KIND: Create care packages to send overseas to the ladies and gentlemen fighting for the country.
    • BE KIND: For neighbors who are formerly of the military, bake cookies, clean their yard, wash their car – anything to show appreciation.
  • National Smile Month: Josh always had a smile on his face… ALWAYS!
  • BE KIND: Make an extra effort to smile as much as possible on this day.
  • BE KIND: Bring a neighbor a hamburger or buy one for a homeless person.
  • National Hamburger Month: Josh’s all-time favorite food… a cheeseburger with special sauce from In-and-Out burger.

JUNE 5 

  • Honor and Recognize a Senior Citizen: Josh LOVED his grandparents.
    • BE KIND: Take time this month to recognize a senior citizen in the community. Help them plant a garden, bring them their mail, or cookies, or iced tea. Ask them if they want to go to lunch or go for a walk.
  • National Candy Month
  • BE KIND: Bring a friend, neighbor, mailman, senior citizen some fun candy… some of Josh’s favorites were peanut butter cups and lemon drops.

For more information on the Josh Stevens Foundation, you can visit their foundation website.

Written by: Francine Brokaw See other articles by Francine Brokaw
About the Author:Francine Brokaw has been covering the entertainment business for over 12 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 10 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She was a contributor to the 1993 book RFK: Collected Speeches, and her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet: The World of Entertainment Journalists, will be out summer of 2012 from Sourced Media Books.
Filed Under: News, Press Release, Take 5 for Kindness Tagged With:

‘Kind’ son inspires school movement

February 20, 2012 By 1 Comment

CHULA VISTA — Arroyo Vista Charter School in Chula Vista is the first school in California to embrace a kindness movement that has been gaining momentum in U.S. schools.

Joshua Stevens

Created by Nevada resident Drew Stevens and his wife, Barbara, who lost their 12-year-old son Josh to a tragic accident in 2008, the Josh Stevens Foundation is inspiring school kids and staff to “be kind” like Josh.

“My little boy was incredibly kind, we want his heart to continue to shine,” Drew Stevens said after his recent presentation at Arroyo Vista, which serves kindergarten through seventh grade students. “We want him to act as an inspiration for other children to be kind.”

Nearly 150 schools in Nevada, Oregon, Oklahoma and Minnesota have implemented the program and about a dozen more schools are in the process of coming on board.

Implementing the program is easy — the foundation outfits the entire school staff with “Be Kind” shirts and the school is then asked to purchase 100 or more shirts that parents and students can buy. Schools can customize the shirts with the slogan of their choice.

Every shirt says “Be Kind…” on the front and on the back has the selected slogan. Some have stated Be Kind… It’s the new cool. Be Kind… It’s contagious, and Be Kind… Like Josh. Arroyo Vista’s shirt will read Be Kind… Be the difference, Lead the Pack, a reference to its coyote mascot.

In addition, schools receive 305 kindness cards “we always use the number five because Josh was born on Oct. 5,” Stevens said. The cards can be handed out to students who are caught being kind. Schools also receive “be kind” bracelets and a guide that gives examples of how to keep the kindness movement thriving on campus. Ideas such as having a dedicated “be kind” day when students and staff wear their shirts and bracelets, or a kindness week, where students and staff can take part in a designated act of kindness each day.

Stevens said a middle school in Las Vegas created a kindness preserve in the center of its campus named for Josh.

“The whole idea is to keep these kids understanding and talking about the importance of kind acts, what they mean regardless of how grand or small they may seem,” Stevens said.

The reason people are embracing the movement, he said, is because it’s a positive message that tells children what to do instead of what not to do.

“Our message is not about bullying, this is about trying to create a climate of kindness and really emphasize, recognize and reward the positive side of all of that,” Stevens said.

To learn more about the foundation visit joshstevensfoundation.org.

tawny.mccray@utsandiego.com (619) 293-1859

Direct Link to UT San Diego

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Father Carries Boy’s Legacy of Kindness to Bixby

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

BIXBY – Drew Stevens would rather have his 12-year-old son back. But he knows he can’t.

 

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 1/19/2012  2:34 AM
Last Modified: 1/19/2012  4:21 AM

Instead, he honors his son’s legacy by traveling to schools and spreading the message Josh Stevens lived every day – be kind.

“Josh had a heart that was so kind. He would look for a child who felt like they were alone or who somebody was picking on, and he would go talk to them or stand up for them,” Stevens told students Wednesday at several Bixby schools.

Josh died Sept. 5, 2008, in a golf cart accident one block from the family’s Las Vegas home. He was a month away from turning 13.

Stevens counts the days, every day, since Josh lost his life. On Wednesday, it had been 1,230 days that Stevens and his family have lived without Josh.

