Unfortunately, that’s the reality for too many veterans, and it’s what inspired Jeanne Loveland Freiberger and Shirley Lyons to act.

For more than a decade, Jeanne and Shirley have been quietly serving those who once served us, homeless veterans in the Bay Area who are too often overlooked and forgotten. Each winter, they assemble care bags filled with essentials like gloves, hats, toiletries, and gift cards, bringing comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging to those facing life on the streets.

The inspiration came 11 years ago when Jeanne met two sisters in their 80s who collected hotel toiletries to share with homeless women veterans. Learning that many female veterans, after giving so much, were living without basic support struck a deep chord. Together with friends like Shirley, Jeanne decided to do something. What started as a few bags of toiletries has since grown into an annual community effort, with dozens of volunteers and VA Chaplains distributing gifts of care each holiday season.

With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, Jeanne and Shirley are adding a new layer of impact this year: solar-powered lanterns and portable chargers for every veteran they serve. In addition, puffer jackets for the women, and puffer vests for the men. These small but powerful tools help veterans stay safe and warm, keep their phones charged, and maintain vital connections, whether to loved ones, caseworkers, or emergency services. It’s a simple act of kindness that can make a profound difference in both safety and peace of mind. But beyond the items themselves, what Jeanne and Shirley are really delivering is acknowledgment. A reminder to these veterans that they are seen, valued, and remembered.

This project beautifully embodies our Pathways to Mental Health Resiliency pillar. By offering both practical care and emotional connection, Jeanne and Shirley are helping restore dignity and hope to those who’ve sacrificed so much. As one VA Chaplain shared, “The Veteran who picked up the bags was once homeless. As [they] looked at the bag’s contents, the Veteran became emotional. [They] wanted me to let you know that the bags are needed and will help homeless Veterans during this time of the year.”

That’s the ripple of kindness in action. One moment of care creating waves of impact that extend far beyond the holidays.

We’re proud to support Jeanne and Shirley’s mission and the volunteers behind it. Their work shows how small acts – a warm hat, a working flashlight, a moment of care – can make a lasting impact.

To support, Shirley and Jeanne can be reached at 4womanveterans@gmail.com

Photo Courtesy of Shirley Lyons

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In Portland, Oregon, a group of SE Portland friends came together to make that possible. With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, they partnered with Every Child Oregon to assemble launch boxes for young adults aging out of foster care. These care packages were designed to make a first apartment feel like home. Each one included essentials like dishes, towels, and toiletries, plus small comforts such as candles, gift cards, and handwritten notes of encouragement from their community. Together, they offered both practical help and a reminder that someone cares.

These launch boxes are part of Every Child Oregon’s broader mission to uplift children and families impacted by foster care. Each year, thousands of youth in Oregon age out of the system without a built-in support network. This project met that moment with tangible compassion, offering a little stability and a lot of heart.

What made the initiative especially powerful was its community spirit. Friends and neighbors pitched in to help fill the boxes, write encouraging notes, and even match some of the grant funds so more youth could benefit. In the end, ten boxes were delivered to Native teens through ODHS and tribal Child Welfare offices. It was a beautiful example of kindness meeting a real, local need.

Jenny Weil, who helped coordinate the effort, was inspired by a personal story. Years ago, during a difficult time in her own young adulthood, she was supported by a friend’s mother who had grown up in foster care herself. The experience left a lasting impression and taught her that even small gestures of care can change a person’s path, especially when life feels uncertain.

That same belief guides this project: that everyone deserves to feel supported, seen, and cared for as they take their next steps into adulthood.

At the TDB Family Foundation, we support projects that create Pathways to Mental Health Resiliency and help Build Thriving Communities. This initiative embodies both. By offering practical support and emotional encouragement, this group of SE Portland friends reminded youth that they are not alone, and that kindness and community can be powerful companions on the journey forward.

We’re proud to support this meaningful act of kindness and can’t wait to see how it inspires others to do the same. Because sometimes, the simplest gestures—like a stocked kitchen or a handwritten note—can help someone feel at home in the world.

➡️ Learn more about Every Child Oregon at everychildoregon.org/pdx

Photo Courtesy of Jenny Weil

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That’s exactly what happened when Mylan, a student from North Carolina, noticed that some of his classmates were coming to school in shoes that didn’t fit, were worn out, or weren’t right for the season. Instead of looking away, he asked how he could help.

The result is Mylan’s Shoe Closet, a youth-led kindness project that’s helping students across the Carolinas walk into school with comfort, confidence, and pride.

Through Ignite Your Impact, a youth service program of Affordable Housing for the Carolinas, Mylan turned a simple idea into a growing community movement. With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, he and his peers purchased new shoes for the closet, including during a back-to-school shopping day that allowed students to choose the pairs that made them feel confident and cared for. Every student’s ability to select their own shoes transforms what could be a small act into a meaningful moment of dignity and choice.

