Educational Software Consultant, Evelyn Penn was in Miami Beach for the morning when she walked by The Kindness Bus. She had a huge interest in my mission from the moment she started reading the first quote. She is in an excellent position to spread word of One Million Acts Of Kindness.
Minca Brantley Professor of Psychology at Miami Dade College saw The Kindness Bus, in November, in Florida and has been talking to her students about One Million Acts Of Kindness ever since. Today she was out for her morning run and met up with me while taking a break.
The results of all of our actions can have an exponential effect and it is the exact grassroots way that One Million Acts Of Kindness grows, one teacher telling all her students, one mom telling her family, one person telling all his or her friends and so on.
Thank you to both of these women for their keen interest.
The Kindness Bus was parked across the street from an antique Packard with the likeness of Humphrey Bogart in the driver’s seat. Bogart, meet Bogart!

“Every one of you can be the kindest person in the world, you can all be tied for 1st place.”

Bogart and I had another incredible visit to a school today. Veterans Memorial Elementary School is doing everything right when it comes to teaching children. This is one very special learning environment. They are even taking part in One Million Acts Of Kindness Week by creating a Kindness Tree that will bloom leaves of kindness with over 1,000 leaves by week’s end.
Tech teacher, Destiny Miner was instrumental in making our visit happen at this school. She saw things through to the end of my visit, making sure all details were met.
My visit started with a visit to the in-school Morning News on WVME. This student-run show was a great way to reach all 800 students and teachers.
Bogart and I were able to give 2 presentations and a tour of The Kindness Bus to the entire student body. There were also several parents in the crowd which helped to inspire me during my presentation.
Thank you to everyone at Veterans Memorial Elementary School.
A big tip of the hat to Sandy from Chicago and Linda from Naples who showed a big interest in One Million Acts Of Kindness late last night.
A very well written article was written by
Natalie Strom of the Coastal Breeze News on Marco Island, the link is below.

http://www.coastalbreezenews.com/2013/01/10/one-million-acts-of-kindness/

Today I took one last ride on the gulf coast of Florida in Collier County. Tomorrow, after a school program, I will head back to the east coast of Florida.
Early on today, while out riding, I came across the small Veterans Memorial Park in Old Naples. I have stopped by this memorial many times to reflect on the sacrifices of those who gave so much of their lives to protect us from harm. Sadly, so many Veterans are taking their lives, eighteen every day. There needs to be much more hope for those who have given so much for all of us. Go out of your way to make a positive impact on every Veteran you possibly can. You may just possibly save a life.
Thank you to Bob and Dawn from Naples, for the kind words while they were out for a walk and stopped to talk with me by The Kindness Bicycle.

While riding The Kindness Bicycle in mid December, I stopped at several schools to let them know of my availability in the New Year. Today’s visit to Tommie Barfield Elementary School was because of that due diligence.
Nadine O’Donnell, the School Counselor invited me for a visit to talk with the students, teachers and staff.
Principal, Dr. Jory Westberry joined me for an interview on WTBE, the in-school Morning News Show. Bogart clearly stole the show as he laid down and yawned as I talked. He has heard the story told countless times.
This school is a wonderfully nurturing learning environment for everyone of the students, and it shows. All of the students acted in a polite respectful manner. It’s no wonder when their school wide expectations are Respect, Responsibility and Role Model. This is a school where children have every opportunity to soar.
After the Morning Show, Nadine accompanied me to several classrooms. I talked with these small groups about all the great things they are capable of in their lives. They will undoubtably take on the challenge.
After my visit we were joined by several students and Assistant Principal, Katie Maya for a lesson and photo by The Kindness Bus.
In a wonderful email from Nadine, I was paid the ultimate compliment paraphrased from a sentence, “…bless you for all that you do for children.”
A big thank you to Diane Fowler and Aimee Perez for the financial support of my mission.

One would think that riding nearly 25 miles a day would be enough to keep one’s body toned. I have been riding on nearly a daily basis for about two years now. Let me be the first to tell you that I need to ride at a faster pace or start eating foods that will increase my metabolism, or both.
Corned beef sandwiches will not increase my metabolism, and no, the sandwich in today’s photo was not mine, it was on the counter of a deli I ate at.
Here’s to a tomato, tofu and alfalfa sprout sandwich with a carrot juice chaser for the next rest of my life.