Connecticut Celebration of Kindness

Each guest will receive two free beverages from Reverie’s large craft beer selection. Soft drinks and water will also be available at no charge. Mine Hill Distillery will be offering samplings of their Craft Spirits.

What started as quietly thinking about relaxing at the end of the day with an IPA quickly flourished from pining over the success of other craft breweries to the reality of creating floor plans and refining beer recipes. Reverie Brewing Company’s vision is to create and promote high-quality great tasting beer for beer-lovers to enjoy. We strive to be a positive and honest partner to the community and to brew craft beers with integrity while focusing on sustainability. Learn more at https://reveriebrewing.com/

Food for the event will be provided by FLIK Independent School Dining and will feature a “Smok’d Food Truck.”

Flik Independent School Dining is a team of food and nutrition experts dedicated entirely to creating fun, healthful and innovative dining solutions for private and independent school communities. As the only dining services company specializing exclusively in independent school education, Flik understands that every independent school campus is different and we partner with each school community to customize a program that meets the needs of their unique student body. Fresh, healthful food preparation utilizing batch cooking techniques and locally and sustainably-sourced ingredients is the cornerstone of our program. Learn more at https://www.flikisd.com/

During a Celebration of Kindness, Ben’s Bells will honor the kind work that is being done in our community with our Community Kindness Ambassador Awards. These awards were established to honor honor kind students, teachers, schools, coworkers, and business organizations in the community for making a difference through their outstanding kindness. 

Adult Kindness Champion

Kelly Clark

Kelly embodies kindness in her daily actions and interactions with others. Whether it’s through simple gestures like holding the door open for someone or actively listening to a friend in need, Kelly consistently demonstrates the importance of kindness.

She actively participates in local charity events such as the Vicki Soto 5k. By supporting these events, she not only contributes to important causes but also inspires others in the community to get involved and make a positive impact.

As an educator, Kelly fosters inclusivity and empathy among her students. She creates an environment where all students feel valued and respected, regardless of their backgrounds or differences. By promoting empathy, Kelly encourages her students to understand and appreciate each other’s perspectives.

Kelly makes it a point to recognize and celebrate acts of kindness within her community. Whether it’s acknowledging a student who helps a classmate or praising a neighbor for their generosity, she ensures that acts of kindness are celebrated and appreciated.

She understands the importance of self-care and wellbeing in fostering kindness. She encourages community members to prioritize their mental and physical health, knowing that acts of kindness often stem from a place of inner peace and contentment.

Overall, Kelly’s efforts to promote intentional kindness in her community are commendable. By leading by example, participating in charity events, fostering inclusivity and empathy, recognizing acts of kindness, and promoting self-care, she creates a culture of kindness that positively impacts those around her.

Youth Kindness Champions

James and Kate with their Kindness Club and teacher Barbara Strashum

Last year two third-grade students approached their teacher, Barbara Strashum, to start a kindness club. Several weeks passed, and they approached her again and followed up again. These amazing kids rallied their classmates and the Kindness/Leadership Club was born at Meeting House Hill School in New Fairfield.  

Students eagerly gave up their recess time to meet with Mrs. Strashum weekly, and the Kindness Club numbers grew. Kate and James had many ideas about how to add kindness to their school and community. They were able to turn many of these ideas into reality last year with a kindness cart for teachers, kindness affirmations on lockers of all students, and “Ripples of Kindness”-themed morning meetings conducted by these third graders, in the classrooms of kindergarten students.

Their Kindness Club numbers have doubled this year. Kate and James are still present as leadership, but allowing for peers to share responsibility and leadership opportunities. They are currently working on a whole-school kindness-themed morning meeting and the creation of a healing space for a beloved school psychologist who passed last year. These kiddos are definitely paying it forward!

The Kindness/Leadership Club plans to continue next year as these students transition to 5th grade. We can’t wait to see what these kids think of next.

Ben’s Bells Volunteer Legacy Award

Liz Teed

We are proud to present the Ben’s Bells Volunteer Legacy Award for 2024 posthumously to Liz Teed. Liz was an active volunteer with Ben’s Bells whose impact is still being experienced by her family, friends, colleagues, students, and fellow Ben’s Bells Volunteers. Liz  worked tirelessly to spread the message of intentional kindness. Liz was instrumental in bringing the Kind Campus program to the Bethel School system, where she worked first as an EL teacher and then as a 4th-grade teacher. Our current Studio Manager, Mallory Bruno, was a student in Liz’s classroom and was greatly impacted by Liz’s focus on Kindness. Mallory is an example of the ripples of kindness that Liz set in motion that continue to this day. 

Shortly after Liz’s untimely death, her family, friends, and supporters rallied together and greatly influenced Ben’s Bells, finding a permanent home in our current Bethel Studio. We will  honor Liz with a plaque in the studio next to our other Legacy Volunteers who, like Liz, have given so much of themselves to Ben’s Bells’ mission.