What People Are Saying . . .

Hello Gabe and MaryMargaret,

Thank you again for your time. This was the first time my students have had an opportunity to video conference and communicate with others outside of their own little worlds. Your website and the work that you and others like you have done is an inspiration to us. Many of our students live below the poverty line and have never been outside of their community. We live 10 miles from the beach but I still have students who haven't even been to the ocean. What a great lesson for our kids to get a Global perspective.

This is just the beginning. I have included your website in my unit plans for the beginning of each school year, Who We Are - a study of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Perhaps we can make this an annual event.

Sincerely,

—Denise Shaver, Second Grade Teacher, Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts

Feedback after MaryMargaret Skyped to the "Kindness Club" (K-5):

"Thank you!! That was AMAZING! I wish you could have seen the kids beaming telling their families about the visit. We will absolutely be keeping in touch. . . .
Cannot thank you and MaryMargaret enough. It was the perfect way to kick off our club year! As I hear more from the kids I will share out with you!"
—Lindsay Fuller, Guidance Counselor Curtis Elementary in Weathordford, Texas

"We then checked out a great website, together as a class, called Kids Are Heroes. This website is cool because anyone can nominate a kid, write a description why the person is a hero, post a picture, and the child can be included on the website. We made it our end of school year goal to find a kid-hero to add to the website. You should see my students now...picking up trash at recess, starting clothing drives, and trying to change the world during reading/writing class. They all want to be heroes to be featured on this site. . . Through this unit study, my students have now found out that by sacrificing anything, even time, these kids featured on [your] site go above and beyond the call of duty and are wonderful role models to all of us. We are so glad to be using your website, it is an amazing resource!!"
—Excerpt from Pinkadots Elementary Blog (4th grade teacher in Connecticut)

As I contemplated a theme for the upcoming school year I started searching online for ideas that would help me incorporate leadership and service. I came across the Kids Are Heroes^® website and felt as if I had found exactly what I was looking for. It was important that we incorporated the message as a consistent theme throughout the year, as I wanted to ensure the children really identify how their contribution could make a big difference. I wanted a theme that came with a call to action. In a world where children often wonder if they can make a difference, Kids Are Heroes provided them with an opportunity to seek out their own passion and act on it.
—Excerpt from Shelly Gonzales' recounting about the Edith Bowen Lab School featured on our site.

"Dear [Kids Are Heroes],
We would drive hundreds and hundreds of miles (and through storms and states of emergencies) to be a part of your event again. It was INCREDIBLE and we are so impressed at how wonderful the event had turned out.

My girls, Julia and Emma Mogus, have bonded with some incredible heroes in your country and ours, including your beautiful and heart warming daughter, MaryMargaret! The entire day and evening was very well organized and we feel privileged to have been a part of this incredible and historical event. We walked away better citizens and with a greater awareness of some of the issues facing our children and communities, both locally and internationally. You have done an exceptional job at helping to bring to light incredible kids who have done extraordinary things."
—Janet Mogus, Ontario, Canada (after she returned from Kids Are Heroes Day 2012)

"Luca is sooo excited right now and we are going to send [his profile out] to so many friends and family. We just sent to our friend in New York film academy as Luca's big dream is to attend a holiday camp there for film making.
He has sooo many dreams and big heart. Recently, he did his first paid gig and donated all the money to a school in the slums here in Nairobi. I am a stay home mom just to be able to help him with his projects. Trying to help him become a better human being every day. Im really soooo thankful to you for this recognition.
Beautiful, we are going to print [his certificate] and hang it in our sitting room every day he looks at it he fights even more for less fortunate.
Luca makes me dream everyday. His family in Italy will be sooo happy to have this news too plus children in his former schools in Thailand and Romania."
—Mary Marete,Nairobi, Kenya, Mother of a Hero

