Each KINDNESS Makes a Difference

Drake’s Dream believes that all children can learn with the right kind of supports in place.  We partner with schools to provide tools that enable children with learning differences to access classroom instruction.  Skilled, committed educators like yourselves matter more than anything, but coupled with personalized learning tools, we can reach children who simply learn differently than the typical child. It is tragic that so many of these children come to see themselves as less than others, when all they may need is a tool matched to their needs in order to succeed in school.  It is the goal of Drake’s Dream to make that possible.

In his short time on this earth, Drake showed what it meant to be there for those peers who needed a companion and/or encouragement.  He was particularly drawn to children who were struggling in school.  He observed their humanity, their potential, their needs and made a point of both connecting and standing with them.  Drake’s Dream aims to reflect Drake’s spirit in supporting the same kinds of children.

 We are adding this new program to our organization to further enable us to “create an environment of inclusiveness for all children”.    

This new program gives you, the educator, an opportunity to observe the students you have in your classroom and decide what additional materials or equipment they may need to support their learning.   You may have one single student, a small group or an entire classroom that could benefit from these resources.  

“As a mental health provider who works with students across both special education and general education, I regularly see students needing various tools to help support their learning and emotional regulation.  The Drake Durkee Foundation helps support these efforts by funding some of these materials that are frequently needed.  When we provide the tools that each student needs, regardless of placement, we can create a more positive, inclusive and successful education for all kids.”

- Elly Baker, K-5 Mental Health, Stober Elementary

You can also submit your own idea for items that you feel would “level the playing field” for the students in your class. Our board will determine if the cost of your request fits our budget parameters. 

Some examples of items that could be requested are:

  • Noise Cancelling Headphones

  • Slant Board for Desks

  • Special Writing Paper

  • Manipulatives

  • Seat Cushions

  • Sensory Items

  • Tech Items to Aid in Communication, Reading, Writing and Math

  • Stress Relievers

  • Study Carrels

  • Calming App Programs

  • Subscriptions to Weekly Magazines and Learning Resources

  • Educator Training

Simply fill out the application below.  You can also visit our website to complete the application and submit online at: www.thedrakedurkeefoundation.org. Our board of directors will review all submissions and our selections will be notified.

Thank you for your participation in Drake’s Dream!  We hope to make a difference in the learning success of every student in your classroom.

Kindly,

Melissa Durkee

President, The Drake Durkee Foundation

Submissions due by Friday, October 6th, 2023

The Drake Durkee Foundation would be nothing without the support of local teachers and school administrators. We would like to highlight some external resources we believe can help teachers in their pursuit to encourage intentional acts of kindness.


TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT BEING OF SERVICE AND THE VALUE OF KINDNESS!

Many of the non-profits committed to a kinder world have created programs and activities to bring service/kindness/inclusion into the classrooms. Take a look.  Bring one of these ideas to your local classroom.  Volunteer ideas below.

Caring Common Project:  The new Caring Schools initiative gives participating middle schools and high schools survey data and research based strategies to develop and implement action plans that promote safety, caring, and respect. They have worked with more than 35 diverse schools nationwide.

GenerationOn’s Learning to Give lesson plans and resources that teach giving and

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

The Drake Durkee Foundation would be nothing without the support of local teachers and school administrators. We would like to highlight some external resources we believe can help teachers in their pursuit to encourage intentional acts of kindness.

TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT BEING OF SERVICE AND THE VALUE OF KINDNESS!

Many of the non-profits committed to a kinder world have created programs and activities to bring service/kindness/inclusion into the classrooms. Take a look.  Bring one of these ideas to your local classroom.  Volunteer ideas below.

Caring Common Project:  The new Caring Schools initiative gives participating middle schools and high schools survey data and research based strategies to develop and implement action plans that promote safety, caring, and respect. They have worked with more than 35 diverse schools nationwide.

GenerationOn’s Learning to Give lesson plans and resources that teach giving and volunteerism, civic engagement, and character through service-learning.

