I stopped by to see my friends at the Cuyahoga County License Bureau at the corner of Emery and Richmond Roads. The three women who run the operation have embraced the project so much they have decided to promote it in their churches, all on Cleveland’s East side. They want to do whatever they can to get the message out.
So much crime going on, this is the message they want to pass on to everyone. It’s contagious, I tell you, contagious.
Onward and upward…carrying the message forward.
I attended an art/cultural festival in Tremont, Ohio at the request of Darla and John, who were gracious enough to let me stay at their house Saturday night. The bus seems to act as an attractant, and the people were incredibly interested in what I’m trying to do.
Earlier in the week, I had the good fortune to meet and speak with a young lady named Maggie, who is president of the student council at Chagrin Falls High School, Chagrin Falls, Ohio. As a result of our discussion, during the festival, the president of the senior class and a friend came up and said, “You talked to Maggie, and we would like to make OMAK our senior project.” I thought that was one of the best ideas I’ve heard in a long time. Implementation plans are now in the works……and the beat goes on. My special thanks to Julie, Bob, and Lorraine for there wonderful help and attention. I’m seeing every day in one way or another that this project is becoming contagious.
Out of the blue I received a call from a high school student in Tucson, Arizona who is running for class president. He requested 500 stickers for his campaign. How he got wind of the OMAK work I don’t know, but I can see that word is getting out.
It was a busy Labor Day Weekend for Bogart and me. The folks I Oberlin were great. Many people came forward to offer support and ideas to keep things going and even help spread the word on acts of kindness. Invitations to brunch and dinner are reinforcing my feelings that my message is working. My thanks to Joe and Danielle at Full Circle Fuel for the help they gave me in keeping the bus in working order.A family picnic in Medina, Ohio on Saturday was a great time for me to reconnect with some family members who I haven’t seen in a long time. My niece and nephew from Arizona were there and it turned out to be great weather on a great day. My family also enjoyed painting their own thoughts of kindness on the bus.
Next, I was able to go back to Cleveland and volunteer at the Salvation Army cooking some hot dogs and burgers for the people there. I think the Salvation Army is one of the unsung heroes in our midst. On then to Case Western Reserve University where I found a virtually empty campus. Undaunted, I decided to go to the Little Italy section of Cleveland where I ran into some truly great people. I was lucky enough to find Darla, who manages the Achievement Center for Children in Cleveland and her enthusiasm was instantaneous. She bought 250 of the “One Million Acts of Kindness” stickers and also invited me to meet many of her associates in the Tremont area of Cleveland’s near West Side this weekend. I’m really looking forward to that.
All in all, I had a terrific visit in Little Italy. I had great discussion with at least 50 people, took some pictures, and got some valuable ideas. Across the street was an apartment with some lofts on the third floor. 3 students came out to see what the attraction was, and one of them remembered me from my visit at Kent State. He came down and invited me to a party that night to carry on the message. I was sorry I couldn’t go but he said he’d do his best to create some interest and he took some stickers to pass around.
I realize it is still early in the project, but the interest has really been unbelievable. I’ve had people follow the bus to talk to me, some asked if I could speak at their high school, and some have just come out to find out more about what’s going on. I feel badly that I can’t accept all the invitations I’ve received, but timing and scheduling just won’t allow it.
Bogart has certainly been a big hit at every stop along the way. Our new campus flyers, “Where’s Bogart?” with his picture should add to the fun and interest. Onward and Upward.
Please help us spread our message of a Goal of Kindness to schoolchildren across the country. Your donations are crucial to making this a reality.
Mail donations to:
One Million Acts Of Kindness
PO Box 770054
Lakewood, OH 44107
You can also donate through PayPal:
Bogart is my travel companion on The Kindness Bus Tour for the next ten years. We will be on the road traveling to campuses across the country. Bogart is a eight year old Boston Terrier. He is a great people dog... he loves meeting new people. I am Bogart's fourth owner in his short 8 years of life... Not because of him but because his three previous owner's lifestyles changed after they took him in... Lucky for me!! Bogart is the luckiest, most spoiled dog on the face of the earth. He loves the bus and he loves to travel. Please come and visit him when we are on your campus.
The Blue Bird Corporation donated this amazing bus to One Million Acts of Kindness, allowing us the continue this initiative. It has been painted to closely resemble the original Kindness Bus. It will last well beyond the ten years of this mission. A very big thank you to Blue Bird from Bob Votruba and Bogart too!!
The original Kindness bus has been donated to a professor at Virginia Tech who will use it on campus and at schools in the Blacksburg area. The Kindness Bus will continue to inspire and comfort residents, students and visitors in that area for years to come.
One Million Acts Of Kindness is a goal. A goal for each person to individually perform One Million Acts Of Kindness in their life. Can you imagine a greater goal for one's life? It is a constant mind-set of kindness every day of your life for the next fifty-five years. Doing for others and kindness in your heart for everyone. It is my wish that you will dedicate your life to a charity... finding the passion in your heart for something or someone in need.
As a father of three college age kids I am concerned for the world in which all kids will live. A great way to create a safer, more caring world is for everyone to start their lifetime goal of One Million Acts Of Kindness. So I bought a bus, had about sixty family members, friends and neighbors help paint it and began a ten year journey with my Boston Terrier, Bogart, to college campuses across the country hoping to convince as many of you as possible about this much needed movement for this world. I love you guys too much to sit back and not do anything about this. Let's start a kindness movement in this country today to change the direction this world is headed!! You are the change that this world needs.
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