Sparking Kindness at The New Mexico Bowl
Student Athlete Day of Kindness
Follow along with us as the student athletes in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl spread kindness to students across Albuquerque! San Diego State and Michigan Central are coming together to show the world that even football rivals can show kindness to others. This year, student athletes will visit the children of Carrie Tingley Hospital and Pueblo of Isleta Elementary School, and give each of them their very own Kindness Bear. Follow along December 19th on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Vermont Teddy Bear Company
Vermont Teddy Bear Company believe that love is in the bear and that every teddy bear is made to give hugs, boost your courage and dry your tears when you need it most. That is why we are so grateful to partner with them to create the Kindness Bear. It’s our hope that every bear will support those needing extra love and encourage everyone to be kind to others.
You can purchase your own Kindness Bear starting January 6th 2020! Learn more at: https://www.vermontteddybear.com/kindnessbear.
Vermont Teddy Bear Company
Vermont Teddy Bear Company believe that love is in the bear and that every teddy bear is made to give hugs, boost your courage and dry your tears when you need it most. That is why we are so grateful to partner with them to create the Kindness Bear. It’s our hope that every bear will support those needing extra love and encourage everyone to be kind to others.
You can purchase your own Kindness Bear starting January 6th 2020! Learn more at: https://www.vermontteddybear.com/kindnessbear.
Coming to a town near you Spring 2020
Kindness Tour
Join us as we unite our country in kindness! Starting Spring 2020, we are kicking off our Kindness Tour starting in Albuquerque, New Mexico and ending in Colchester, Vermont. We’ll have many stops along the way to spread kindness across cities near and far.
We believe kindness can be found everywhere. So, we want to show our support to more places and organizations making a difference along the way! If you know of a person or organization spreading kindness in your town, we want to know about it! Use our contact form and bring the kindness tour to your town.
Why Albuquerque and Colchester?
Both Albuquerque and Colchester hold a special place in Jennifer’s story. Her hometown of Colchester, VT taught her the values that shaped the kind, loving, caring, and sharing person we knew.
Jennifer and Michael Riordan took a leap of faith and moved across the country to make Albuquerque, NM their home. Jennifer touched the lives of countless people in both cities through her love for life and many passion projects. So, it’s only fitting that our first “Kindness Tour” begins in Albuquerque May 10th and ends in Colchester June 12th!
Our stops along the way will include:
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Amarillo, TX
- Springfield, MO
- Indianapolis, IN
- Richmond, IN
- Colombus, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Buffalo, NY
- Colchester, VT
Kindness Feed
I am immunosuppressed and at high risk to have bad outcomes if I get the virus. Two friends offered to drive 30 miles each to bring me groceries.
March 21, 2020
I am in self quarantine until March 31st so I can’t go anywhere. Yesterday I told my friend Jennifer H. that the only thing I needed was distilled water for my humidifier. Today she called to tell me she was at the store and asked how many I needed. I told her I only needed 2. They were on my doorstep within 20 minutes. Thanks, Jennifer! I appreciate you!!!
March 21, 2020
PNM employees (not me, I’m just praising their kindness) are making food and school bag deliveries this week. With social distancing and sterilizing as a top concern too.
March 21, 2020
A very dear friend brought me a much needed present while my son and I are in self quarantine for 14 days.
March 15, 2020
A friend brought homemade soup to me at work because she knows I’m not feeling well.
March 2, 2020
Corporate volunteer council had 253 volunteers at missions across ABQ last month.
February 27, 2020
Corporate volunteer council has 253 volunteers at missions across ABQ last month.
February 27, 2020
Bought and pair for an item over the phone from a local business today. I’ve never been in the store before and it was my first time buying anything from them. I asked the person on the phone to mail the item to me because I wasn’t sure when I’d have time to pick it up. When I got home tonight, there was a bag hanging from my front door handle… someone had personally delivered it to my house.
February 26, 2020
We were out to dinner tonight and a woman from another table came over, put her hand on my shoulder, and said, “Your kids are great.”
February 26, 2020
700 attendees at the Women of Influence event honoring and supporting women.
February 25, 2020
Our neighbor backed some banana bread.
February 24, 2020
At practice we wrote to the team that lost some girls from their club.
February 20, 2020
Let a senior citizen ahead of me in the checkout line.
February 20, 2020
While on a museum field trip, a 7th grader helped a man with a walker make it safely down the stairs.
