Senders Pediatrics, Beachwood Schools to hold Family Kindness Festival May 1 at Beachwood

BEACHWOOD, Ohio — The word “kindness” can be defined as “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.” It is in the spirit of that definition that Senders Pediatrics will hold a Family Kindness Festival, from 1-4 p.m. May 1 at Beachwood High School, 25100 Fairmount Blvd.

The free family event, held in partnership with Beachwood Schools, will be geared for children ages 5-13 years. All ages are welcome to attend, however children must be accompanied by an adult.

Senders Pediatrics, 2054 S. Green Road in South Euclid, has designed the festival to inspire students and their parents to see that no act of kindness is too small, and that individual acts of kindness add up and can have a big and meaningful impact on friends, classmates and entire communities.

“We’re living in a world where childhood anxiety, stress, teen aggression, and cyberbullying are at an all-time high,” said Dr. Shelly Senders, in a release. “Promoting and spreading kindness in our schools and communities can go a long way towards mitigating the angst, anger and aggression to which students are exposed on a daily basis.

“In addition, there has been a plethora of research showing that children who learn to be kind, generous and purposeful, have less stress, feel more happiness, and create more meaningful connections with others throughout their lives. Our goal for this event is to shine a light on those children who are already adding more kindness to this world, to demonstrate that being kind can actually be fun, and to remind and reinforce to everyone that performing acts of kindness can be contagious and create a positive ripple effect throughout the world.”

Scheduled throughout the event are several activities, including:

• Crafts for a Cause: During which attendees can engage in a variety of make-and-give-back projects to benefit local nonprofit organizations and the people they serve.
  
• Exchange Ideas: Kids will have a chance to meet and exchange ideas with other area students who have developed awesome ideas to spread acts of kindness in their own schools and communities.
  
• Upcycle Parts: Attendees will create crafts that reuse recycled parts and materials and appreciate that being kind includes being kind to our planet, by recycling, reusing and reducing waste.
  
• Wigs for Kids: Kids will have a chance participate in the cut-a-thon or cheer on volunteers who are donating their own hair to help make wigs for children experiencing hair loss.
  
• Meet Local Organizations: Youngsters can engage with a wide variety of Cleveland area nonprofits and organizations and discover ways to get involved and give back. Participating organizations include The Gathering Place, Beachwood Marketing Junior Achievement Program, Cuyahoga County Public Library Kindergarten and Baby Club, Fostering Hope, and 25 others.
  
• Wizbang Circus School: Attendees can enjoy clowning around, juggling and stilt-walking.
  
• Snapology: Attendees will have the opportunity to build unique structures with LEGOS.
  
• MedWish International Supply Drive: The Beachwood High School Pre-med Club will be hosting a medical supply drop off in front of the high school. Supplies such as new, unopened Band-Aids, bandages, gauze, toothbrushes and toothpaste, bar soap and shampoo are all needed and will be donated locally and internationally.
  

The event will also include music, entertainment, a bounce house and refreshments.

“Beachwood City Schools’ mission, ‘To develop intellectual entrepreneurs with a social conscience,’ aligns seamlessly with the Family Kindness Festival,” said Beachwood School Superintendent Robert Hardis. “We are excited to host the community for this important event and proud to feature the acts of kindness in which our students are engaged daily.”

Support for the festival has been provided by the Sherry and Neil Cohen Fund, Crestmont Automotive, Pease CPAs, TXI, NF, Dave’s Markets and Pinecrest. For more information, visit senderspediatrics.com or tinyurl.com/familykindness.

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