Guidelines for membership in the coalition reflect the founding members desire to mutually benefit from shared information about kindness-centered programs around the world. Those present at the founding meeting of the Coalition in Colorado Springs in October included

• Jim Bergantz of “Seeds of Kindness/Angels Camp”
• Barry Wienhold, Janae Wienhold, Shelly Veatch, Katie Utz and Sharon Hamand, all of the “Kindness Campaign” in Colorado Springs
• Linda Lester of “Because We Care”, in Fresno California
• Micki Fortner, of “Kind Acts Indiana” in Indianapolis, Indiana
• Don Benton, Rose Marie Benton, Dee Silverstein and Marzuq Jaami, of “The Kindness Foundation” in Dallas Texas
• Barbara Unell, SuEllen Fried, Monica Meeks, and Polly Runke, of the “Kindness is Contagious .. Catch it” program of the STOP Violence Coalition in Kansas City, Missouri
• Elbert Cole of Kansas city, Missouri, representing The Shepherd’s Centers of America.

Kindness Coalition Steering committee members helping to plan the first national conference on kindness include Jim Bergantz, Barry Wienhold, Linda Lester, Don Benton, Micki Fortune and Barbara Unell.

The conference will be sponsored by the Kindness Coalition and hosted by the Kindness Foundation in Dallas, Texas in the Fall. The first annual Community of Kindness Humanitarian award will be given at the conference. Open to Coalition members, youth, and others interested in the kindness movement, the conference will feature presentations on the role of kindness in communities, schools, churches, the media and national grass-roots coalitions.

Every year Kindness Week, a week in which cities across America sponsor city-wide events to promote and encourage awareness of the impact that acts of kindness make in our lives, will be held during Valentines Day week.