From a parent whose kids raised $100 for Kids Are Heroes: ". . . they simply went to your website and read about the HEROES and said, 'WOW we can do this too!'. I have always wanted my children to get involved in fund raising and your daughter's website did it!"
—Jim Martin, Lima, Peru

"Being at [Kids Are Heroes Day] was such a wonderful experience for us all... especially Jack as he never felt more confident to be right up there with other like minded youth. He came back a different person. More determined to collect more skates and get other youth involved in his environmental stuff. I think the magic of [Kids Are Heroes] is priceless and we can't thank you enough."
—Janet Mogus,Ontario, Canada, (after returning from Kids Are Heroes Day 2013)

"It's almost impossible to put into words the true power of an organization like Kids Are Heroes. When children see that their efforts are acknowledged, it empowers them to do even more. When children see other children taking action in the world it helps them know that they too can join in, and make a change. I love to see my daughter rise up to new challenges and truly believe that she can do anything. Because she can. Thank you MaryMargaret & Gabe for your dedication to everyone's future!"
—Cheryl Maycock, British Columbia, Canada, Mother of a Hero

"We became involved with Kids Are Heroes^® earlier this year, and it has completely changed our lives. The impact they have had on us cannot be put into words. Not only did they recognize our daughter Margot as a role model, they gave us the courage and support to do even more for our community in South Africa.

As a result of Margot's involvement with Kids Are Heroes, she has gained so much confidence in herself and it has given her the platform she needed to make her voice heard. The recognition she has received — both in her home country as well as in the USA, is absolutely amazing.

We had the opportunity to meet the amazing people of Kids Are Heroes in October 2012. They made us feel part of their family, and I don't know how we could ever say thank you enough. This organization is doing fabulous work and the heroes they showcase will be the visionaries of tomorrow and help change the world to be a better place. We are proud to be a part of Kids Are Heroes and proud to be ambassadors for them. It is the place where children are supported to be the leaders they are. "
—Michelle Maritz, Pretoria, South Africa, Mother of a Hero

"[Kids Are Heroes] sees volunteering - getting involved in something you are passionate about - as a fundamental that should be a part of every child's development....So these Hero kids are picking up a wealth of valuable real life skills and knowledge that aren't being taught in the current curriculums in the majority of the USA schools. This will set these kids apart from their peers in many areas - work, social, personal, etc. - not to mention the confidence, pride and tremendous leadership skills they are gaining and honing each day."
—Jaxi West, USA, Business Consultant and Coach

"I've done a lot of traveling around the nation speaking to groups of young people and have viewed firsthand many organizations with a mission to provide a platform to promote youth projects. I've never encountered one quite like Kids Are Heroes. When I visit your site, I read the stories of your heroes and can't help but notice the photos of the kids. . . their faces seem so unconcerned with what cannot be done in this world as they are so filled with hope and ambition to do what can be done. From every corner of the globe they reach out to others, raising funds, organizing resources, motivating troops of other kids, and even telling us what we need to be about to ensure their future."
—Levar Fisher, Illinois, USA, Ex-NFL Star

"Since joining Kids Are Heroes in 2008, my son John has taken on a new sense of responsibility and commitment to making the world a better place. He has benefitted immensely from his association with Kids Are Heroes and has received far more than he has given. Kids Are Heroes has been a supportive, kid friendly platform dedicated to raising awareness of opportunities to give back, while championing success and empowering children to be heroes in their local and world communities. We have met truly exceptional fellow heroes along the way who have provided encouragement and inspiration for all of us to recognize our inner hero and do more. Thank you, Kids Are Heroes for showing the world that kids are heroes indeed!"
—Terri Sun, Maryland, USA, Mother of Hero

"Kids Are Heroes gave my daughter, Jamie, the aspirations and encouragement to move further along in her endeavors to help other children with epilepsy. The warm response by others within the Kids Are Heroes community provided the incentive to keep finding ways to help. Thanks to reading all the other great things kids are doing, it motivated my daughter to promote Angels4Epilepsy and help spread the word on the wonderful recognition, encouragement and gratitude children need to further succeed."
—Judy Bacigalupo, Georgia, USA, Mother of a Hero

