A New “Kind” of Challenge: 30 Days of Kindness in September

Ask any parent what they dream for their child, and you’re less likely to hear things like CEO, doctor or teacher and more likely to hear sentiments like happy, healthy and kind. 

But with all the challenges in the world today, kindness often feels like the exception rather than the rule. 

As kids go back to school, it’s important they know that kindness is always trending. 

Join Boys & Girls Clubs of America for a 30-Day Kindness Challenge on Facebook by committing to do one simple act of kindness every day during September. You’ll receive a downloadable daily calendar with one quick and easy activity to complete each day of the month. 

Here’s how to get started:

• Step 1: Join the Kindness Challenge group on Facebook.
• Step 2: Once you’re in the group, complete the registration form to receive your FREE sticker (designed by Club alum Danielle Coke) and a downloadable calendar with an act of kindness to complete each day. ️
  
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  Step 3: Create your Facebook Fundraiser to support Boys & Girls Club kids. Once you raise $100, we’ll send you a Do Good & Share Kindness T-shirt so you can model kindness year-round (literally ).

• Step 4: Do good and share kindness! Complete all 30 acts of kindness throughout September to help build a kinder future.

Did you know? When making a decision, 85% of Club youth say they try to think about how other people will be affected. From learning how to have constructive conversations to cultivating a sense of belonging and acceptance, Boys & Girls Clubs model kindness to create compassionate, conscientious kids who grow up with the character and confidence to change our communities for the better. 

In a world where they can be anything, let’s build a future where kids choose to be kind. 

30-Day Kindness Challenge Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 30-Day Kindness Challenge?
The 30-Day Kindness Challenge is a Facebook Challenge hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to encourage everyone to model kindness in our communities. Participants must register for the challenge (it’s free!) and complete one simple act of kindness every day in September to complete the challenge. 

Upon registration, participants will receive a FREE Do Good & Share Kindness sticker (designed by Club alum Danielle Coke) and a downloadable kindness calendar with a specific act of kindness for each day of the month. 

Participants who create a Facebook Fundraiser and raise $100 or more will receive a free Do Good & Share Kindness T-shirt. Funds raised support Boys & Girls Club programs that shape today’s youth into compassionate, conscientious kids who grow up with the character and confidence to build a kinder future. 

Why kindness?

62% of Americans believe that people most often “just look out for themselves” rather than trying to help others (Pew Research Center). But at Boys & Girls Clubs, we’re on a mission to change that! In fact, 92% of Club kids want to help when they see someone having a problem. Why? Because we give kids the care, confidence and connection to become anything they can dream — and Club kids dream to be kind. 

Plus, research shows that one kind act can have a ripple effect — encouraging others to pay it forward and even lowering blood pressure and stress levels. Here’s to a happier, healthier you! 

Can my kids participate in the challenge with me?

Absolutely! From helping a neighbor to combating bullying, kindness is something we can all be a part of. The 30-Day Kindness Challenge is a great way to teach kids the impact of being kind. The calendar we provide makes it easy to plan simple activities with your children and check them off to track your progress.
 
How do I get my downloadable kindness calendar? 

Once you register for the challenge, you’ll receive an email with a link to the calendar. From there, you can download it and check off each day’s challenge throughout the month! 

When will I receive my free Do Good & Share Kindness sticker?

Your sticker will be sent via USPS to the address you provided during your registration. Stickers will be mailed weekly on Thursdays, so keep an eye on the mailbox — you can expect to receive it in 2 weeks once mailed!

How do I get my free T-shirt? 
Once you join the 30-Day Kindness Challenge group on Facebook, you’ll receive a link to register. Complete the form and create your Facebook fundraiser for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. We’ll send you a free Do Good & Share Kindness T-shirt once you raise $100.

When will I receive my T-shirt in the mail? 

If you raise $100, your T-shirt will be shipped out once the challenge ends to the address you provided on your registration form. You can expect to receive your shirt 4-6 weeks after September 30.

Can I start before or after September 1? 

The great thing about kindness is you can practice it all the time! The calendar provided has 30 simple kind acts, one for each day of the month of September. But if you’re ready to start being kind before then, you’re our “kind” of person! Go ahead and fill out the calendar or even better — add some kind ideas of your own. 

We’ll share ideas, stories and inspiration (plus fundraising tips!) in the 30-Day Kindness Challenge Facebook Group, so don’t forget to follow along with others to turn your kind moments into a kind movement. 

What happens if I forget to do my act of kindness one day? 

Don’t stress. You won’t be penalized for missing a day. But remember, your one kind act can have a lasting impact and even encourage someone else to pay it forward. We encourage you to try to make up for those missed days by tackling a few extra kind acts on other days. 

How do I create a Facebook Fundraiser? 

It’s SO easy — we promise. Click here to set up your fundraiser with one click. 

What if I don’t have a Facebook account? 

If you’d like to participate in the 30-Day Kindness Challenge but don’t have a Facebook account, please email challenge@bgca.org. 

What is the Boys & Girls Club? 

For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs have provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs daily. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a typical year, more than 4,700 Clubs serve 4.3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country and serve military families in affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. 

How do the funds I raise make a difference? 

Every donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of America helps provide a safe place for kids in communities across the country where they can access critical meals and snacks, help with schoolwork, positive adult influences and access to opportunities that may not otherwise be possible to ensure a great future. 

Is my donation tax-deductible? 

Yes. Donations through Facebook are 100% tax-deductible. You will receive a donation receipt via email to the address associated with your Facebook account. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 

Can I fundraise on Instagram and not Facebook?
Kindness can come from anywhere, so if you’d prefer to fundraise outside of Facebook, we’re all for it! However, because your fundraiser is on a different platform, we won’t be able to track your progress in order to send your T-shirt when you reach $100. One option to spread the word but ensure we can give you credit is to use Instagram to share the link to your Facebook Fundraiser. Use the link sticker on Instagram Stories and people can go directly to your Fundraiser. Regardless, if you’ve earned your T-shirt by fundraising on a different platform, email us at challenge@bgca.org so we can get it to you.

I want to share with my coworkers and the families we serve. Do you have flyers?
We don’t have flyers, but would recommend you share the link to the 30-Day Kindness Challenge Facebook Group with them: https://bit.ly/Kindness-FBGroup. Once they join the group, they’ll have access to all the Challenge resources and a community of others who plan to participate .

Is there a way to do this school wide with elementary school students?
We’d love to have elementary students participate in the Challenge and designed the daily acts of kindness to be kid-friendly! If your students are younger than 13 and don’t have a Facebook, email us at challenge@bgca.org and we can set you up with some challenge resources.