Bogart is a major force in the popularity behind One Million Acts of Kindness. He is a real-life lesson to children and their interaction with him, other animals and people. When talking with young children, I point out how Bogart would be a friend to each and every one of them if he were to be with them one at a time. The lesson of each child doing the same as Bogart, challenges them to grow their circle of friends and open their hearts to those less fortunate.
The Kindness Bicycle Tour begins its 6 month, 7,400 mile ride in 8 days, any lodging assistance along our journey would be a huge help. Please look at our itinerary to see if you know anyone along the route.

The skyline of Manhattan, looking across the East River from DUMBO is a popular spot for movie makers and wedding photographers alike. Today The Kindness Bus ended up “in the can” of a movie shoot for television and a couple of wedding shoots. Thousands of people a day pass by The Kindness Bus in one of the many hot spots of this Brooklyn neighborhood, I talk to many of the passers-by when I am there. The entrance to Jacques Torres Chocolate is just steps away. Many people shopping for Mother’s Day chocolates, feel that having The Kindness Bus nearby, is the perfect compliment to the real meaning of Mother’s Day.

Driving from Padanaram, Massachusetts to New York City via Newport, Rhode Island doesn’t make much sense unless you are going for some very good coffee or you believe in magic; both of these happened to me this morning.
I can’t possibly pass by Newport when it is only twenty miles out of my way and when a good friend, Alyssa lives there and she owns The Coffee Grinder, the best coffee shop on the planet. The coffee was better than I remember and the magic was about to happen.
In 2 hours, 3 teachers and 2 parents from 4 different schools in the area are going to have me come to their respective schools next year. While taking the photo for today’s blog, Superintendent of the Seamen’s Church Institute in Newport, John P. Feld, was so impressed with the messages on the bus, that he said there is always a room to stay in, anytime The Kindness Bus comes to Newport. I came to Newport for a coffee and got a cupful of magic.
Today marks the beginning of the 10 day countdown until The Kindness Bicycle tour leaves New York City on a 6 month, 7,400 mile mission. We will be in New York these final 10 days to finalize all aspects of the trip.

Perhaps it is because I have 8 sisters, or maybe it is because my daughter went to an all girls school for fifteen years; because yesterday’s visit to this all girls school was pure magic.  Nearly one hundred twenty girls in middle school listened intently to stories of my travels and to stories of people who have inspired me along my journey. These girls were engaged with every word of my talk and asked questions as if they had Ph.Ds relative to every topic we discussed. Inspiring students of this age, to start thinking about the incredible positive changes they can make in this world, if they set their minds to this way of thinking, was the subject of my talk.
Along with the individual lifetime goal of kindness that I ask students to embrace, I ask them to look inside themselves for a passion for helping others. This group of girls is incredibly talented and involved in many great passions, some of them through Dana Hall and some of them of their own doing. I told them I didn’t hope to inspire one of them, but that I hoped to inspire the entire roomful of them. To fulfill your passion for helping others full-time, it takes timing, determination, sacrifice and resources. I hope every one of these girls considers pursuing their passion because from what I witnessed of their genuine interest in this world’s many needs, they can have a profound impact on this world going forward. I was so impressed with every one of these girls.
Thank you to the Pryor and Frechette families for sponsoring my visit to Dana Hall, it was an honor to speak at this school and one I will never forget.

Just west of Boston is a village named Wellesley where the Tenacre Day School is located. Working over the past few months to make this visit a reality was well worth the time spent. Board members, Lee Frechette and Dr. Stuart Ablon were instrumental in seeing that The Kindness Bus made it to their campus this spring.
This is one very special place. Parents, students and faculty are very connected with making sure that the learning environment on campus is of the highest level. It is the gold standard of schools.
Bogart and I had a full schedule starting with an early morning assembly for the entire student body and their parents. We were also able to talk to individual classrooms, as all had the opportunity to spend fifteen minutes outside, visiting The Kindness Bus. We talked about some of the hundreds of messages written on The Kindness Bus and how they apply to the school’s program of cooperation and inclusiveness. After the bus visits, I was able to visit the preschool classroom and read Bogart’s new book, “Bogart Begins His Kindness Adventure.” No day would be complete without visiting the Student Council, on campus and having a very good discussion and Q and A period.
Many people had a hand in making sure our visit to Tenacre was a great one, from using the Headmaster’s house to raiding the cafeteria refrigerator at day’s end. I was even provided with a dog handler and 2 assistants to make sure the day went smoothly. Tenacre is one very special place. Thank you to all!!

The Kindness Bus Tour rolled into Boston for the first time ever. I received some teasing from some people I know from Boston because of this. The question made was; Why has The Kindness Bus been in New York City for more than fifty days but never been in Boston? I was told that I needed to be more kind to Boston. I didn’t have an answer to this question, but thought for a while and came up with a retort. I reminded them that I was from Cleveland, I told them to think back to October 2007. The Indians were up 3 games to 1 over the Red Sox, needing just 1 more win to advance to the World Series. Needless to say, the Indians rolled over and the Red Sox won 3 straight games, eliminating the Indians. I told my friends I and my Indians have been plenty kind to Boston. They smiled and agreed.
I was warned about the parking in Boston, especially finding a spot for The Kindness Bus. Unbelievable as it sounds, I never had to look for one, I immediately found one that was good for the entire weekend a block from my destination. Thousands of people were able to walk by the Kindness Bus this weekend, even a special needs teacher from Boston, who has been using The Kindness Bus Tour as a way to spread kindness in her classroom for more than a year. This world keeps getting smaller.

There might be something to all of the heavy rains which fell in upstate New York the past few days. I decided to delay my departure from this area until tomorrow. Roads are flooded and others are impassable and driving The Kindness Bus in the rain is not high on my list of things I prefer. This gave me the opportunity to visit the children and teachers at Whitney Point Preschool once again. This was a perfect executive decision. To be able to once again talk with the children about the importance of being kind made my day complete. The nurturing environment of this preschool offers the children comfort and is echoed in what all of them said to me as I was about to leave,
“I am safe, I am loved, I am a friend.”
Today I was given the official Proclamation of One Million Acts Of Kindness Day in Whitney Point, New York. It will hang in The Kindness Bus to inspire me further.