Kindness Starts With One®

One smile. One hug. One cup of coffee. One person...

Do you have someone in your life who inspired you to be a better person? Did you witness an act of kindness that left an impression? Share your kindness story with the world.

Tell Us Your Kindness Story
Who's Your One?

Vicky Conner, my mom♡ She's helped not just her family but so so many other families that don't have foid,clothes,or money. She will buy what anyone needs so they won't do without. She has always had a big heart and has helped so many people. Shes on a fixed budget and she still provifes fir people. Very selfless and caring...

Submitted by Melanie Shanks
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My mom- she has given so much of herself to others whether being a teacher, coworker, counselor or parent. She is 82 and is still at it!

Submitted by Paula Clay
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My youngest son, Michael, was taken too soon almost 5 years ago now. He was pursuing an advanced degree in International Studies and Conflict Resolution, searching for ways to help people understand each other, because he said, “If we understand each other, we won’t destroy each other.” Everyone he met became a friend and every day he made someone’s day...

Submitted by Barbara Marks
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My cousin, Shepali, is a genuinely decent, loving, generous, patient and kind soul. She actually gave me my RAK tasks for this week, making them fairly easy as she took into consideration that I'm not too well. She ALWAYS pays attention to those around her. She's been through a lot in life, but inspite of all of that (or maybe...

Submitted by Anjumanara Hussain
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My ‘one’ my great friend Chris Borja. Chris started a local Networking group that today has over 2,000 active members. He is an author, public speaker, instructor, husband, father, and my friend. Chris donates many hours a month helping others learn a better way to connect with people. He advocates listening before speaking, fulfilling the needs of others before self,...

Submitted by Cyndy Keller
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My beautiful mother is my one... she has been my inspiration through every age and stage and is the strongest person I know. Through it all she has remained steadfast in her belief that a warm smile and a kind word can fix most anything, and even through her recent cancer diagnosis, massive surgery, and looming chemo, is as resilient,...

Submitted by Katherine Lewis
Read Story
Who's Your One?

I met a girl 20 years younger than me in community college a few years ago . Her name is Tameka Brown , she's now 21 . She and I became friends and worked often on projects for class together , it wasn't for several months until she made me aware that at 18 she had a heart transplant ,...

Submitted by laura Brown
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My one is my Granda Tommy he is the best man I’ll ever know he was the kindest most generous and loving man I’ll ever know he brought up five kids in with barely two coins to rub together but always put them first. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here my first word was actually Granda all...

Submitted by Kya
Read Story
Friendship Everlasting

My ONE is the one and only, Lisa Cassilli. I met Lisa when I was in high school. She was my student assistance counselor and from early on we formed a bond unlike anything I have ever really experienced. From that point on she has shown up in my life in countless ways over countless times, helping me find strength...

Submitted by Lauren Alfaro
Read Story
Encouraging Musician

My high school music teacher, Doug Shippey, recognized a talent in me that has changed my life. I was a very shy, quiet student who had returned to Canada as a refugee from Cyprus in 1974. I began taking strings as a music option in grade 7 and immediately fell in love with the violin. From the very beginning, I...

Submitted by Tina Giannopoulos
Read Story
Always Loving, Grammie

My grammie was the "one" who showed me the most kindness. She took my sister, my mom, and I in when my parents divorced. I was three-years-old and my entire life was being uprooted. I had no idea what was going on or why. My gram never hesitated. She opened her door, retired from her job, and become the mom...

Submitted by Heather Campbell
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My Mom My Mom had a very strong sense of right, wrong and the importance of being the one to step up. Growing up, this was not always appreciated as she would stop the car while driving me to school to break up a fight between students or engaging in conversation with anyone anywhere much to my embarrassment. Later in...

Submitted by Natasha Merrick
Read Story
Who's Your One?

Dr. Haru Inouye, former CEO of the Shinnyo-en Foundation asked me, What do you need and how we can help you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPQiPIfRtLU. Then, he put the whole power of his organization to support my small actions through pinwheels for peace to raise awareness of the International Day of Peace. I was of no significance, but somewhat he focused on my...

Submitted by Carmen Clay
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My dad is my ‘one’. He taught me to always stand up and fight for those who are most vunerable or cannot fight for themselves. He taught me to be fair, understanding, and above all else kind. He taught me to delight in differences and embrace equality. He taught me all these things by his living example and the actions...

Submitted by Susan Hillman
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My "One" is my mom, Denise Montgomery. She is 51 years old, but she is the best person in my life. She is a Principal in North Carolina, and that occupies most of her time, but I never feel forgotten. She has been through a lot, especially this past year. One day my mom felt really bad, and we had...

