Spread Kindness To Save Lives Newsletter

Dear Kindness Advocates,

As we reflect on another exciting month, I am incredibly encouraged by the momentum surrounding The Luken T. Boyle Campaign for Kindness. What began as a mission to honor Luken’s life continues to evolve into a growing movement that is building partnerships, expanding our reach, and creating new opportunities to positively influence young people, families, and communities.

Our 9th Annual Kindness Rally was another important milestone in bringing our community together around the shared belief that kindness has the power to save lives. The event continues to grow each year thanks to the incredible support of volunteers, community partners, local leaders, and supporters like you. We were honored to have the Mayor of Toledo participate in this year’s event, reinforcing the importance of kindness as a community-wide priority.

The Rally also generated meaningful media attention. The Toledo Free Press featured two stories highlighting our mission—one sharing the heart behind our Campaign and another promoting the Rally itself. Additional coverage by local television helped introduce our work to even more families throughout Northwest Ohio. Every article, interview, and social media post expands awareness of our mission and helps connect us with individuals who may need hope, resources, or an opportunity to become involved.

One of the most exciting developments this month is a new partnership with the Wayman Palmer YMCA. We have been invited to establish what will become the first intergenerational Kindness Room within a YMCA.

This innovative concept will bring together youth and senior adults to work side by side in promoting kindness throughout the facility and the surrounding community. By intentionally connecting generations through service and compassion, we believe this model has tremendous potential—not only for the Wayman Palmer YMCA, but as a blueprint that could be replicated by YMCAs and community centers across the region and beyond.

The enthusiasm from YMCA leadership has been inspiring, and every conversation reinforces our belief that Kindness Rooms are evolving from a successful school initiative into a scalable community engagement model.

Our commitment to collaboration also continues to grow. I remain actively involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, where I serve on the planning committee for this year’s International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. This work connects us with leading professionals, community organizations, and families who share our commitment to providing hope and healing for those affected by suicide. These partnerships continue to strengthen both our programming and our ability to serve others.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we are looking forward to reconnecting with many of the schools we have served over the years while also expanding activities within our existing Kindness Rooms. We want these spaces to become more than physical locations—they are intended to become living communities where students continually practice leadership, empathy, inclusion, and service throughout the year.

Behind the scenes, we are also preparing for several initiatives that will significantly expand our long-term impact. Development continues on the Campaign for Kindness Podcast, which will allow us to share conversations about kindness, bullying prevention, mental health, and hope with audiences far beyond the communities we can reach in person. We are also strengthening our communications strategy to increase our digital presence and engage more supporters through compelling stories of lives being changed by kindness.

Every one of these initiatives reflects the same vision: to build a culture where kindness becomes an everyday practice, communities become stronger, and young people know they are seen, valued, and never alone.

None of this growth would be possible without your generosity and belief in our mission. Your support is helping transform a local campaign into a regional movement—one that is creating innovative programs, building strategic partnerships, and reaching more people each year with a message of hope.

Thank you for investing in this work and for believing, as we do, that kindness has the power to save lives.

With gratitude and determination,