UPCOMING KINDNESS EVENTS
Logo for Kindness is Free, powered by Boys & Girls Clubs, featuring a stylized heart and hands in blue.

Kindness is Free is a transformative initiative that aims to empower the next generation of youth by instilling values of equality, respect, and compassion for others. It encourages self-reflection and promotes treating everyone with fairness and empathy. The movement is expanding, and we invite individuals and organizations across Ventura County to join in promoting kindness, emphasizing the impact of small acts of compassion, and encouraging everyone to take the Kindness Pledge, committing to respect others, treat everyone as they wish to be treated, and practice daily acts of kindness. Kindness is Free strives to create a kinder, more inclusive world where empathy and respect are the foundation of daily interactions, making life better for all.

Four children standing behind a table filled with food and decorations in a classroom setting.

KIDNESS IS FREE HISTORY

  • Kindness is Free, powered by Boys & Girls Clubs, was a local initiative created in 2020 by the Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside. This remarkable program, spearheaded by visionary Lori Milgard and the Club’s CEO, JR Dzubak, has since blossomed into a movement that resonates far beyond its origins in Southern California.

    At its core, Kindness is Free aims to encourage a culture of compassion, inclusivity, and respect among the next generation of youth. It teaches the profound significance of treating others with fairness and compassion, both in words and actions. The program is designed to encourage introspection and instill values that underscore the importance of showing respect, treating everyone equally, and practicing empathy.

    The growth of the Kindness is Free initiative has led us to call upon people nationwide to join us in our mission to spread kindness. The underlying message is simple yet profound: small acts of kindness matter, and they are within reach of everyone. We invite everyone to take the Kindness Pledge, a commitment to respecting others, treating them as they would like to be treated, and embracing thoughtfulness in their daily life.

    Kindness is Free empowers individuals of all ages to make a positive impact by embracing kindness as a way of life. By fostering these values, the initiative seeks to create a world where empathy and respect are the norm, making it a better place for all.

A smiling girl holding a sign that reads, 'I TOOK THE KINDNESS PLEDGE!' outdoors with other children in the background.

TAKE THE KINDNESS PLEDGE

  • I pledge to show respect to others

    I pledge to treat others as I wish to be treated

    I pledge to be compassionate

    I pledge to do one act of kindness every day

    The Kindness Pledge is at the heart of the kindness program, and we invite everyone to take part!

    The pledge is short, universal, and intended to inspire all members of the community, from students and teens to business professionals and celebrities alike.

    The pledge touches on the three keys to kindness and gives you the opportunity to make a public declaration of your promise to be kind. When you take the official pledge, you are gifted a kindness pledge card to carry with you as a reminder of your commitment and a kindness badge to share on social media and in your email signature, commemorating your commitment to the mission.

A booth with a blue banner displaying the logo and text for Kindness Is Free, featuring a hand-shaking symbol. The booth has various items on the table including a prize wheel, candy, and merchandise such as bags and T-shirts. There are outdoor surroundings with a building and a bench in the background.

SCHEDULE A KINDNESS VISIT

  • The Kindness Program is mobile!

    If you’re in the Ventura County area, keep an eye out for us as we spread kindness at pop-up events throughout the region.

    Schedule us to come out to your next event! Kindness pop-ups can be hosted at schools, businesses, parks, churches, and anywhere the message of kindness is welcomed.

    Our pop-ups are curated to promote and deliver greater awareness for kindness in your community. Each pop-up includes the Kindness Pledge, Kindness is Free merchandise giveaways, and other fun surprises.

    Kindness is Free also hosts Kindness workshops, were our Kindness Coordinator does a deep dive into respect, equality and compassion in 4-week sessions.

    See a need in the community? Partner with Kindness is Free to meet needs such as creating hygiene kits, feeding unhoused neighbors, donating blankets to animal shelters and more!

