Feel Good Friday - Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

Today is World Kindness Day, a global observance that encourages people everywhere to practice kindness, which makes it the perfect day to feature The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK) explains its mission on its website as "inspiring and facilitating kindness through free resources focusing on schools, workplaces and home/communities." The idea was born in the Bay Area during a summer of violence, when a reporter suggested people start practicing random acts of kindness instead. RAK says they do what they do to inspire acts of kindness, provide opportunities for service, create a sense of belonging and inspire change.

Their flagship Kindness in the Classroom curriculum is a free, evidence-based social emotional learning program for Pre-K through high school that is approved by CASEL. Free printables like posters, coloring pages and kindness bingo make it easy to get started. Schools can also become a Distinguished Kindness School by completing a simple checklist, and 490 already have! Kindness belongs outside the classroom too, so RAK offers free resources for kindness at home and kindness at work, including a workplace assessment and a path to becoming a Distinguished Kindness Workplace. Then there are RAKtivists, short for Random Acts of Kindness activists, a worldwide community that shares ideas and celebrates everyday kindness. To see one in action, you can watch Meet Norm, a RAKtivist who transforms their neighborhood with kindness.

RAK has had a big impact around the world. Its lesson plans have been downloaded more than 1 million times since 2006, and more than 311,000 RAKtivists in 195 countries are helping make kindness the norm! Mark your calendar for Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17, part of RAK Week, February 14 to 20, 2027.

Spreading kindness is the best way to support RAK, and there are many others. You can become a RAKtivist, share the free lesson plans with a teacher you know, try one of their 30 kindness ripple ideas today, and amplify their message on social media. Follow RAK on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube and share their stories of kindness with your network.

Happy World Kindness Day!