"I wanted to thank you for acknowledging my work with Project Healing Waters/(VANY) Veteran Anglers of New York, for highlighting the good work they do for our countries veterans, and for kids like me to realize they can make a mark on the world by virtue of their hobbies and good deeds. As a result of my interview with 'Kids Are Heroes' I have received positive letters from both adults and kids, I'm using it as part of my college entrance essay, PHW/VANY prominently featured the interview on their web sites, the veterans thanked me when they read it, I was offered to be on a Bon Jovi video, and I'm now up for a NYTV 1 piece in New York. But most importantly your interview brings to the public something I believe should not be overlooked, our countries veterans.
—Jasper Lee, New York, USA, Hero

"I was excited to be asked to be part of your Kids Are Heroes because it is such a wonderful way to provide exposure to so many young people making the world a better place. The first week I was posted, I exchanged emails from a kindergarten teacher and her class of students. It turned out that I lived close by and I performed a yo-yo show for the students and explained to them the charity I raise money for, The Smile Train, which is an organization that teaches doctors in over 70 Counties how to perform cleft, lip and palate surgeries for poor children. Kids Are Heroes also created another way for people to view the site and make a direct donation to The Smile Train. I am grateful to be part of the Kids Are Heroes family."
—Daniel Dietz, Connecticut, USA, Hero

"What MaryMargaret and her dad have created is beyond extraordinary! They are growing in ways that I never would have imagined when we met a couple of years ago. My son and his organization "Strings from the Heart" have benefited in many ways from being recognized by Kids Are Heroes and networking with the various members and organizations. They are doing important work and creating a giant forum for all the wonderful kids who are giving of themselves for others as well as for kids that have the desire to do something but don't know where to start. These "HEROES" are amazing and we are happy to be a part of such a heartwarming organization."
—Cynthia Giordano, New Jersey, USA, Mother of a Hero

"Kudos to Gabe and MaryMargaret of Kids Are Heroes for giving my daughter Kennedy and other kids from around the country the opportunity to showcase how they serve the needs of others in their own communities and in third world countries. They offer all of us the tools, publicity and growing friendships to help nurture our efforts. The Kids Are Heroes organization is unique as they have started their foundation to aid other children to continue to have their projects grow to new heights. Their web site is seen by thousands and is helpful for youngsters to start their own projects from seeing all the heroes that are spotlighted...just an awesome domino effect...kids helping kids!!!"
—Cammyjoy Kulish, Pennsylvania, USA, Mother of a Hero

"Thank you Kids Are Heroes for sharing our missions to help others you help us stay positive and recognize us as role models. We feel our missions do not go unrecognized and it makes us want to do more to help our communities."
—Lisa Gooch, Michigan, USA, Mother of a Hero

"I am a Kindergarten teacher. I have used the Kids Are Heroes web site in my classroom and my students watched my daughter Casey promote Kids Are Heroes on TV — they even visited her during Kids Are Heroes Day. Several parents have written me beautiful letters thanking me for exposing their children to the idea of giving to others. Casey presented her cause and Kids Are Heroes at her 6th birthday and refused gifts again, just asked for donations. Now many of her friends have begun to do the same thing. I hope the Kids Are Heroes group continues to inspire families and children just as it has for our family!"
—Charlotte Landahl, Maryland, USA, Mother of a Hero

"Although we've never personally met, your efforts to assist our organization have been unwavering! I want to applaud you for all that you've done to not only assist us, but children's non-profit organizations all over the world. I know that if I'm ever in need or am at a loss for finding a solution....you either already have the answers or will find them! Thank you to Kids Are Heroes for helping kids everywhere to not only form their organization, but promote it as well through a multitude of outlets."
—Robin Arnold, Florida, USA, Mother of a Hero