GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Bringing Kindness to Ada, that's the goal of "Kindness for All" lead by the PTO of Ada Elementary School.
According to PTO board president Jamie Farber, the initiative is in remembrance of three past Ada Elementary Students who embodied kindness throughout their lives.
All three, leaving this world too early.
The "All" in Kindness for All represents three names:
Audrey Janderona who passed away in 2018 at five-years-old. She was known for her smile and her red framed glasses.
Luke Balstad passed away in November of 2022. His mom Kim Vanantwerp says he would fill the room with joy and kindness where ever he went.
"All three of these kids are incredible," said Vanantwerp. "And that was Luke. He was highly intellectual. He loved learning. But I think what set Luke apart is his ability to relate to anyone to really look out and be kind to leave notes for people."
Lucas VanSprange who passed away in 2015. His 2nd grade teacher Penny Beatty describes him as a model student and a good friend.
"A lot of students that would come into my classroom that had special needs," said Beatty. "And Lucas was always very inclusive, and always a friend to everybody. He also was an athlete and just had fun on the playground with everyone."
A year in the works, Kindness For All will focus on showing kindness and helping community members as a whole.
"We have had an emergency fund for years that we have used for things like groceries, school supplies, winter coats for families who have needed it," said Farber. "But we want to extend that to also you know, if a family is having surgery, provide a meal for them. If you know someone could use a card, that sort of thing."
Farber adds that Kindness For All will also look to:
Add painted designs to the playground blacktop, add self affirmations and positive messages around the school and classrooms, and funding small community kindness projects.
Ada Elementary Principal Melanie Hoeksma, excited to see this project move forward.
"It means the world to me, I think it future generations will be impacted," said Hoeksma. "That encompasses our community, also in our families. So often we focus in on our students, but this is going bigger and better. And we get a chance to really spread kindness."
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