Newtown Kindness will hold its second annual Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards ceremony at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 5:30-10 p.m.
The awards ceremony, which takes place on Charlotte’s birthday, is the organization’s premiere event. It is the culmination of the organization’s work to encourage acts of kindness by children and asking them to share their stories of kindness with the Newtown Kindness team.
Six-year-old Lucia St. Lorenzo is a winner in one of the categories. The young Newtown girl fed Newtown police officers working on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and sent them Valentine’s Day cards.
“It makes me feel happy because I’m making people feel happy,” said St. Lorenzo.
More than 40 children and teens from 14 states and two countries will be honored Saturday.
Thousands of nominations were received. Their stories are remarkable.
“We hear about a 4 or 5-year-old kid that helped someone get up from a playground,” said Chairman of Newtown Kindness, Aaron Carlson. “Then we hear about 17, 18-year-old kids who start their own radio station to fight against bullying.”
Sixteen-year-old Corey Taylor flew in from Las Vegas. She hosts a weekly Internet radio show. The topics vary, but bullying is at the core of the conversation.
“I tell them to go talk to their teachers, their parents, even their friends that they can trust. Get help. That’s our main thing is to let them know to get help.”
The organization believes that no act is too small, so every entry is recognized with a certificate. Exceptional entries are recognized with a Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award. The award recipients are selected by members of the Newtown Kindness Board, including Charlotte’s grandfather, Dan Bacon. Consideration is given to those acts of kindness that show tremendous personal effort, impact, creativity, motivation, influence and long term benefit.