    Jorozco@bgcop.org

    O: 805.806.7192

KINDNESS IS FREE at the Rose Parade

For the first time, the Boys & Girls Club proudly joined the Rose Parade! Thanks to the Skylight Foundation, our Kindness is Free float has appeared in 2024, 2025, and 2026, spreading the message that small acts of kindness make a big difference.

Each year, our whimsical floats have captured hearts on New Year’s Day, broadcast live from Pasadena, California:

  • 2024: A kind-hearted elephant holds an umbrella over a little mouse, showing that a simple act of care can brighten someone’s day.

  • 2025: Two squirrels share an acorn, reminding everyone that generosity and sharing bring people together.

  • 2026: The Three Little Pigs put aside differences to work together, transforming their story into one of friendship and collaboration.

Through three consecutive parades, the Boys & Girls Club has shared a simple but powerful message: kindness is contagious - and it’s a tradition worth celebrating.

2026

A group of people wearing rain gear and white caps gathered outdoors in front of a float with cartoon characters and flowers during a parade.

2025

SCHEDULE A VISIT FROM KINDNESS IS FREE
A large group of students standing in front of a floral parade float featuring characters from the movie Ice Age, including Scrat, a squirrel holding an acorn, and a colorful bird with flowers, set against a background of trees and buildings.

2024

A large parade float featuring a colorful purple elephant with a pink and white umbrella and a smaller gray elephant, surrounded by flowers and people watching the parade on the street.
  • Left side of image shows a group of smiling children and adults in blue jackets, standing in front of a large statue decorated with flowers. Right side of image shows two smiling young people, one girl and one boy, holding flags and standing at an outdoor event with palm trees in the background.

    Highlights from the Kindness float in the 2024 Rose Parade

  • Port Hueneme Teen Center members made 150 lunch sacks to hand out to unhoused people in our community

  • Two boys sitting in a classroom, each wearing a bracelet with colorful beads, and both wearing black hoodies.

    Be Kind bracelet-making at the Squires Clubhouse

  • Colorful handmade signs reading "OUR KINDNESS QUEST" with drawings and decorated cards below.

    The Port Hueneme "Kindness Quilt"

  • A young boy with glasses and dark hair, wearing a blue shirt, holding up a black shirt with the words "Kindness is Free" printed on it, in a room with beige brick walls and metal tables.

    New Kindness Is Free swag

  • A smiling woman in a wheelchair holding colorful handmade kindness cards, alongside a group of young girls sitting on a bench, holding up their own handmade holiday cards for seniors, under a sign that reads 'Delivering Kindness cards to seniors!'

    Our Kindness Ambassadors created and delivered heartwarming cards to seniors in a local nursing home

  • A young girl with long dark hair making a fist with her right hand, wearing a white t-shirt with a blue cartoon character, and a bracelet with beads.

    Be Kind bracelets at the Martin V. Smith Youth Center

  • Two women are standing outside near a garden bed with flowers, holding hands with their arms extended, making a heart shape with their fingertips. One woman is wearing a black t-shirt and black pants, and the other is wearing a gray t-shirt and beige cargo pants. Behind them is a blue sign that reads 'Kindness is Free' and a building with windows and a small garden with flowering plants.

    Promoting kindness throughout our community with these Kindness Is Free yard signs

  • Group of six people at an indoor event holding signs that say, 'I TOOK THE KINDNESS PLEDGE!' and 'WE TOOK THE KINDNESS PLEDGE AT BGCA CONFERENCE!' with a backdrop displaying the logos 'Kindness is Free' and 'Boys & Girls Clubs,' accompanied by blue balloon decorations and a light blue and navy color scheme.

    team at the 2023 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Pacific Regional Conference took the Kindness Pledge

  • Group of women and girls standing in a room, holding signs for different activity stations including hair styling, nail art, and makeup application, with some women wearing shirts that say "Kindness is Free," and a few women standing behind the stations.

    Kindness is Free & Smart Girls Club members volunteering at a Day of Hope, providing nails and beauty services for cancer survivors and patients