It’s a simple concept with a huge ripple effect. By meeting a basic need, Mylan is addressing something much deeper: confidence, belonging, and the ability for students to show up fully at school. When a child feels proud of how they look and comfortable in what they’re wearing, it impacts everything from participation to self-esteem.

But perhaps the most inspiring part is how this project has caught on. What started as one student’s act of empathy is now sparking a wave of kindness. Mylan’s family, classmates, and even community members have joined in, asking how they can help and how they can bring similar efforts to their own neighborhoods.

As one member of our Kindness Grant team shared, “I really like the youth inspired project motivated by one young person’s vision for empathy and kindness… [and] the potential it has to motivate more young people to create their own service learning project”.

At the TDB Family Foundation, we believe that kindness grows powerfully in the hands of young people. Mylan’s Shoe Closet beautifully embodies our pillars of Amplifying Voices of Youth and Building Thriving Communities, showing what happens when compassion and action meet.

We’re proud to support this inspiring initiative and can’t wait to see how Mylan’s ripple of kindness continues to expand across the Carolinas.

➡️ Learn more about this project and Affordable Housing for the Carolinas at https://www.ahftc.org/mylansshoecloset

Photo courtesy of Affordable Housing For The Carolina’s

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That’s what inspired Sherline Pierre, founder of S.P. Multi Services in Anderson, South Carolina, to create a project that replaces shame with support, and fear with confidence. With help from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, Sherline is hosting a Financial Empowerment & Care Event for underserved women and families in her community.

This one-day gathering will offer a mix of financial literacy workshops, mindfulness sessions, and personalized care kits—a holistic approach that recognizes financial well-being and emotional well-being are deeply connected. Participants will learn how to budget, manage credit, and plan for the future, all while receiving encouragement, practical tools, and a reminder that they’re not alone in the process.

The grant will fund event supplies, refreshments, and a local wellness facilitator to lead a guided mindfulness session. Each attendee will also receive a care kit filled with essentials like journals, hygiene items, snacks, and resource guides. These are small but meaningful touches that show care, respect, and thoughtfulness.

For Sherline, this project is deeply personal. As a Haitian immigrant, she understands how isolating financial challenges can feel, especially when navigating new systems and cultural expectations. She founded S.P. Multi Services to help others bridge that gap and be the kind of resource she once needed herself.

The idea for this event actually began with a simple act: offering a client a notebook.

When the client said no one had ever encouraged her to ask questions, let alone given her a tool to do it, Sherline realized how powerful small gestures of empowerment can be. This event is an extension of that moment, multiplied. It’s a love letter to women who have been made to feel like money is a source of shame instead of strength.

At the TDB Family Foundation, we support projects that help Build Thriving Communities, and Sherline’s initiative embodies that mission beautifully. By combining financial education with compassion and care, she’s helping women see themselves not as “behind,” but as capable and worthy of stability and success.

This is the kind of kindness that doesn’t just make people feel good—it helps them build better futures. It’s about breaking cycles of stress and disempowerment, and creating new pathways grounded in confidence, connection, and care.

We’re so proud to support Sherline and her vision for change. Through this project, she’s proving that kindness isn’t just an act, but a foundation. One shame-free conversation, one empowered woman, and one ripple at a time.

➡️ Learn more about S.P. Multi Services at spmultiservicesllc.com

Photo Courtesy of S.P. Multi Services via social media

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That’s exactly what Tarnika Love-Anderson and the Youth Excel in Arts Foundation (YEA) are doing in Memphis, Tennessee.

With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, YEA is launching Art of Kindness – a youth-led initiative that turns creativity into community action. Through murals, performances, and care packages filled with handwritten art, middle and high school students are learning to use their talents to uplift underserved neighborhoods across Memphis.

The program blends leadership training with artistic collaboration, helping youth explore how compassion and creativity can coexist in powerful ways. Through a series of workshops on empathy, teamwork, and service, these students will design and lead their own kindness projects, from painting neglected spaces, to performing dance and spoken word pieces that raise awareness around mental health, to bringing music and art into shelters and senior centers. Each act is a hands-on lesson in what it means to lead with both skill and heart.

For Tarnika, this work is deeply personal. Her passion for mentorship and community service was inspired by her grandmother’s lifelong example of giving back and strengthened by the loss of her father to gun violence. Those experiences shaped her belief that kindness, art, and purpose can be healing forces, especially for young people navigating adversity.

As Tarnika shared in her application,

“I’ve seen kids who were shy or struggling become leaders when given a paintbrush, a microphone, or just someone who listens. That transformation is what drives me.”

Through Art of Kindness, Tarnika is planting the seeds for that same transformation in others, creating opportunities for youth to feel seen, supported, and capable of creating change.

