Terri Rimmer

By Terri Rimmer A friend of mine used to do nice things for people and not tell the recipient or anyone else, like putting change in some parking meters for people. My sister has always done random acts of kindness like these. It’s hard to do something nice for someone and not tell anyone if you’re an egomaniac. Two of my friends used to gather up all the shopping carts in the parking lot at Albertsons – just for kindness. Or sometimes they would pick up the litter. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation inspires people to practice kindness to others. Through the circulation of ideas and the development of materials and programs kindness coordinators incorporate kindness into thousands of people’s lives. So do educators, students, community groups, service clubs, and others. Established in 1995 as a 501 © 3 non-profit, the Foundation is a resource for those committed to spreading kindness. Ten years later you can see bumper stickers reading “Commit A Random Act of Kindness Today.” The

By Terri Rimmer In May 1991 a three-day-old drug-addicted newborn came to live with Lisa Matthews, founder of Kid Net Foundation. He had no name on his birth certificate and his mother was unable to care for him. He was given the name Jonathan by Matthews and her two sons and adopted within a short time by a Dallas, TX couple. Today he is a happy, healthy 11-year-old and The Foundation’s first major project, Jonathan’s Place is named in his honor. Jonathan’s was the first licensed foster group home in Texas for drug-addicted babies and small children, created and operated by the Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1991 by Matthews and Phil Matteis to provide specialized services and housing to at-risk children in Dallas County and throughout the state. The facility is a 24-hour, licensed emergency shelter for kids. The 2005 Chi Omega Christmas Market has pledged $40,000 to establish an in-house therapy program at Jonathan’s House. From June 1991 to June 1992 research was c