“It’s a day-by-day thing. It’s excruciating,” he said. “Friends told me I would stop counting, but I haven’t yet. I don’t think I ever will.”

Stevens and his wife, Barbara Stevens, formed the Josh Stevens Foundation and launched the Be Kind movement aimed at kindergarten- through 12th-grade students as a tribute to his son, who was known throughout his community for his kindness.

“This was Josh’s gift. This is Josh’s legacy. Josh was not rich or famous. But he has a legacy,” Stevens told students. “Your legacy is not complete. Your legacy is right here and now.”

The gymnasium was quiet, the kids attentive.

Stevens explained that a legacy is what people will remember about you once you are gone.

“How will you be remembered when you leave this school? I’m telling you right now – if you enjoy hurting other kids, you’re in for a world of trouble,” he said. “If you make bad choices early, your life is going to be difficult.”

Stevens told students that if they start to say mean things to another person, they should stop themselves.

“Stop. Swallow your words,” he said. “Words hurt terribly.”

The old saying that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” is false, he said.

Stevens said that for a time as a child, he had many broken bones. Two boys in second grade made fun of him mercilessly, pushing him, pulling his hair.

“I don’t remember how that broken bone felt. But even though that was 40 years ago, I can close my eyes right this minute and remember how my heart felt,” he said.

Bixby North Elementary School Principal Phil Streets said the Be Kind movement isn’t a one-shot proposition. The school will continue it throughout the year with a host of activities, including rewarding students with special cards and bracelets when they get “caught” being kind.

The Be Kind movement has spread throughout Nevada into Illinois, California, Minnesota, Oregon and now Oklahoma, Stevens said.

“People questioned this. They asked, ‘Will (the kids) get it?’ ” he said. “Well, yes, they do. Kids are getting it. It’s working.”

PTA Council President Dyan Mumma said the movement is needed in a society in which people are so focused on themselves.

“Instead of focusing on anti-bullying, this focuses on the positive and how to treat other people,” she said.

Her 10-year-old son, Blake Mumma, said he liked the message.

“It seems really important to me,” he said.

In some ways, Stevens said, he recently realized that this movement is good for his own heart. Even in death, Josh is making the world a better place.

“The words that you choose and the way you treat each other can change the world,” he said. “Genuine kindness borne from the heart of a child deserves to be celebrated.”

Original Print Headline: Father carries boy’s legacy of kindness to students

Filed Under: News, Press Release Tagged With:

Anti-Bullying Message to Bixby Students

January 22, 2012 By 1 Comment

Posted: Jan 18, 2012 10:46 AM PST Updated: Jan 18, 2012 10:46 AM PST

posted by: Kim Jackson – email

The death of a 12 year old boy has spurred one family to action.  Josh Stevens died in a tragic accident. But in spite of that, his family focused on his legacy and is spreading a positive message all over the country.

Channel 8′s Kim Jackson has details on this family mission.  Students in Bixby were learning more than reading, writing and arithmetic. No, they got a lesson on a message we have heard before, simply, be kind.

On the basketball court–boys will be boys. But we caught up with students at Bixby’s Brassfield Elementary. They seemed to value the gift of kindness even on their basketball court.

“If you are kind to others they will be kind to you and you will make a lot of friends,” said Josh Owens, a sixth grader.

“If there was no kindness. It would just be more rough housing and no teamwork, and we wouldn’t get anything done,” Scott Doan, a student.

The basketball players are about the same age, of Josh Stevens who died tragically at the age of 12. His family has taken on the mission–of sharing Josh’s legacy with the world.

“He was kind to everybody. and now that he is gone people want to reach out and say man, this world needs more kids like Josh,” Drew Stevens told the audience of fifth and sixth grade students.

Thru his pain, Stevens encourages everyone to be more kind–like Josh was. He shares this story, about Josh, the athlete, who wouldn’t argue about a bad baseball call:

“He head umpire called it foul. Well everybody in our stands was screaming ‘no, no, no, no.’ You know josh literally came back to the plate, before he picked up the bat, he gave the umpire a double high five and said, ‘good call.’ Even me, I was screaming that wasn’t fair,” said Stevens.

Not fair, Josh was taken so soon. Not dwelling on their loss–his family focuses on teaching others to be like Josh.

Teachers wore shirts, from the Josh Stevens Foundation–two words, one urge.

“We can all be kinder. We can all choose, kindness is something we choose to do so we can all choose to handle situations differently. We can choose not to react in ways we are used to reacting,” said Stevens.

Even though he may feel like grieving, Drew is sharing the memory of his son and his legacy, Be Kind.