At the TDB Family Foundation, we’re proud to support projects that Amplify Voices of Youth and Build Thriving Communities, and Art of Kindness embodies both. It empowers young people to lead with purpose while transforming overlooked spaces into sources of beauty, connection, and hope.

This project is more than an art program. It’s a blueprint for how kindness can multiply. One brushstroke, one song, or one heartfelt note can spark connection and remind people that they matter.

We can’t wait to see these creative young people bring their vision to life across Memphis.

➡️ Learn more about the Youth Excel in Arts Foundation on Facebook

Photos Courtesy of YEA

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This fall, youth volunteers from VisionNOW, a program of The LifeGate Center, will be bringing connection, music, and compassion to local dementia patients, one visit at a time.

Led by Reba Danastorg, this intergenerational kindness project is all about bridging hearts across generations. With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, Reba will train a team of youth volunteers in dementia sensitivity and communication skills, preparing them to engage meaningfully with older adults in care centers. Over the course of six visits, volunteers will share stories, create memory books, and offer companionship through music and conversation.

Each visit may last just an hour or two, but its ripple effect extends far beyond. For dementia patients, these interactions bring warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging. For youth volunteers, they’re lessons in empathy, patience, and human connection—skills that will stay with them for life.

Reba’s inspiration for the project runs deep. As a pastor and caregiver who has watched family members and close friends struggle with dementia, she has seen firsthand how isolating the disease can be for both patients and loved ones. This initiative grew from her hope to ease that isolation and remind every person, regardless of memory or age, that they are still deeply seen and valued.

For the TDB Family Foundation, VisionNOW embodies the spirit of three of our focus areas:

• Amplifying Voices of Youth, by giving young people the opportunity to lead with empathy and purpose.
• Building Thriving Communities, by nurturing understanding and connection across generations.
• Pathways to Mental Health Resiliency, by fostering belonging, joy, and hope in spaces that too often feel forgotten.

We’re proud to support Reba and the VisionNOW team as they bring this project to life. It’s a beautiful reminder that kindness can bridge any distance—whether that’s between generations, experiences, or memories—and that human connection is one of the most powerful gifts we can give.

Photo Courtesy of Reba Danastorg of VisionNOW

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This year, we set out to prove it.

Through TDBFF’s 2025 Kindness Grant Initiative, we awarded 44 micro-grants to everyday people with extraordinary ideas for spreading hope, compassion, and connection.

Through these grants, we saw a wide range of projects come to life: Welcome Kits that helped refugee children feel safe and supported on their first day of school, a reading program that built kids’ confidence by pairing them with shelter dogs, and suitcases that gave foster youth dignity during painful transitions. There were teen-led initiatives, and projects amplifying voices of youth. We even saw projects to support communities in the wake of wildfires in California and Hawaii! Every single project offered moments of joy and dignity. Proof that kindness takes many forms, but always creates ripples.

Together, these efforts touched all of our focus areas: amplifying youth voices, strengthening mental health resiliency, building thriving communities, fostering connection through film, and even creating healing through pets.

But the impact didn’t stop there! The real power is in the stories that emerged from each of these projects. Because when we hear what others are doing, we don’t just feel hopeful, we feel called to act.

Stories remind us that kindness strengthens both the giver and the receiver. They ripple outward, showing us what’s possible and inviting us to create our own. That’s why this space now lives on as the Kindness Library: a permanent home for the stories of our recipients. Some have already been shared, others are still being announced. All of them remind us what’s possible when we bridge the gap between awareness and action.

Here, you’ll find:

• Stories of neighbors, teachers, students, parents, artists, and leaders putting kindness into motion
• Updates from projects that continue to ripple outward long after the initial grant
• Proof that kindness has staying power

The 2025 grant program itself may be complete, but the ripples are just beginning.

Our hope is that this library will serve as a reminder, in divisive times and in moments of doubt, that kindness matters, hope matters, and your actions matter too.

Welcome to the Kindness Library.💛

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That’s the mission behind Morgan’s Place, our latest Kindness Grant recipient in rural Tuscola County, Michigan. From May through October, this small but mighty nonprofit hosts free community dinners on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM, welcoming veterans, active military, and their families. It’s a space to connect, share stories, and find support through friendship and conversation.

Across the United States, twenty-three veterans a day lose their lives to suicide, a heartbreaking reminder of how isolation and disconnection can take their toll. Morgan’s Place is determined to change that in their own community. With help from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, they’re creating a welcoming space where veterans can gather, learn about mental health and wellness, and rediscover connection through shared experiences.

Each dinner features guest speakers and activities focused on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and holistic wellness — from nutrition classes to storytelling sessions. The grant funds help cover food, supplies, and outreach costs for up to 100 participants each month, ensuring that every veteran who attends feels seen, supported, and cared for.

