🌟 Be Kind 5 Newsletter | Summer 2026
Kindness in Action: Exciting Things Are Ahead!
Dear Be Kind 5 Community,
As we continue growing our mission of empowering youth through kindness, connection, and prevention, we are excited to share some incredible updates about what is happening at Be Kind 5.
Every day, we are reminded that kindness creates ripple effects far beyond what we can see. Thanks to your support, encouragement, and belief in our youth, we are building programs that help young people thrive in all areas of life.
📚 Coming This Fall: No Stinkin Thinkin
We are thrilled to announce that our first Be Kind 5 mental health book, No Stinkin Thinkin, is currently in development and expected to be released by November 2026!
Written for children, the book follows the lovable skunk, Smudgy, as he learns how to recognize and challenge negative thoughts while building healthy tools for confidence, resilience, and self-love.
No Stinkin Thinkin will help children:
Identify unhelpful thinking patterns
Build emotional awareness
Practice positive self-talk
Develop coping skills for life's challenges
Strengthen confidence and resilience
Special thanks to our youth illustrator Arna Verma for her incredible illustrations. This project has truly been a community effort, and we cannot wait to share it with families, schools, counselors, and youth-serving organizations.
🏅 New Program Launch: Be Kind 5 for Athletes & Coaches
We are excited to announce the development of Be Kind 5 for Athletes & Coaches, a new program designed to support youth ages 6–18, their parents, and the coaches who play such an important role in their lives.
Sports can be a powerful place for growth, confidence, teamwork, leadership, and belonging. They can teach lessons that last a lifetime. Yet we also know that pressure, burnout, anxiety, and unrealistic expectations can sometimes overshadow the joy of the game.
Our goal is simple: to help create healthier sports experiences that support both athletic performance and mental well-being.
Through this program, we hope to provide resources and training focused on:
Mental health awareness
Positive coaching strategies
Building confidence and resilience
Healthy communication between athletes, parents, and coaches
Character development through kindness and leadership
Preventing burnout and promoting balance
📝 We Need Your Input!
As we build this program, we are gathering feedback from parents, coaches, athletes, and community members to ensure we create something that truly meets the needs of today's youth sports environment.
We invite you to complete and share our surveys with others involved in youth sports:
Parent Survey:
Complete the Parent Survey
Your feedback will help shape a program that serves not only young athletes, but also the adults who guide, encourage, and support them.
🎓 Coming Soon: Be Kind 5 Coach Training
Coach Survey:
Complete the Coach Survey
One of the most exciting pieces of this initiative is the development of a specialized Be Kind 5 Coach Training Program.
With approximately 58% of youth participating in organized sports, coaches have tremendous influence on a young person's confidence, self-worth, and overall experience—often becoming some of the most impactful role models in a child's life.
Our training will help coaches:
Recognize signs of stress, anxiety, and burnout
Foster positive and inclusive team cultures
Build athlete confidence and resilience
Encourage healthy communication
Support mental wellness alongside athletic growth
We believe that when coaches lead with kindness, athletes thrive—and entire communities benefit.
Together, we can help ensure youth sports remain a place where young people feel supported, valued, and empowered both on and off the field. 💙🏅
🤝 Sponsor, Partner, or Collaborate
As Be Kind 5 continues to grow, we are seeking community-minded businesses, organizations, foundations, and individuals who share our passion for empowering youth.
If you are interested in sponsoring a program, collaborating on an event, providing resources, or exploring partnership opportunities, we would love to hear from you.
👉 Connect with us here:
Contact Be Kind 5
Together, we can help create a kinder, healthier future where every young person feels supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.
💙 The Five Pillars of Kindness
Everything we do at Be Kind 5 aligns with our five pillars:
🧠 Mental Health
🤝 Giving Back
🌎 Earth Service
💪 Physical Health
💵 Financial Health
These pillars help youth and adults discover their strengths, develop life skills, and become leaders in their communities.
Thank You for Being Part of This Journey
Whether you volunteer, donate, partner with us, attend events, or simply cheer us on, you are helping create a future where young people know they matter, belong, and have the tools to thrive.
Together, we are building a kinder, healthier future for the next generation.
With gratitude,
Teresa Valley
Founder & Executive Director
Be Kind 5
"Small acts of kindness create lifelong ripples of change."
💙 Stay Connected with Be Kind 5
The future is bright, and we're grateful to have you on this journey with us. Follow along for inspiring stories, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, program launches, and ways you can help empower youth through kindness.
Whether you're interested in partnering, volunteering, sponsoring a program, or simply learning more about our mission, we'd love to connect with you.
📱 Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/be.kind.5
🌐 Visit our Website:
www.bekind5.org
🤝 Join us in creating a kinder, healthier future for youth and families.
Together, small acts of kindness create lifelong ripples of change. 💙