 

Filed Under: News, Press Release, Press Releases Tagged With:

Campaign Encourages Bixby Students To Perform Random Acts Of Kindness

January 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

BIXBY, Oklahoma – Direct Link

It was a kind day to be in Bixby schools. Thousands of students in the district helped launch a new campaign to encourage random acts of kindness.

Drew Stevens, from Las Vegas, visited Bixby Schools Wednesday and talked about a foundation he started in honor of his son.

Josh Stevens Foundation

Josh Stevens was 12 years old when his life came to a tragic end.

“I was incredibly proud of Josh, he was an amazing boy. Whether he was raised that way or just that way, he was just an exemplary child,” Stevens said.

His dad says Josh always had a knack for being kind, especially to strangers, often holding the door at the mall open for strangers.

So Drew started the foundation in hopes that his son’s kindness could be passed on to other kids.

“Well clearly our ultimate vision is to inspire more children to be more kind more often…that’s the ultimate vision for this foundation,” he said.

The program works by encouraging kids to think of kind things they can do during the day. If a teacher spots a kind act the child gets rewarded with a special bracelet.

“I think that talking about character at school is really important,” said Dyan Mumma, PTA President.

Organizers say that while this program is one more step to put an end to bullying, they say it has a little bit of a twist with the emphasis in a different place.

“Instead of focusing on the negative and saying, ‘Don’t do this or don’t do that’, the program takes the flip side and says, ‘Do this,’” Mumma said.

The students we talked with like the idea.

“It’s just really important to try to lift people up when they’re down. It’s really nice,” said 12-year-old Logan.

Many students have been thinking of different ways they can be kind.

“To be nice to your teachers and try to be kind to your gym teacher, your special teachers, your groups of teachers,” said 9-year-old Audrey Nipps.

Parents and teachers say they can’t imagine what Drew went through losing his son but they hope Bixby helps pass on his legacy and simply be kind.

Filed Under: Kind Like Josh, Press Releases Tagged With:

Drew visist Park Rapids, Minnesota

November 27, 2011 By 2 Comments

Las Vegas Man Visits Park Rapids to Spread Message of Kindness

by Ngozi Ekeledo
November 08, 2011
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Students in Park Rapids, Minnesota are learning about the value of kindness.

A Las Vegas man whose 12–year–old son died is traveling around the nation spreading the word about being kind and helping one another.

It only takes a few seconds to perform a big act of kindness, and for Josh Stevens, compassion was just a part of his personality.

“His legacy by far was his gentle heart,” his father Drew Stevens said. “He was an incredibly kind little boy.”

In 2008, Josh Stevens died one month before his 13th birthday in a tragic accident. Today, his father continues to spread the message of his son’s kindness.

“Our ultimate vision is to inspire more kids to be more kind more often,” his father said.

Drew Stevens doesn’t just talk about being kind. He provides a visual message as well.

“We printed up some shirts that said ‘Be Kind…’on the front and on the back, ‘More Often,’ and since that we have now more than 200 slogans for the back,” Stevens said, “and when schools embrace the foundation, they get to choose their own slogan.”

And the movement continues to spread. Schools across the country are encouraging and rewarding students for being kind to others.

“I’ll try my best to be more kind to more people and just help them feel not so alone,” said 8th grader Scott Petersen.

“I meet lots of kids during the year through sports and activities, like my youth group, and so we could talk about it and just show how good it is to be kind to people,” said 8th grader Mya Johnson.

Stevens has visited 48 states, and how does it make him feel to see his son’s legacy continue to spread?

“It just seems unreal, it really does,” Stevens said.”I think early that was the hope—it was, ‘I want everybody to know Josh’s kind heart,’ well now it’s happening. It just seems sort of surreal and humbling how many people embrace this message.”

For more information about the foundation, you can check out www.joshstevensfoundation.org.

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Walmart Helps Spread “Be Kind” Message of Josh Stevens Foundation to another Southern Nevada School

June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Las Vegas, NV—A kindness revolution is sweeping Southern Nevada, having been sparked through the hearts of children. And Walmart is now helping foster the “Be Kind” message that the Josh Stevens Foundation spreads on a daily basis in schools all over Southern Nevada. Through the Walmart Foundation, the company has donated the funds needed to implement the “kindness” project at Sue H. Morrow Elementary School in Henderson. A special event attended by students, teachers, parents, administrators (including Principal Dr. Mike Rodrigues), and top local and regional Walmart management is scheduled for 9 AM, June 2, 2011, at the school. The inspirational kindness message for Morrow ES is, “Be Kind … You Can’t Rewind”. Schools work with the foundation to create memorable and thought-provoking kindness messages.

