Laura Reiss // Founder & Chief Kindness Officer at Kindness Matters 365
Meet Laura Reiss the Founder & Chief Kindness Officer at Kindness Matters 365. Vision: Global Kindness. Mission: Inspiring a Kinder World, One Child at a Time!
Special thanks to Laura for sharing with us!
What was the inspiration to start this business?
Back in 2007, I conceived the program upon which The Kindness Matters 365 (KM365) Foundation was built. My passion to “give back” and inspire others to do the same was seeded by my kind parents and fueled by my commitment to raise my three young children with the values of compassion, gratitude, and kindness. In 2008 I started a Kindness program at our local Elementary in Boca Raton, FL where my children were going to school. It started out as a free, after-school club with 35 children. Every time we got together, I spoke with the children about gratitude, being truly happy for who they were and what they had, compassion and mindfulness about how our words and actions effect others and simply giving back and showing Kindness where we could. We talked about saving the environment, the many ways to give back, respecting yourself and others, showing kindness to yourself, and about being kind in the home, school, community, and the world…and feeling really good about all of it! Our Kindness meetings quickly became a monthly program with an interactive, inspirational, effective format. Each month, a speaker from different philanthropic organizations came and shared who they were and how they found their ways to contribute to our world. We engaged in hands-on projects and school-wide drives to give back to the speakers’ organizations….dog toys for the Humane Society, thank you letters to our Forgotten Soldiers, get-well art for sick children in hospitals, kindness care packages for foster kids and so much more. The intention was for all participants to listen, learn, interact and do something to give back at each meeting, and it was working! Beyond that, KM365 meetings were always heart-warming, moving, inspiring and educational. I can’t tell you how many times I cried in these meetings, not only because of the amazing speakers sharing their stories but from watching the kids’ reactions. I hold so many beautiful memories and stories in my heart. With the success of these club meetings, I began to put structure around our program and train volunteer “Ambassadors of Kindness” who could run additional KM365 clubs in this same format. Our invaluable Ambassadors invigorated KM365 with new energy and created our clubs in new grades, new schools, and new communities. At this time, I collaborated with local organizations and authorities (police and fire departments) to become involved, get support, and provide speakers. I enrolled and organized children in clubs; managed fundraising drives; collected, sorted and delivered items at all events; furthered parent and school administration involvement; and so much more. It was time to share, train and give it away so that others could implement their own kindness clubs and spread the kindness in their communities. In 2014, after seeing the transformation of every child that went through the KM365 program and considering the overwhelming positive response from our community, I decided to create the KM365 Foundation, committed to a kindness conversation in every school and community in the world. As more and more people heard about KM365, they wanted to be a part of it. Our Foundation responded by modifying our program to include everyone from younger children to teenagers, and by introducing our clubs to all school levels, summer camps, community centers and more. We even created a youth leadership track for teens. Many of our participants began serving as Ambassadors for other clubs, and others found their ways to give back by starting their own foundations! In the past few years we realized how important these educational meetings were for our teachers and should be in the classrooms as well. Our teachers and educators need this as much as the children! We started to work with Social and Emotional Learning experts and created our one of a kind Kindness Curriculum in an effort to have our Kindness curriculum in all classrooms as well. We call these our Kindness in Schools (KIS) programs. Our curriculum’s focus on self-awareness, compassion, empathy and service learning; builds resilient, confident students, safer environments, and stronger communities. With our Kindness in Schools (KIS) Program Using our Kindness Curriculum ©, we train entire school faculties and administrations how to teach their whole student body to be happier, improve their well-being, increase their chances for higher academic achievement, and contribute to safer school environments. This unique platform addresses a gap found in education by providing children with a formalized approach to learning kindness and the social emotional skills needed to bolster their cognitive intelligence. To date (July 8 2020), we have over 500 trained Ambassadors, over 100 programs in 10 states and we have impacted the lives of tens of thousands. To date ( July 8, 2020) we have: Delivered over 650,000 community service hours. We work with over 60 local charities in each community where there is a program, each year. Raised approximately $4 million in disaster relief efforts. AND Collected and distributed $1.4 million+ in goods My heart is filled with gratitude for our accomplishments so far, and I realize we have so much more to do. This is an exciting point for our Foundation as we have created and are expanding a global kindness movement. This kindness movement is for EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE… all colors, all religions, all ages, all beliefs, all sexual preferences, all genders, all financial situations. Together, we have and we will continue to make a profound, positive impact on the world – one person, one family, one school, one community, one state, one country at a time. My commitment is to leave this world a better place for our children, their children & their children. I am talking about a new generation of kind-minded human beings. This is possible and it is happening! We have impacted the lives of tens of thousands of kids and adults around the Country and we are growing fast. We are on our way to a kinder world.
When you started your business, did you ever envision that you would be where you are now?
YES! AND NO! Long story short... I am watching my vision come to life only in a very different way then I originally imagined it. Bigger, better, faster and more important than I had realized back in 2007.
Was there ever a time that things didn't fall into place, struggles or challenges? What were they and how did you get past it and grow from the experience?
Absolutely, many challenges over the years. Perseverance, persistence, playfulness and a lot of faith gets me through any difficult situation. I came to the understanding that I can NOT do and be everything for the Foundation. I'm pretty clear of my own strength and weakness'. Surround yourself with the people who are good at what your not. It's a beautiful thing when you can celebrate your strengths and join forces with others who have strengths where your weaknesses are. Partnership and collaboration is a beautiful thing. Thank G-d for my bookkeeper!!!! Numbers are NOT my thing!
What was the biggest lesson you learned while starting and growing this business?
One of the many major lessons I have learned is that ANYTHING is possible. If you have a dream, a vision and take the necessary actions to get there, anything is possible.
What would you tell a FEM that is struggling in her business and feeling like it's too difficult?
KEEP GOING!!! The struggle only means you are on your way. It does NOT mean it's not working, it means it's not working yet. Keep going!
What continues to inspire you to keep on growing your business?
The transformation of human beings. I have seen it with my own two eyes, children and adults . I believe in the future where we are ONLY treating each other, all beings everywhere, with Kindness. Global Kindness!!! This is why I am here, to be of service, and part of the solution for a better world.
Final advice for those thinking of starting a business or looking to grow their current business?
If this is your calling, what gets you up in the morning or your 'why', anything is possible. Surround yourself with positive, Kind, hard working, like minded people and get it done! The Universe has your back! Oh, and HAVE FUN!!! Life is way too serious : )
How can FEMS follow you?
Find me on social here:
https://www.facebook.com/laura.w.reiss
https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmatters365org/
https://www.instagram.com/laurawaldorfreiss/
https://www.instagram.com/kindnessmatters365/
You can also find more info here: http://www.kindnessmatters365.org/