On Saturday, June 3rd, Be Kind FoCo will host its fifth annual Kindness Fest in Old Town Square from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The family-friendly event is free for attendees and will feature local celebrity Taylor Calmus (aka Dude Dad) as emcee and live music by headliner Erik Lunde as well as local youth performers. Festival attendees can explore booths made up of 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 include 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 city proclamation, the event kicks off Kindness Week in Fort Collins from June 3rd-10th, 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 sidewalk chalk with kindness messages, mowing each other’s lawns, hosting garage sales and lemonade stands for a cause, and generally celebrating the power of kindness as a vehicle for building a more connected community.
Be Kind FoCo is a 501c3 organization based 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.