And the winners of the
April 2007 Coin-spiracy
Story Contest are...

Engagement in Kindness Outreach and Education Category Winners (tie)

Grandin’s kindness projects include food drives to support a partner school in the inner city. For several years now, the school has committed to supporting the small town of Zana, Peru with fundraising efforts initiated by the students, staff and parents. The Grandin Choir and String Orchestra shares the gift of music in seniors’ homes, the Provincial Legislature and the downtown business district. The school prays as a community in French and Spanish for each other and for the world. During Random Acts of Kindness Week, the staff and students organized a “Grandin Kindness Express” and shared the message of kindness with Edmonton’s mayor, the Superintendent of Edmonton Catholic Schools, Edmonton Food Bank, seniors’ homes and centres for the homeless.

Burnaby Central (Burnaby, British Columbia) - UNI #178

Members of Burnaby Central's Coin-spiracy Team

Through participation in the Coin-spiracy project, students are developing positive leadership skills, and raising their own and others’ self esteem, both within the school and in the community. In addition to the Coin-spiracy, Burnaby Central is also involved in several other socially-conscious education projects including “Jump Rope for Heart” which provides an opportunity for students to gain health education and get physically active. The school’s Social Responsibility Committee shows leadership in improving the social climate of the school and community by volunteering for extra responsibilities, and modeling ethics and respect for all. The group speaks out and takes action to support diversity and defend human rights. The Committee’s "Live Without Hate" project reflects their belief that school is a place for all, and that hate hurts everyone. Through their activities, the Committee provides knowledge and information to help educate everyone in the school about social justice issues, and remains optimistic in their commitment to making the world a better place.

Demonstrating the Ripple Effect of Kindness Category Winner

A pen & notebook for all

By fine tuning their existing recycling program and returning all the used beverage containers to the recycling depot, Glenview collected $500. The proceeds were then used to show kindness to an all-girls school in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. The school enrolls 1,100 girls between the ages of 6 and 14. Much needed school supplies were purchased in the local economy in Kandahar, and each girl received a notebook and a pen. 120 girls on the Honour Roll each received a deluxe zip-up binder featuring a built-in calculator. Aided by the kindness shown by Glenview’s students and staff, the girls at the Kandahar school are receiving the tremendous gift of education; and through the girls, their families, communities, and country also benefit. For their kind act to self, Glenview Elementary chose a reading project, and creatively made it both an individual and team effort by striving to reach a Guinness Book of World Records goal: the most people reading simultaneously from the same passage. The passage was from the book, Charlotte’s Web, and as a treat, the entire school went to see the movie as the very first people in Prince George to see the movie at their local theatre.

This is Glenview Elementary’s second Coin-spiracy Story Contest win. In the 2003-2004 Coin-spiracy campaign, Glenview won with the kindness stories inspired by UNI #130.

Creating a SPASH Category Winner

RAK Club with Premier Campbell on Legislature steps

The RAK idea started at Central School in December 2005 and was led by several very special grade 4/5 students who had a dream to spread kindness. After practicing random acts of kindness in their school and local community, the RAK Club wanted to spread the message of kindness further. After meeting with school district and government officials, and showing them a PowerPoint presentation the students created on their own, the RAK Club accomplished their goal: the Coquitlam School District announced that January and February 2007 as the official RAK months for the entire district; both Port Moody and Port Coquitlam City Councils passed proclamations supporting RAK Week from February 12-19, 2007; and in January 2007, the provincial government passed a proclamation to support the celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Week during February 12-19, 2007 for all of British Columbia! And the RAK Club hasn’t stopped there…. They are currently donating their lunch times to create a flower garden for Hawthorne Centre, a local seniors’ home. Donations of supplies and funds to support this project are welcomed by the students of the RAK Club.

Special Acknowledgement

Burnaby City Counsellor - Garth Evans