Submitted by Marcella Montgomery
Read Story
Who's Your One?

Jenitza Laguna, my sister. Where do I even begin... I am truly blessed to have someone as special as my sister to have walked along the way with me. In good times but also in bad times. Recently my husband lost his job and she was there not only to pray for me but to also help me with the...

Submitted by Linamar Negron
Read Story
Who's Your One?

The person that inspires me is my dad. My dad has gone through so much. In 2005 he was diagnosed with accute Leukemia. When my dad was going through this different ones stepped up and helped our family out. After a long fought battle and almost loosing my dad several times we are blessed and he is still alive today....

Submitted by Karen Unander
Read Story
Delivering Meals with Love

My 'one' is my mom, who joined my dad in Heaven in 2015. From the time my sisters and I were young, she instilled in us the value of "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you". She was the neighbor who would make soup or a pie for a neighbor who wasn't well. The Meals on...

Submitted by Ann Mahoney
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My father, Claude Philips, was the inspiration for my lifelong journey to help those that I can whenever possible with a loving heart and no expectation of repayment.

Submitted by Ellen
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My daughter Marlie Ann! She has the most naturally kind spirit about her. Since she was a baby her smile made people happy. From the time she could talk, she always complimented people for simple things such as jewelry or their name. She stands up for those who don't know how to or aren't in the room and always sees...

Submitted by Elizabeth Doran
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My daughter Marlie Ann! She has the most naturally kind spirit about her. Since she was a baby her smile made people happy. From the time she could talk, she always complimented people for simple things such as jewelry or their name. She stands up for those who don't know how to or aren't in the room and always sees...

Submitted by Elizabeth Doran
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My "One" is L M Montgomery. I read it when I was 8 years old and I was inspired to be "good": to stop automatically lying to my mum (that was surprisingly hard to stop as the lies kept popping out my mouth without my even thinking about it!), to try to be kind to others and I was inspired...

Submitted by Fiona
Read Story
Doctors of Kindness

Both of my children receive regular care from University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. It is about 7 hours away from us in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They have been patients of Dr. Steve Kasten and the craniofacial team since birth due to cleft lip and palate. This year, my son's fifth grade class read the book Wonder, which is...

Submitted by Gail Brazeau
Read Story
Accepting Hunter

Hi! I would like to tell you about my ‘one’, Jaymie Lute. I have known Jaymie for almost 11 years. She is the most thoughtful, kind, and generous person I have ever met, and simply radiates positivity. She is always doing for others, never asking for anything in return. My son, Hunter, is Autistic. There are many times that I feel...

Submitted by Mistee Hurley
Read Story
Who's Your One?

Here is the link to an article that I wrote about 'the ones ': https://m.facebook.com/CambodiansNOW/photos/a.177039816016149.1073741827.124025737984224/487526774967450/?type=3&source=54&ref=page_internal

Submitted by Julie Daniels
Read Story
Who's Your One?

My ONE is such an amazing man! He is kind and patient. He is loyal and compassionate. It's hard to express how wonderful Steve is and how grateful I am to have met him. He's supported me in so many ways for over 15 years and he encourages me to follow my dreams. I am a better teacher and human...

Submitted by Jeff Raposa
Read Story
Climbing with Kindness

Fran did something for both Jess and me that I will never forget. In 2008, we climbed Kilimanjaro as part of a charity challenge. Jess and I had low spirits on summit night as we hadn't spoken to our families for almost 10 days. The night was a big one on our journey; it's not a walk in the park...

Submitted by Juli Dosad
Read Story
Changing for Marcus

When I first met Marcus, a street man I saw everyday going to work, I did not make eye contact nor give him money. Slowly, I felt a change in my heart and started talking to him, learning about why he was there. The story was not what I expected. Because of Marcus, I started looking up instead of down when...

Submitted by Susan Burt
Read Story
Who's Your One?

I was at the gym on a treadmill that looks out onto the street and there was a woman's car on the side of the road with a flat. After running 1 mile nobody bothered to check on her (Monica) so I got off my treadmill and asked if I could help. She told me she had a tow truck...

Submitted by Patrick B
Read Story
Who's Your One?

Karen Lewis was my son's first grade teacher. She always put her students first and challenged them each day to be better. She gave her heart and shared her experiences with her students. I was proud to have been her room parent and saw how much she cared for her students. Although she was tough at times, it was because...

Submitted by Suzan Chiang
Read Story