Today’s international political polarization, social media vitriol and declining trust in institutions can make people more suspicious, anxious and hostile.
Stuart Muszynski and his wife, Susan, co-founded the Project Love Remember the Children Foundation in 1994, a character and values-based education and training program for teens. The organization trained students in leadership skills needed to promote kindness, caring and respect in their schools, families, workplaces and communities.
In 2012, Project Love evolved into the Values-in-Action Foundation (VIA), which Muszynski said better reflects VIA’s mission to provide social emotional learning, workforce training and kindness programs for students K-12 nationwide. It is also the force behind the growing Kindland movement.
Kindland
Values-in-Action launched Kindland in 2019. It is an immersive collection of lesson plans and messaging, promoting kindness. Today, more than 5,000 schools nationwide have implemented some version of the program. “We wanted to give teachers the opportunity to be change agents,” said Muszynski.
All Kindland programming is free and schools can tailor onboarding its lessons and messaging. Many schools promote Kickoff For Kindness, which occurs the Thursday before the Super Bowl. It’s a major streaming event with the NFL, featuring compelling kindness stories from NFL players and videos submitted by teens nationwide. Schools can enter a competition called The Kindness Games, where students log onto a special website, document their acts of kindness and compete for $50,000 worth of prize money to benefit their school.
The Be Kind, Stick Together, 40-minute assembly utilizes duct tape as a metaphor for kindness and unity. One piece of duct tape is easy to rip, however, stick a second piece back-to-back and it’s hard to rip. The lesson teaches students that if you stick together with your friends, you’re against bullying and for kindness, you’re not going to get ripped apart. The presentation includes a teacher/ facilitator guide, and a video that shows why kindness works. It ends with a pledge from students to stick together against bullying and endorse kindness. The students solidify their commitment by putting their name on a piece of duct tape and adding it to the school’s duct tape banner against bullying.
Champion districts and schools are those that onboard the entire Kindland programming and messaging. They receive training on its implementation, including middle and high school students. Annual nationwide teacher focus groups promote program modification as needed.
“Kindland has helped strengthen the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools community through meaningful opportunities for students, staff and families to recognize and practice acts of kindness,” said Dr. Dominick Kaple, superintendent of South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools. “Kindland has reinforced our district’s commitment to One Team. One Mission. Students First.”
Often, promoting Kindland’s immersive messaging and culture-building in schools, prompts many local mayors to adopt community-wide implementation.
“The Kindland Village in the city of Maple Heights is helping us transform our city and schools into an ecosystem of kindness, caring and respect,” said Mayor Annette Blackwell.
“If you impact ideas, you impact behavior on a daily basis,” said Muszynski. “One of the reasons we treat each other better during the holiday season is that we have this immersive messaging of kindness, giving, contributing and family. It’s visible and tangible in society.”
United States of Kindness
United States of Kindness is a movement, aimed at inspiring every American to take part in 250 acts of kindness in honor of our nations’ 250th anniversary. The goal is to build a culture of compassion, connection and unity across the country.
Currently, Ohio ranks among the top 5 states for pledged acts of kindness, with more than 1200 individuals, families, schools and organizations participating.
“Kindness has the power to strengthen communities one interaction at a time,” said Timothy Hilk, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Cleveland. “At the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, creating welcoming spaces where everyone feels they belong is central to our mission.” “That’s why we’re proud to join the Values-in-Action US of Kindness initiative and encourage everyone to choose kindness, compassion and respect in their everyday lives. Together, those simple acts can make a lasting difference.”
Values in Action Workforce Training
The Values-in-Action Workforce program trains and prepares workforce-oriented 11th and 12th graders in the soft skills needed for employment. This occurs through proven character and values development techniques, community mentorship and job placement opportunities. Mentors meet with students for a 45-minute session three times throughout the 12-16-week training block. The program is always open to new mentors helping students.
James Casale is an 11th grade English teacher at John Marshall High School of Engineering in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
“Over the past six years, I have seen Values-in-Action transform students’ lives in profound and lasting ways,” he said. “The program does far more than prepare students for life after high school -it empowers them with the confidence, character and real-world skills needed to turn opportunity into achievement. Students leave not only ready for their next step, but equipped to succeed, contribute and lead in whatever path they choose.”
Values Matter Awards Dinner
VIA sponsors an annual Values Matter Awards Dinner, recognizing various individuals and businesses committed to compassion and kindness. This year’s event occurred in June at Landerhaven.
Vincent Delie and F.N.B. Corporation received the Malden Mills Corporate Kindness Award. The honor recognizes corporate leaders who best exemplify values demonstrated by Malden Mills, CEO Aaron Feuerstein. In 1995, Malden Mills suffered a devastating fire which destroyed most of its operations. Feuerstein kept his employees on payroll with benefits, until the mills could be rebuilt. His actions demonstrated kindness, principles and values that benefited both his workforce and community.
“Kindness is often mistaken for weakness,” said Vincent Delie, chairman, president and CEO of F.N.B. Corporation and its banking subsidiary, First National Bank. “At FNB, we’ve proven that kindness, strength and performance go hand in hand. From my perspective, kindness means treating people with transparency and respect, being sincere and doing what’s right. As we’ve grown, we’ve worked hard to maintain a culture where people feel valued and empowered to do their best work. We have found there is a direct connection between employee engagement, kindness and financial performance, and those small acts of kindness have frequently led to some of the biggest results.”
The Rescuer of Humanity Award recognizes individuals or organizations of national or international stature that lead beyond their professional or institutional requirements to positively change the course of humanity. This year’s recipient is Jonathan Ornstein, executive director of the Jewish Community Center in Krakow, Poland.
Ornstein and his team mobilized humanitarian disaster relief efforts to welcome displaced Ukrainians during the Russia-Ukraine war. Food, supplies and housing assistance exemplify the essential needs they’ve provided. To date, the Jewish organization has delivered services to more than 500,000 Ukrainians, 99% of them non-Jewish.
“I first came into contact with Values in Action when I learned about being the 2026 recipient of their Rescuer of Humanity award,” said Jonathan Ornstein, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, Krakow, Poland. “Learning about their mission to spread kindness was at the same time simple and utterly brilliant. By showing people, especially young people how acts of kindness can transform the world, VIA is creating a more caring, kinder future. I applaud Stuart and his amazing team for their vision, hard work and dedication to a better world.”
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