KM365 EXPANDS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH CARITAS SMILE
BOCA RATON, FL – Kindness Matters 365 (KM365), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the well-being of children and teens, recently partnered with fellow nonprofit Caritas Smile to take KM365 programs international, embarking on a transformational volunteerism journey as part of the Caritas Smile’s Take A Trip, Change A Life initiative July 18–24, 2024 in the Dominican Republic. Together, the two foundations spread their collective missions throughout several cities, including Santiago de Los Caballeros, Moncion, Punta Rucia, and Palero, performing random acts of kindness, providing medical relief and essential needs, and sharing vital KM365 programming with local schools, youth, and families throughout the communities they visited.
“I have dreamed of a day when our foundation would have the opportunity to touch the lives of children, families, and communities internationally, and that dream was realized this summer,” said Laura Reiss, KM365 Founder. “This journey was a testament to the power of collective action and the difference we can make when we come together. We are forever grateful to our partner, Caritas Smile, for helping us to spread global kindness and bring KM365 programs to the children, families, and communities we were fortunate to visit on this beautiful, life-transforming adventure.”
To ensure the children would have optimal engagement and a relevant, understandable experience, KM365 Ambassador Wendy Hasselman translated and tailored the KM365 program’s lessons and corresponding materials to align with their expressed needs. Throughout the trip, youth in the Dominican explored Skills for Learning and Life (SLL) concepts such as self-kindness, self-awareness, empathy, and compassion, as they discovered how to be resilient, respect themselves and one another, and care for our world. Hal Elrod and Brianna Greenspan, authors of The Miracle Morning: Art of Affirmations, generously donated translated copies of their inspirational coloring book for all the children.
The KM365 program also introduced the children to various mindfulness activities, from breathing to journaling, feelings check-ins, group bonding and engagement, and more, making a life-changing, positive impact on the development and well-being of the youth and communities visited.
An additional highlight of the trip, through a Caritas Smile fundraiser sponsored by KM365 this past March, enough funds were raised to purchase a life-changing mode of transportation for a much-deserving family in Palero. They previously had one mule that transported them wherever they needed to go, from where they worked, went to school, and got their everyday essentials, which took a minimum of 45 minutes. Thanks to the generous contributions from the fundraiser, KM365 and Caritas Smile had the honor of presenting the family with a new SuperGato Motorcycle during the July visit.
“Being there to give this beautiful family such a simple yet essential and life-changing gift was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced,” said Reiss. “It was a celebration for the entire Palero community, a day filled with love, laughter, inspiration, and gratitude. We are forever grateful to all of those who showed up and contributed last March, making it possible for us to have the privilege to share your love and generosity with this family and throughout our journey. We look forward to partnering with Caritas Smile on many more, continuing our collective missions of spreading kindness and KM365 programs globally for years to come.”
Caritas Smile CEO/Founder Sixcia Devine added, “We take trips and change lives. By partnering with KM365, we are building unity through our shared humanity. Through the powerful combination of service, wellness, and adventure, we create life-changing experiences that ignite transformation. Small acts of kindness create the most profound ripple effects, reminding us that together, we have the power to make a tremendous impact, and we look forward to taking more transformative journeys with KM365 in the future.”
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ABOUT CARITAS SMILE
Caritas Smile is a nonprofit organization that works for human development and social justice in the most vulnerable communities of the Dominican Republic. Caritas Smile is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a lasting impact on underserved communities through education, volunteerism, and community development. Its mission is to empower individuals, foster global connections, and create positive change through global volunteerism by contributing to a larger purpose to make the world a better place. For more information, visit caritasmile.org or follow @caritassmile on Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT KINDNESS MATTERS 365
Kindness Matters 365 (KM365) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Boca Raton, FL, that has positively impacted our youth and communities since 2008. KM365 fosters the well-being and development of children and teens through education, development, and community engagement. Through after-school programs, virtual programs, assemblies, and hands-on community problem-solving initiatives, kids explore KM365’s framework of topics to develop resilience, empathy, and essential life skills to discover how to best care for themselves, each other, and our world. KM365 is a vetted vendor of programming and training for the Florida Department of Education’s Safe and Healthy School Enrichment for Learning division and is a designated service provider to schools in Florida. Since its inception, KM365 has grown to encompass 142 programs and has served over 25,000 children and teens. Visit kindnessmatters365.org for more information and follow KM365 on social media via Facebook @kindnessmatters365org and Instagram @kindnessmatters365.