February 18, 2020
A friend nursed me back to health.
February 12, 2020
A friend has written me a kind note every month for the last 22 months.
February 12, 2020
My cousin treated my kids to frozen yogurt as a surprise.
February 11, 2020
I donated money to Camp Corazon which is a special camp for kids living with cancer that my friend is the medical director for.
February 5, 2020
Created 100 kits for cancer patients today with 15 kind friends at PNM and CSNM.
February 5, 2020
Gave my sucker to my brother.
February 5, 2020
Bought a special kindness bear for some friends of mine who recently adopted a child.
February 4, 2020
Returned a shopping cart for someone else.
January 30, 2020
A loving boy showed how much he cares about me by sharing his air pods. His kindness will help me achieve my goals. Thank you!
January 28, 2020
Thank you to the NM ARVC Volleyball team for making Valentine’s Care packages with treats and notes of encouragement for the women and children at Barrett House shelter. Their kindness will be felt by 40 women and children experiencing homelessness currently residing at the shelter.
January 23, 2020
Graduate student came back to help a current student as a mentor. It was so kind of her to give her time and to help another student in a similar situation.
January 22, 2020
One of my 7th grade students stopped by my room to tell me he knows the life I juggle and to thank me for everything I do for them. Caught me completely off guard and made me feel really good.
January 22, 2020
Thought about how nice some people are.
January 21, 2020
Thanked an Iranian postal worker in Persian for helping me.
January 21, 2020
A group of students cleaned the kitchen after an inspection.
January 19, 2020
A beautiful lady made my family a traveling care package for our upcoming road trip.
January 17, 2020
Future cities competition judges and their time to encourage kids.
January 12, 2020
Students helped clean and organize the classroom and materials.
January 11, 2020
Students organized a canned food drive.
January 11, 2020
A student was teaching two other students how to shoot a basketball.
January 11, 2020
Kind, encouraging “chalk” messages on park sidewalks. See the front page of the Abq Journal!
January 11, 2020
Nikes and Kindness Bears headed to Skid Row.
January 4, 2020
Sean helped to pick up dog poop today.
December 26, 2019
Evan just cleaned off the dog poop from his little brother and his friend’s shoes.
December 26, 2019
A very special family of a very special lady gifted me a very special bear today for Christmas! Tears of love from this ole lady and undying gratitude and love to them. You all are K,L,C,S to the max!
December 26, 2019
ACS 6th grade collected food for people who needed it.
December 25, 2019
Our class bought warm clothes for kids who needed it.
December 25, 2019
Helped someone jump their car on a chilly 6 degree morning.
December 22, 2019
A lifelong friend came over and helped move appliances and reminded me he is always here to help.
December 22, 2019
San Diego State and Central Michigan football players visited kids at Isleta elementary school and UNM children’s hospital
December 20, 2019
Donated 45 gifts for Christmas
December 17, 2019
Charity golf tournament
December 15, 2019
ACS 7th grade delivered 90 care packaged
December 15, 2019
Rolled a neighbor’s trash barrel back into their yard.
December 10, 2019
Some wonderful Christmas angels surprised our family by putting beautiful holiday lights up on our house.
December 7, 2019
Baked some banana bread for the senior living center in my town.
December 4, 2019
My sister sat on my bed and stayed with me until my mommy came in the room.
December 3, 2019
My brother told me I am the best sister ever.
December 3, 2019
Told the post office crew they are doing a great job.
December 2, 2019
Held the door at the post office.
November 29, 2019
Comforted a very old person.
November 29, 2019
Shovelled the neighbor’s walk.
November 29, 2019
Held the door for an old person.
November 26, 2019
Annunciation 6th grade fed 14 families Thanksgiving Dinner.
November 25, 2019
Kids cleaned 100 yards in Rio Rancho.
November 24, 2019
Annunciation fed 21 families.
November 24, 2019
Gave positive encouragement to a person going through a hard time.
November 22, 2019
My daughter told me I looked “super pretty”.
November 22, 2019
A friend offered to hang Christmas lights on our house for us.
November 22, 2019
About Jennifer
Jennifer’s vibrancy, passion, and love of philanthropy infused our community and reached across our country. Her impact on all she touched can never be fully measured, but can be honored and continued.
The Jennifer Riordan Foundation continues her legacy to support the causes she cared about so deeply: Albuquerque Vitality, Financial Literacy, Childhood Education, and Women’s Empowerment.
