kindness.org Presents KIND100, Honoring 100 Individuals Changing the World Through Kindness
NEW YORK--( BUSINESS WIRE)--What do a 16-year-old baker, a world-renowned athlete, a Hollywood icon and a community changemaker have in common? The power to make the world a kinder place.
With e.l.f. Beauty as lead sponsor alongside American Eagle, UBS and Liveand.Love, the inaugural KIND100 celebrates the power of kindness to create meaningful change
In celebration of World Kindness Week, nonprofit organization kindness.org unveiled the inaugural KIND100, recognizing 100 individuals whose actions are transforming lives and communities. Bringing together global icons and everyday changemakers, KIND100 celebrates a different kind of influence, one measured by the difference individuals make in the lives of others.
From household names including Billie Jean King, Denzel Washington, Eli Manning, Keanu Reeves, Lady Gaga, MacKenzie Scott, Jalen Brunson and Tabitha Brown to individuals driving change in their own communities, KIND100 represents the many ways kindness can take shape across generations, geographies and backgrounds.
"Kindness is one of the most powerful forces we have to change the world, yet the people putting it into action rarely receive the recognition they deserve, and it's time we recognize the people proving that every day," said Jaclyn Lindsey, Co-Founder and CEO of kindness.org. "KIND100 celebrates extraordinary individuals who remind us that kindness is not passive. It takes courage, conviction, and action. From global icons to unsung heroes, our hope is that their stories inspire millions more to recognize the power they have to create change."
The inaugural KIND100 by the numbers:
KIND100 challenges traditional definitions of influence by placing kindness at the center of its selection process. Each nominee was independently evaluated by judges across five criteria: the nature of their actions, depth of benefit, reach of impact, personal sacrifice and overall kindness. Using a 10-point scoring scale and a statistical model to account for differences in judges' scoring, kindness.org identified honorees across categories ranging from charitable work to social entrepreneurship, ensuring recognition of the many ways kindness shows up in the world. This rigorous, science-informed approach reflects kindness.org's commitment to understanding and elevating the measurable impact of kindness on individuals and communities.
"Kindness is often treated as something intangible, but it's not – its impact can be studied, understood and evaluated," said Dr. Oliver Scott Curry, Chief Science Officer of kindness.org. "Our approach recognizes not only how many people benefit from an act of kindness, but how deeply it affects their lives and what an individual may have sacrificed to help others. In this way, KIND100 celebrates the multiple dimensions of making a difference."
The inaugural KIND100 is made possible through the support of e.l.f. Beauty as lead sponsor, alongside American Eagle, UBS and Liveand.Love, as well as in-kind partners Nike Communications, McGuire Woods, and Upworthy, bringing together organizations committed to championing kindness and the individuals putting it into action.
As part of an on-going partnership with kindness.org, e.l.f. Beauty is presenting the Bold Disruptor with a Kind Heart Award as an extension of its purpose to make the world a better place for every eye, lip and face. Rooted in positivity, inclusivity and accessibility, e.l.f. is committed to democratizing access, championing the underrepresented and breaking down barriers to create opportunity for the “every.” The award celebrates individuals who share this ethos and put kindness into action by challenging the status quo.
The Bold Disruptor with a Kind Heart Award is being presented to Arunachalam Muruganantham, founder of Jayaashree Industries, who challenged cultural taboos by developing a low-cost machine to produce affordable sanitary pads. Muruganantham empowered rural women's groups in India to produce the products themselves, disrupting norms and democratizing access to menstrual health while creating economic opportunity.
"The e.l.f. Beauty purpose to make the world a better place for every eye, lip and face leads us to kindred spirits who share our values, do the right thing and stand up for what we believe in.” said Samantha Critchell, VP, Corporate Communications, e.l.f. Beauty. “Prioritizing kindness helps us show up in the world with positivity, inclusivity and accessibility - and every one of the inaugural KIND100 winners are force multipliers. They are the bold disruptors with kind hearts who put their own communities at the center of their commitment to make a positive impact and they inspire us all to think bigger about what’s possible.”
With 100 kindmakers spanning generations, geographies and backgrounds, the inaugural KIND100 reinforces a simple belief: everyone has the capacity to make a difference. By bringing greater visibility to those leading with kindness, kindness.org and its partners hope to inspire more people to recognize the impact they can have on the communities and people around them.
The full inaugural KIND100 and the stories behind its honorees can be found at kindness.org/kind100.
About kindness.org
Founded in 2016, kindness.org is a global nonprofit on a mission to educate and inspire people to choose kindness. Grounded in science and brought to life through storytelling, education, and innovative programs, kindness.org works to demonstrate the transformative power of kindness in classrooms, workplaces, and communities around the world. Through initiatives including Learn Kind, Kindlab, and the inaugural KIND100, the organization is redefining how kindness is understood, practiced, and celebrated. With a vision of a world where kindness is at the center of human connection, kindness.org believes everyone has the power to create meaningful change. Learn more at www.kindness.org.