 

Since 2008, the Josh Stevens Foundation has helped recognize kindness and good-hearted acts in more than 20,000 children. These children were “caught being kind” when teachers, parents, administrators, or others noticed them taking the time and effort to be nice and to make a difference in the life of another human being. They are both simple acts–doing the kind act and recognizing it–but in this day and age, being kind may be the best way to make a difference in the world. The Foundation has created a ripple effect of kindness throughout the community, with more than 70 schools embracing the message and foundation, and countless teachers, parents, kids, and administrators relaying testimonials about how “being kind” has made an indelible, positive impact on campuses across the valley.

 

“Having the world’s largest retailer embrace the Belief and Mission of the Josh Stevens Foundation has been humbling,” says Drew Stevens, the founder of the organization along with his wife, Barbara. “Their endorsement tells us that what we are doing is important and is favorably impacting children in our community. Cherie De Wilde with Walmart has been a blessing to our Foundation and we could never adequately thank her for all she has done. We want this ‘Kindness Revolution’ to spread throughout the country, and clearly, Walmart has the influence and resources to help us in our quest.”

 

The Walmart Foundation strives to provide opportunities that improve the lives of individuals in their communities including customers and associates. Through financial contributions, in-kind donations and volunteerism, the Walmart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in their four main focus areas: Education, Workforce Development / Economic Opportunity, Environmental Sustainability, and Health and Wellness.

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Cool at School: Students Learning to Be Kind

February 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

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LAS VEGAS-There’s a movement underway at some 70 local schools to motive kids to be kind. It all part of the Josh Stevens Foundation.

The 12-year-old’s life ended suddenly in a tragic accident, but his parents Drew and Barbara Stevens are keeping his spirit alive with the foundation. It recognizes and rewards students for their acts of kindness. “We thought middle schoolers were the perfect age to target this kindness movement. As it turns out, it’s been embraced by schools all over the valley,” Drew Stevens said.

He and Barbara spoke to students at Woodbury Middle School about Josh and the foundation and already kids have been making an effort to be kind to others.

Some of their random acts of kindness include opening doors for others, helping teachers with daily work and helping out more with extra curricular activities after school.

Counselor Sharon Cameron says it’s a way of life. “It’s a habit. It becomes who you are. That’s part of what we are trying to do here at Woodbury. We are trying to create the kind of character where students really care about others.”

Josh Stevens never knew any of the students but with the help of his parents and the foundation, he will live on forever.


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A Child’s Heart Remembered

December 5, 2010 By 1 Comment

I teach Bible study on Sunday mornings to our youth at church. I love these teenagers with all my heart. It was through this youth ministry that I met Josh. I’ll never forget the first time I met him. Shelbie, his older sister brought him in and sat him down next to her. She put her arm around him and announced that this was her little brother and that he’d be joining us that morning. He wasn’t technically old enough to be in the class yet, but I was touched by how his sister wanted him there, and the smile on his face; so he stayed.

And he was such a blessing to our youth group. His smiles, his enthusiasm for life, his rap songs, and his kindness. Josh was not afraid to seize any opportunity to show Christ to others through his Kindness.

This morning, I taught on seizing the opportunity when God puts it before you. Don’t miss your chance; don’t ignore it, just take the moment, the opportunity, and do something with it!

A little while later, I was helping run the *store* for our Children’s Ministry. Each month, the children have the chance to turn in tickets that they have earned in Bible study for a prize. One little boy in particular wanted the gingerbread man on the parachute. We dug through the bag and gave it to him as we received his tickets. Next came a little girl who only had one ticket, but wanted a two ticket item. She’d already spent two of her tickets, but really wanted the next item on her list. I thought about just giving it to her, but the table was crowded with children who were trying to get there *purchases* in and I felt an *urge* to leave it alone. Very unlike me. *smile*

A few moments later, the boy who wanted that little gingerbread man handed it back to me. He asked if he could please have his tickets back. I was puzzled, but then my heart melted as I watched him hand her his ticket so that she could have the special Christmas bookmark that she wanted.

I so wanted to give him a kindness card, as his special act reminded me so much of Josh; but I didn’t have one with me. But God is good and was showing me something, because there was a Kindness card to be found in the church. I grabbed another gingerbread man on a parachute, the Kindness card, and went in search of the boy, who was just leaving the church. I stopped his mother, and asked her to wait for one moment. Then I asked Jonathan, the boy, if he knew what a Kindness card was. Indeed, he did. I explained to him how wonderful his act of kindness was this morning, and how he had reminded me so much of Josh that it brought tears to my eyes. He smiled graciously, as he took his Kindness card and his gingerbread man.

It is moments like these that we need to seize; exactly what I was trying to teach a roomful of teenagers this morning. Exactly what Josh would have done.

Seize the opportunity; Be Kind and Bless someone else today.

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