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Arizona Gives Day

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

What is Arizona Gives Day?

Arizona Gives is a collaboration between the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Grantmakers that began in 2013. Arizona Gives helps people find, learn about, and contribute to the local causes they believe in, like Ben’s Bells. They help raise awareness about Arizona nonprofits’ critical role in our communities and inspire people to give generously to nonprofits, making our state stronger, and creating a thriving community for all.

Why invest in Ben’s Bells?

Ben’s Bells was founded in Tucson, and we are proud to be one of Arizona’s longstanding nonprofits. Ben’s Bells teaches individuals and communities about the positive impacts of intentional kindness and inspires people to practice kindness as a way of life. Our programs are based on the belief that everyone can be kind and that kindness can be cultivated through education, visual reminders, and ongoing practice.

How do I donate?

Donations are taken through the Arizona Gives Day website. Each donate link below will take you to the location where you can donate. 

Thank you for investing in creating kinder communities on Arizona Gives Day and every day.

Kindness Influencers

Your support funds Ben’s Bells education programs like Kind Campus which is free for any school to access as they work to build a kind culture on their campus.

English-Language Learners (ELLs) and Kindness Club members at Billy Lane Lauffer Middle School were excited to be visited by Jeannette Maré on March 6, 2024. Maré spoke about the science of kindness and its effects in helping promote a healthier society; one that works and grows together. Students now understand even better than before the importance of being “kindness influencers” for the people around them — at school and within their community.

Ben’s Bells has been a part of the Lauffer community since 2016 when they had their first Kind Campus Kick-Off Assembly, and Be Kind flower mural installation. Since then, the message of kindness has been spread primarily through the use of Kind Notes. Students and staff have enjoyed recognizing their friends and colleagues for acts of kindness.

Ms. Bejarano began a Be Kind elective class during summer school in June 2021. From there, a 21st-century afterschool club was created and led by Bejarano to continue the spread of acts of kindness on campus. Members of the Kindness Club participate in creating motivational ceiling tiles to uplift students and staff. Kindness Club members also use their creativity to design and paint Kindness Rocks to be hidden throughout the school for students and staff to find.

ELL students and Kindness Club members have come together to start a project based on Maré’s presentation on the Science of Kindness and the idea that acts of kindness directly affect the feeling of peace in a community. The culmination of the project will be a sculpture created by Lauffer students, staff, and selected community members representing acts of kindness in the community. It will stand as part of the Ben’s Bells Be Kind initiative and the Rotary International Peace Pole Project.

Creating a culture of kindness has a life-long influence on students. Your donation today will ensure Ben’s Bells educational materials remain free to Arizona schools.

Collaborating for Kindness

ADP has made a deep commitment to kindness by supporting multiple school programs in both Tucson and Phoenix. These programs include teacher training, kindness Assemblies, ceramic Kindness Coins, and murals that have already positively impacted 1,942 students at five schools in Tucson, with an additional 2,054 students at four schools in Phoenix. 

Beyond investing in local schools, ADP also helped create the original Ben’s Bells Pride ornament. Employees from the Tempe and Tucson teams worked together to design, glaze, and fund the ornament, benefiting and raising awareness for local LGBTQIA+ programs and organizations.  

It has been a tremendous privilege to collaborate with Ben’s Bells over the past several years. Through the support of our ADP Foundation, we have sponsored various programs of theirs while fostering a culture of volunteerism among our associates both within and beyond the workplace. As a company that prioritizes inclusivity, it has been deeply rewarding to contribute to Ben’s Bells’ mission of spreading kindness, particularly within the local educational institutions. Our associates have dedicated their time to various Ben’s Bells murals across Tucson, evoking a sense of pride and fulfillment upon witnessing these installations or observing visitors sharing their experiences online. Personally, my 6-year-old child has been exposed to Ben’s Bells through her school’s mural and programs, underscoring the significance of participating in the transformative initiatives within Tucson schools. I look forward to continuing this wonderful partnership in the many years to come,” says Candace Ballesteros, ADP Tucson Program Administrator.

Does your employer want to build a culture of volunteerism and find more opportunities for staff to practice kindness skills? Your support today helps Ben’s Bells provide these opportunities and build partnerships that make an even bigger impact in our community! 

Ripple Effects of Kindness

Ben’s Bells honors kind individuals each week by Belling them — presenting them with a Ben’s Bell and gift pack. We receive nominations from all over Tucson and Phoenix and get to enjoy learning and sharing about those who inspire kindness daily, making our communities a better place to live. A very special nominee comes from the Karuna Horse Rescue in Tucson, Arizona.

The Karuna Horse Rescue was founded by Candace and has created a forever sanctuary for horses in need of rescue and rehabilitation. She has opened her heart and property to rescue horses from cruelty, abandonment, and neglect. Her rehabilitation philosophy is horse-centered and nurtures the Horse Within to return to a natural state of Liberty and Well-Being

“She awakens at the crack of dawn every day to prepare meals that are filled with individual medicine and/or supplements for each horse. Some of these horses have needs that include breathing treatments, special eye care to prevent progressing blindness, special-fitting booties that address chronic foot issues, and other degenerative diseases. Candace and her husband Paul also use their financial resources over and over, never wavering when a horse has to have specialty care. This is a 24/7 commitment. This is her private residence, and at any moment a horse may need her care and boundless loving support for any number of issues. I know of a horse with extreme sinus issues that requires feeding every two hours. Candace is there. There are no harnesses, no saddles, and no riding these magnificent animals. They are treated with respect and dignity to live out their days finally knowing the capacity of the human heart and how capable one human being can be to change their world into something very special,” says Susan Nichols.

Your donation today allows Ben’s Bells to continue to highlight the kindness found within our community creating a ripple effect of kind behavior. Learning about kind acts happening all around you encourages the expression of gratitude, which is itself an important form of kindness.