Connor’s Kindness Project: Remarkable Young Man Spreads Kindness Wherever He Can
Connor’s Kindness Project was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, when one 12-year-old youngster, Connor Wright, decided that kids in isolation needed cheering up. Connor began making care packages and distributing them to children. Soon enough, the initiative expanded, with Connor distributing his COVID care packages to healthcare workers, law enforcement officials, and other local heroes.
Now 15, Connor continues to do good, and even started a Kindness Club initiative to get other kids excited about being kind to others. And while generally we award small grants to educational and youth development programs, we deem the spreading of kindness to be just as important—especially when it all stems from the good heart of a young person like Connor Wright. We hope that in lending our support to the Connor’s Kindness Project, other young people will be encouraged to follow Connor’s good example.
We put some questions to Connor’s Kindness Project Founder Connor Wright to find out more about this inspiring initiative:
Kars4Kids: You founded Connor’s Kindness Project during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it seems a good guess that kindness was important to you even before the pandemic. Were you involved with other, similar projects prior to the pandemic and CKP? To what do you credit your desire to be kind to others?
Connor Wright: Kindness has always been a big part of my life, even before the pandemic. My mom got me involved in community service from a young age—whether it was donating toys for Toys for Tots; setting up lemonade stands to raise funds for Boston Children’s Hospital; or volunteering at the Special Olympics. I’ve been doing this kind of stuff since I was 7. My mom and Nana were huge influences, always showing me how important it is to help others. They inspired me to be kind and think about how I could make a difference, even in small ways.
Kars4Kids: Tell us about the early beginnings of the Connor’s Kindness Project. What drove you to do acts of kindness for others at that time? How did you act on your desire to do good and who benefited?
Connor Wright: The idea for Connor’s Kindness Project came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone was struggling, and I wanted to do something to help, especially for kids who were stuck in quarantine and feeling isolated. It started with COVID care packages—just small things to bring a little joy to kids who were having a tough time. We began helping more people, including nurses, police, and other local heroes. Over time, it expanded into what we are now, with Kindness Kits being delivered to hospitals and shelters all over New England. The goal has always been to spread kindness and make a positive impact on the people who need it most.
Kars4Kids: It seems like even at the very beginning of your initiative, the packages you delivered were in special yellow bags marked in red, “COVID-19 care package.” How did you find these bags—or did you or someone else design them? Why not just use, for instance, brown paper bags—it’s the thought that counts, right? What role does packaging play in your work today?
Connor Wright: The way we present our packages, whether it was the COVID care packages back then or the Kindness Kits we do now, is super important. First impressions matter a lot, especially when you’re trying to make someone feel better in a tough situation. The bright colors and cool designs catch your eye and instantly make you feel like someone put real thought into it. It’s not just about what’s inside; it’s about showing that we care enough to make everything look special. Plus, it helps with branding. When people see our kits, they recognize the effort we put into making them, and it sets us apart. It’s like when you get a gift, and the wrapping is just as awesome as what’s inside—that’s the kind of vibe we’re going for. We want everything to have that “WOW” factor, and the packaging is a big part of that.
Kars4Kids: You started out with care packages for children, but soon enough, other sectors benefited from your pandemic care packages. Tell us about that.
Connor Wright: At first, we were focused on care packages for kids, but as the pandemic went on, we realized there were so many more people who needed support. It was a crazy time, and we just wanted to help as much as we could. What started as COVID care packages for kids in quarantine quickly grew into baskets for nurses; kind notes and treats for local police and firefighters; and even doing drives and assembling kits for other nonprofits. Eventually, all of this led to us creating our Kindness Kits, which really took off and became the heart of our organization. It was all about spreading kindness wherever we could, and that’s what keeps driving us today.
Kars4Kids: What kind of items did you include in those early packages? How do those early packages compare to the Kindness Kits you distribute, today? How many packages would you estimate you’ve delivered over the years, and how many recipients have been lucky enough to benefit from Connor’s Kindness Project?
Connor Wright: The early care packages were filled with a bunch of random toys and items, kind of like what we do now with the Kindness Kits. But the big difference is that the Kindness Kits are way more planned out, with a focus on making them look really good and being high quality. We want every single kit to have that “WOW” factor and really make someone’s day. Over the past 4 years, we’ve delivered more than 8,000 kits to over 50 hospitals and shelters all across New England and we will be 10,000 kits by the end of 2024. It’s incredible to think about how many kids have been able to feel some extra kindness because of what we do!
Kars4Kids: Aside from distributing care packages, you’ve collaborated with other charities. Can you talk about that? What were the charities, and how did you help?
Connor Wright: We teamed up with some awesome charities like Birthday Wishes and Catie’s Closet. For Birthday Wishes, we collected items and put together 50 of their Birthday in a Box kits, which are super important for kids who might not otherwise get to celebrate their birthday. With Catie’s Closet, we organized a clothing drive to help them fill up their school closets with clothes for students in need. Not only did we make a big difference for these organizations during a really tough time, but seeing how they operated and the impact they had really inspired us to do what we do now with Connor’s Kindness Project. A lot of the partners we have for the Kindness Kits are also nonprofits, so collaborating with other nonprofits is something we’re doing now and definitely plan to keep doing in the future. It’s all about working together to spread kindness as far as we can.
Kars4Kids: Tell us about the role your mother and grandmother have played in your work. In what capacity are they active in CKP today?
Connor Wright: I wouldn’t be doing what I am without my mom and Nana. My Nana and I have a really special bond, and she’s always been there for me. She’s the one who focuses on the day-to-day operations of CKP, making sure everything runs smoothly. My mom is super involved in the strategic planning side of things, helping us figure out where we’re headed and how to keep growing. They both inspire me every day and push me to be great. I can’t thank them enough for all they do—they’re a huge part of why Connor’s Kindness Project is what it is today. Plus, working with them has brought us even closer as a family, which is something I really appreciate.
Kars4Kids: Can you give us an overview of your Kindness Club initiative? What made you decide to branch out and initiate this program?
Connor Wright: The Kindness Club is all about inspiring young people to make a positive difference in their communities. We start with an assembly where the whole school takes a pledge to be kind, and then the students join a 30+ day program where they complete 20 acts of kindness. These acts are all about encouraging kids to care for others, be inclusive, and embrace diversity. We also want them to get involved in community service and think about how their actions can positively impact the people around them. Over the last 3 years, we’ve partnered with more than 50 schools, involving over 15,000 students. Together, they’ve completed more than 300,000 acts of kindness. The goal is to help kids understand the importance of being kind and thoughtful in everything they do, so they grow up to be caring and responsible members of their communities.
Kars4Kids: Once the project grew larger, funding must have been an issue. Can you tell us a bit about how you’ve managed to find and obtain funding to finance CKP?
Connor Wright: When we first started, I asked family and friends to support us, and we even self-funded some of our early startup costs. I also set up a lemonade stand, and was able to raise enough money for the first 250 kits, which was awesome. Once we became a nonprofit, we started getting support from some local businesses, which really helped us grow. Now, we host two events each year to raise funds, and we’ve been doing this for three years. We’ve reached the point where we’re applying for and receiving grants, and we even have a finance committee now. On top of that, we also receive product donations; have built relationships with wholesalers; and work with various organizations and groups that support our initiatives. I’m not as involved in the funding side of things, but I still go to a lot of networking events and make presentations to promote awareness of the cause.
Kars4Kids: What’s next for Connor’s Kindness Project?
Connor Wright: CKP is really growing, and we’ve got big plans for the future. In the next decade, we want to take our services nationwide! We’re excited to keep expanding and spreading kindness across the country. It’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come, and we’re just getting started.
