Celebrate World Kindness Day
Friday, November 13, is World Kindness Day.
World Kindness Day is a global effort dedicated to "focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us ... bridging the divides of race, religion, politics, gender and zip codes."
This year, we dedicate our efforts in memory and honor of Sarah Matthews, business manager in Facilities Services and Planning, who surrounded herself and others in kindness every day. Sarah died unexpectedly on August 25, 2020, leaving many of us with a Sarah-sized hole in our hearts and lives. At Geneseo, she was a colleague, a friend, a wife, and a mother.
A memorial fund has been established to build a reflection garden at the College. If you'd like to contribute, please use this link to donate to the Reflection Garden. Your contribution can be made in the memory of Sarah Matthews or to honor any person dear to you.
Staff in Facilities Services and Facilities Planning (the department where Sarah worked) contributed funds to have a tree planted on campus in Sarah's memory and honor. It is a flowering cherry tree and will be planted near the Reflection Garden.
Participate
Here are six ways you can participate in World Kindness Day on November 13:
- Take a moment to read and sign the Kindness Pledge.
- We encourage members of the Geneseo community to embrace kindness and pass it along. Kindness comes in many shapes and forms, so choose what feels right for you and share it with those around you. Then, please share a photo representing your act of kindness on social media using the hashtag #geneseokindness, and tag SUNY Geneseo to demonstrate what our lives look like with kindness.
- Download the Kindness Matters logo and place in your email signature.
- We will be making and collecting cards in the MacVittie College Union Lobby, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. for first responders and medical staff who have been our heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please stop by and create a card—or several— to share your encouragement, gratitude, and kindness. You can also drop off cards that you've made at home. If you're not on campus and you'd like to participate in the card drive, please mail your cards or notes by November 13 to Andrea Klein, 1 College Circle, Erwin Hall 23, Geneseo NY, 14454.
- At 3:00 p.m. on November 13, Beth Cholette, Assistant Director of Counseling Services, will lead a Loving Kindness Meditation on Zoom, please register in advance: Register for the Zoom Meditation. If you're not available to join Beth live, a recorded session will be available here after the live event. Loving Kindness Meditation with Beth Cholette.
- Self-compassion is necessary, especially while grieving. Jenny Katz, professor of psychology at SUNY Geneseo, has generously offered a reading on grief, connection, love, and healing (below).
Tend and Befriend
Dr. Jennifer "Jenny" Katz is a faculty member in psychology whose husband died suddenly in August 2018. The essay "Tend and Befriend" is an essay from her forthcoming memoir, "The Good Widow." You can listen to the reading below.
- See who has signed the Kindness Pledge so far ❤️ (this list will be updated daily)
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- Andrea Klein
- Kristy Barkan
- Christie Reed
- Chip Matthews
- Michelle Worden
- Rebecca Gennes
- Amanda McCarthy
- Sophia Benny
- Jessica Buffamonti
- Samantha Harris
- Emily Cool
- Moet Aita
