About Kindness is Free
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.
The Kindness Mission
Kindness is Free wants to empower the next generation by teaching kindness and bringing awareness to its importance in the equal treatment, respect, and compassion for others. Through presentations, pop-ups, and special Kindness Pledge events, the movement is spreading the message of respect and kindness to the Greater Los Angeles area and inspiring youth to take charge.
The Kindness Vision
Our vision is to provide youth with the tools, resources and engagements to better understand the meaning of kindness and help shape the next generation’s values while improving their social and emotional behavior, ultimately leading to safer communities. The hope is for individuals and institutions nationwide to join us in promoting kindness by implementing Kindness is Free programming and teaching youth about the importance of equal treatment, respect, and consideration of others.
History
Kindness is Free was created and established in 2020 by Lori Milgard and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside, JR Dzubak. The program quickly found success and resonated with Club members, parents, and the surrounding communities of East Los Angeles. On August 30th, 2021, it was highlighted as a feature in The Wall Street Journal, which led to greater opportunities of growth for the program.
In 2022, Kindness is Free saw tremendous expansion, beginning with the inaugural Kindness is Free Carnival hosted in Boyle Heights. More than 400 Club members celebrated kindness with carnival games, food, and a petting zoo, among other fun activities. Later that year, the program officially launched at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oxnard and Point Hueneme. By the end of 2022, it expanded to include classroom presentations and kindness pop-ups at schools, businesses, and the Club’s corporate partners.
In 2023, the Kindness is Free program had its biggest and most successful year by spreading the message of kindness through curated events, including a week-long backpack drive across ten school districts across Southern California, a campaign to help the victims of the Maui fire, and give-back events that support first responders in the community. The Club has turned the kindness campaign into a movement by launching its programming into more Boys & Girls Clubs, implementing kindness assemblies into school systems, recognizing pledged schools as “Schools of Kindness”, pledging individuals during national pop-ups and conferences, and reaching a goal of 23,000 individuals pledged by the end of the year.
The Kindness is Free initiative is generously supported by the Skylight Foundation, which focuses on the improvement and health of the greater Los Angeles community. The funding priority areas include youth empowerment programs, social service programs, education, health, and wellness, with over 70% of the 2023 donations gifted to youth programs.
Meet our Chief Kindness Officer
Josué Arias
Josué is from Los Angeles, CA, and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from the California State University of Northridge and is also a dual member of the Beverly Hills and Monterey Park Rotary Clubs. With more than a decade of experience working with nonprofit youth development organizations and leadership in after-school environments, Josué brings a wealth of experience to the Chief Kindness Officer position at the Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside. He has been with the Club since 2022 and has played a pivotal role in the positive expansion of the kindness program. Josué is committed to continuing to drive even more growth for the program and impact more communities with the Kindness is Free movement. He is passionate about sharing the importance of kindness with schools, businesses, clubs, churches, and anywhere else the message of kindness is welcomed. He resides in Inglewood, CA, with his wife, Rachel, and their dog Stella.
Contact Josue Arias (he/him)
phone_iphone 626-573-2831 mail josuea@wsgvbgc.org