Beyond their monthly dinners, Morgan’s Place also offers free camping for veterans and their families throughout the year, extending their mission of rest, reconnection, and renewal beyond the dinner table.

For co-founder Carey Monroe, this mission is deeply personal. After losing a former student to suicide and witnessing her father-in-law’s decades-long struggle with PTSD, she saw firsthand how powerful a simple sense of community can be. “When my father-in-law interacted with other veterans, he was at ease and able to tell stories no one had ever heard”, Carey shared. Morgan’s Place wants to give that experience to others.

It’s this deeply human understanding, that healing happens in connection, that made Morgan’s Place stand out to our jury. Their initiative beautifully embodies two of our Foundation’s core focus areas: Pathways to Mental Health Resiliency and Building Thriving Communities.

By bringing veterans together around the table — and out into nature — Morgan’s Place is turning shared experiences into moments of healing, hope, and belonging. It’s a powerful reminder that kindness isn’t just an idea, it’s something we create together.

We’re honored to support Carey and her team as they continue to build what we know will become a lasting ripple of community care.

➡️ Learn more about Morgan’s Place at www.morgansplace.org

Photo Courtesy of Morgan’s Place

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At just 17 years old, Shane is the founder of Free Tech Help for Seniors, a project that brings patience, empowerment, and practical skills into senior centers across Los Angeles. What started as helping his own grandparents with small phone fixes, like adjusting brightness or figuring out why the battery kept draining, sparked an idea. If his grandparents needed this kind of support, so did countless other older adults!

With that spark, Shane began hosting workshops at local senior centers. His sessions combine big-screen demonstrations with small touches of humanity. He connects his iPhone to a projector, walks seniors through common challenges step by step, and then sits down one-on-one to answer personal questions. From enlarging text for readability, to setting up Medical ID information in case of emergency, to silencing those endless notifications, every tip helps seniors feel a little more in control.

But the real impact isn’t just the technical fixes… it’s the transformation that happens when someone realizes, “I can do this!” Confidence replaces frustration. Connection replaces isolation. And as seniors leave each session excited to share what they’ve learned with friends and family, the ripple keeps growing.

With help from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, Shane will purchase a brighter projector so his presentations are easier to follow in large, sunny rooms. Because when seniors feel capable with their devices, they’re not just fixing settings… they’re staying connected to loved ones, accessing critical care, and strengthening their independence.

What stood out to our jury is the way this project bridges generations. It’s youth-led kindness at its best: a young person stepping up to meet a real community need, and in the process, creating bonds that uplift both teacher and learner. At the TDB Family Foundation, we’re proud to support initiatives that Build Thriving Communities and Amplify Voices of Youth. Free Tech Help for Seniors embodies both, proving that small acts like showing someone how to favorite a contact, can ripple into dignity, empowerment, and lasting connection.

We can’t wait to see how Shane’s project continues to grow and inspire others.

➡️ Want to follow along? Check out @freetechhelpforseniors on Instagram   

Photo Courtesy of Shane Ferguson

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That’s the heart behind ActNUALEJ Inc., founded by foster mom and licensed hairstylist VaNonda Harmon-Fielder. With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, ActNUALEJ is providing customized hair care kits for youth in foster care and group homes. Each kit includes shampoos, conditioners, oils, combs, bonnets, and accessories, along with free workshops to help kids learn how to care for their own hair with confidence.

Because this project isn’t just about hair. It’s about dignity, self-esteem, and belonging.

When children can walk into school with clean, healthy hair, they’re less likely to feel isolated or be targeted by bullying, and more likely to feel proud of who they are.

For VaNonda, this mission is deeply personal. As a foster parent for nine years, she saw the impact of hair neglect firsthand. Her own daughter arrived with severely matted hair and a painful scalp infection. Something that could have been prevented with the right products and guidance. Drawing on her professional experience as a hairstylist, VaNonda began creating kits to ensure that no other child would have to experience that same pain or loss of confidence.

Our jury was especially moved by the distinctiveness of this project. While many applications addressed the needs of children in foster care, ActNUALEJ stood out for highlighting hair care as a critical but often overlooked part of a child’s wellbeing. As one team member shared, “It’s the first application we’ve seen that’s singularly focused on hair, and it reminded us that confidence, dignity, and health are intertwined.”

At the TDB Family Foundation, we believe that Building Thriving Communities starts with meeting real needs in compassionate ways. ActNUALEJ does exactly that. By putting hair care supplies directly in the hands of kids who need them most, VaNonda is creating ripples of kindness that extend far beyond the kits themselves.

We’re proud to support this inspiring project, and we can’t wait to see how it grows.

➡️ Learn more about ActNUALEJ Inc. at weactnualejyou.com

Photo Courtesy of ActNUALEJ, Inc

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