On Saturday, June 1st, Be Kind FoCo hosted its sixth annual Kindness Fest in Old Town Square. The family-friendly event featured up-and-coming local musician Julia Kirkwood and her band. Festival attendees explored booths hosted by local nonprofit organizations and grassroots kindness projects along with a kids’ expo of youth philanthropists—kids who are contributing through their own unique philanthropic initiatives. Activities included supply drives to benefit some of our community’s greatest needs, volunteer opportunities, and kindness activities—all intended to inspire a ripple effect of kindness to last through Kindness Week and beyond.
Endorsed by a mayoral proclamation, the event kicked off Kindness Week in Fort Collins from June 1st-8th, a week intended to engage the entire Fort Collins community in a celebration of kindness. Be Kind FoCo invites businesses and community members alike to showcase how they demonstrate kindness in their own worlds—whether it be a financial contribution or act of service, a kind gesture, a public (or secret) act of kindness, or a family philanthropic tradition—Fort Collins is brimming with kindness. Be Kind FoCo wants to support and celebrate the businesses that already contribute so much to the community and encourages patrons of local businesses to do the same. Be Kind FoCo hopes to see neighborhoods displaying lawn signs (available at the festival) and cars and sidewalks painted with kindness messages, businesses displaying window clings pledging “Kindness matters here”, people taking a “Kindness matters’ pledge and engaging in creative acts of kindness all serving to build a more connected community.
Be Kind FoCo is a 501c3 organization founded on the belief that philanthropy begins with kindness. Originally a project of Leadership Fort Collins, the Be Kind FoCo mission is to inspire community philanthropy by celebrating, learning, and connecting through kindness. Be Kind FoCo has a long-term vision that the entire Fort Collins community—from school children to businesses to local leadership—embraces and recognizes kindness as a core value to build a kinder, more connected community where everyone has a sense of belonging.
Learn more about Be Kind FoCo here: https://www.bekindfoco.org/