- Ralph Velzsquez
- Sabine Francis
- Jamie Henshaw
- Julia Cappiello
- Lian McGuane
- Sarah Krzemien
- Molly Costello
- Stephanie Wall
- Sarah Eckl
- Yasmin Khilji-Neal
- Mia Iverson
- Jessica D'Antonio
- Tiffany Flores Moran
- Linda Lin
- Lytton Smith
- Becky Leathersich
- Jose Romero
- Joe Dolce
- Amy Gonzalez
- Mike Taberski
- Carey Chappius
- Joan Book
- Shane Abbott
- Suzy Boor
- Heather Orme
- Dianne Cannon
- John Haley
- Jamee Thorton
- Thomas M. D'Angelo
- Meghan Tiede
- Sam Cardamone
- Mathew Felthousen
- Dana Minton
- Michelle Margeson
- Kathy McIntyre
- Daniel Moore
- Colleen E. Burley
- Niaomi VanAlstine
- Noreen Mazurowski
- Karie A. Frisaris
- Ilana Cahill
- Stacey Colt
- Sharon Leary
- Victoria Phipps
- Ashley Pacheco
- Emma Lupoli
- Lauren DeBonis
- Clare Mooney
- Laura Swanson
- Autumn Jeffrey
- Pamela Connor
- Melanie Blood
- Emily Rodak
- Genna Burke
- Jean Love
- Kerry Pickering
- Steve Schunk
- Alyssa Harrington
- Kamesha Miller
- Sherri Bush
- Darlene Necaster
- Melissa Tracy
- Laurie Fox
- JoAnn Gardner
- Tracy Gagnier
- Krissie Barsema
- Sue Moore
- Alessandra Otero Ramos
- Rory Tobin
- Carley Salerno
- Grace Burr
- Jenny Katz
- Mandy Xiang
- Kayla Borozny
- Kelly McLaughlin
- Genevieve Moulton
- Vivian Stapleton
- Kathryn Connell
- Valeria Guarneros
- Shane Veirun
- Parker Slawetsky
- Corey Ha
- Anne Baldwin
- Stacey Robertson
- Suzanna Rubright
- Matt Pastizzo
- Michael Lynch
- Keith Rosengren
- Julie Briggs
- robbie routenberg
- Julie Buehler
- Costas Solomou
- Amanda Millie Maldonado
- Bob Manchester
- Jessica Seren
- Meg Reitz
- Megan Syfrett
- Angela Briggs
- Sarah Covell
- Tammy Hill
- Brice M Weigman
- Paul J Morell
- George Gagnier
- Robert Ames
- Sarah E. (Phillips) Marsh
- Kristin Andolina
- Lauren Dougherty
- Marissa Schlitter
- Rob Levy
- Deanna Flint
- Erin Garone
- Clarence 'Mitch' Mitchell
- Betsy Colon
- Kathleen Trainor
- Rick Collocia
- Jonna Anne
- Emily Keenan
- Kiara Maher
- Nicole Accorso
- Emily Henderson
- Allison Briggs
- Elizabeth Everhardt
- Steve Kuhn
- Greg Merrill
- Maya Pellitteri
- Emily de Jong
- Chuck Reyes
- Debbie Buchanan
- Sarah Frank
- Julie Oas
- Jennifer Gibson
- Denise Battles
- Ellen Leverich
- Tracy Phillips
- Susan Richardson
- Miglena Charpied
- Jeffrey Polino
- Ronna Gillam
- Rob DiCarlo
- Beth Fitzpatrick
- Keely Glasheen
- Julie Reagan
- Hannah Smith
- Melquisedec Ma
- ltez Salmeron
- Patty Hamilton-Rodgers
- Rachel Anker
- Stephanie Reis
- Collen Spencer
- Sophie Wiktorko
- Margaret Rosaschi
- Joan Floriano
- Kerri Howell
- Susan Salmon
- Megan Roell
- Ally Dirschberger
- Robert Colbath
- Sherry Larson-Rhodes
- Maddie Barry
- Diane Krenzer
- Shane Ames
- Michael Mooney
- Shirley Mandeville
- Amaya Marie DiGiovanni
- Kim Truex
- Frank Blasioli
- Ava Pascalar
- Christopher Prusak
- Linda Lin
- Tracy LaJoie
- Emily Cook
- Sasha Eloi-Evans
- Yasmin Khilji-Neal
- Aiden Budinski
- Jessie Stack Lombardo
- Beth Adams
- Molly Perrone
- Patti McIlroy
- Erin Burger
- Monica Schneider
- Dan DeZarn
- Aliyha Gill
- Sue Chichester
- JoAnn Gardner
- Madisyn Pausley
- Lenny Sancillio
- Halie Saunders
- Kim Harvey
- Joy Phillips
- Kimberely Russell
- Gail Cabahug
- Lindsey Isenberg
- Annika Mounts
- Carol Marcy
- Marin Goodstein
- Stacee Muolo
- Madison Usyk
The Friends of Sarah Matthews Memorial Committee:
- Sherri Bush
- Sarah Frank (Co-Chair)
- Jennifer Gibson
- Andrea Klein
- Darlene Necaster (Co-Chair)
- Julie Oas
- Christie Reed