Stamford Teen Honored for Founding Kids Helping Kids

Newtown Kindness honored 45 children from 17 states and Canada and an entire school in Iowa at the Third Annual Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards.

Stamford teen Lexi Kelley was among the honorees recognized in a ceremony at Edmond Town Hall on Saturday for embodying Newtown Kindness’ mission to “think kindly and act boldly” through outstanding acts of kindness.

Kelley created a non-profit “Kids Helping Kids”, (KHK) which helps train and equip hundreds of kids each year to serve in their local communities. KHK has 57 ambassadors in more than 35 different schools and more than 350 volunteers from over 57 schools who volunteer at their events. They have launched more than 45 projects over the past few years.

Kelley founded the nonprofit in the summer of 2009, getting the idea from the small acts of kindness from many people that helped her as she recuperated from a bad car accident in January 2009 at the age of 12. Kelley was so touched by their kindness that she thought “if we can continue to have lots of kids do just a little, we can really make a difference for those in need. So she and a small group of friends organized their first KHK project in order to give other kids her age the opportunity to feel the impact, joy and reward of helping others,” according to the KHK website.

The 500 attendees — most of whom wore pink, Charlotte’s favorite color — including Newtown First Responders, community members, and therapy/comfort dogs and their handlers from Newtown Kindness’ therapy dog program, Charlotte’s Litter. Honorees, ranging in age from five to 18, presented their kindness projects that ranged from selling “kindness rocks” to providing thousands of fun bandages to children in hospitals. All of the ceremony attendees were asked to join in the “Nice Bucket Challenge” which encourages participants to conduct one act of kindness this month and challenge three others to do the same.

To commemorate the special day, Charlotte’s parents, Joel and JoAnn Bacon, with author Renata Bowers, and illustrator Michael Chesworth held a limited-edition book signing of Good Dogs, Great Listeners, a children’s book that captures Charlotte’s bold sense of adventure and her love of dogs, weaving a tale of love and kindness.

“We recognize all types of kindness, big and small,” Newtown Kindness Founder Aaron Carlson said in a press release. “Our goal is to make the Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards the Oscars of kindness.”

The Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards started in February 2013, two months after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when Newtown Kindness members wanted to do something special to honor Charlotte’s birthday. The organization started the Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards and began accepting submissions from kids around the country describing their various acts of kindness.

The honorees received gifts ranging from tickets to see a Broadway musical to attending a major sports game and a chance to meet their favorite player, along with a donation to a charity of the recipient’s choice, which empowers these kids to further support benevolent efforts they believe in.

“People always tell me that they’ve never experienced anything like this before,” Carolyn Walker, Newtown Kindness board member said in a press release. “We want to continue to inspire people and reinforce that kindness truly matters.”

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Photo: Lexi Kelley. Credit: Newtown Kindness.