Think Kindness: Students are challeneged to document 5,000 acts of kindness in 15 days. Anything from opening a door, picking up a pen, or even sharing a smile, no act is too small to document. Within hours, each school notices an explosion of Kindness within their school.

Pay It Forward Foundation: Young Readers Edition of Pay It Forward provides a resource for teachers and other educators to use as a teaching tool for class.

The Great Kindness Challenge: Become a kindness certified school district!  Choosing from a 50 item checklist, students are encouraged to perform as many acts of kindness as possible,  Download the kindness checklist and toolkit and start implimenting a kindness curriculum on your campus: Pre-K through High School.

Random Acts Of Kindness: Downloadable K-12 lesson plans including project ideas, how to lead a kindness project or form a kindness club. Rooted in social emotional learning (SEL), the curriculum features developmentally appropriate, standards-aligned lessons. Don’t expect kindness in schools… teach it!

Bkind:  Start a B KIND CLUB AT YOUR SCHOOL!

The Be Kind People Project: Providing innovative and culturally relevant youth development programs that are essential for effective social, emotional, and academic learning.Their high-energy, fun provides a positive approach to behavior and learning and equips students with a solid framework to build healthy interpersonal relationship skills, improve academic results, and form enduring values.

Learning To Give: Offering more than 1,400 free State-certified lesson plans for K-12 that teach giving, civic engagement and character through service-learning. Classroom lesson plans creatively infuse philanthropy into K-12 academic content and serve as a foundation for a student-centered approach. Educators report that philanthropy education increases their students’ interest and involvement in service.

Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest.

lifevestinside.com: LVI works to cultivate the awareness that children can effect real and positive change in the people around them, simply by ‘living kindness:’ by embodying empathy and compassion in our day-to-day lives. The Kindness Curriculum aligns with the Common Core State Standards  to promote kindness, tolerance, and social interaction to our children.

911day.org: Last year more than 40 million Americans spent time on 9/11 helping others through good deeds, including more than one million students of all ages. In partnership with Scholastic and the Corporation for National and Community Service, they are introducing many new lesson plans, photos and videos for your use as an educator.

Charter for Compassion:  Have your students sign the Charter of Compassion.  Develop a Compassionate Community where you live. The Charter for Compassion has developed a four-part model or framework for building a Compassionate Community which includes a Charter Tool Box, providing rich and valuable resources. The comprehensive program includes Phase 1: Discover and Assess, Phase 2: Focus and Commit, Phase 3: Build and Launch and Phase 4: Evaluate and Sustain.  There are currently 143 Compassionate Cities.

100 Ways to Volunteer with Kids. developed by STEPS (Student Training & Education in Public Service)

Teaching Tolerance

http://www.tolerance.org

Founded by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Teaching Tolerance helps teachers and schools fight prejudice, promote equality and celebrate diversity. I have used many of these lessons year after year in my elementary classroom.   Be sure to read about the national campaign, Mix It Up, a Teaching Tolerance initiative that encourages students to step outside of their comfort zone and get to know someone new at lunch. Mix It Up inspires students to make connections and develop relationships with classmates across social boundaries. This can be easily adapted in the classroom as well.

The Kindness Journey

http://thekindnessjourney.com/resources/

This website follows twelve-year-old Jaden Winn and his mother Amanda as they embark on a yearlong journey across the United States. Their main goal is to educate and inspire people along the way to join in the #kindnessmovement while raising funds for Life Vest Inside, an organization dedicated to uniting the world with kindness (http://www.lifevestinside.com). If these two don’t move you to spread the love, I’m not sure what will!

Picture Books that Promote Kindness

Chapter Books that Promote Kindness

KINDESS QUOTES

Below are some past kindness quotes for you to use as you please - Follow us on instagram (@thedrakedurkeefoundation) and Facebook (facebook.com/thedrakedurkeefoundation) to see weekly quotes from the Drake Durkee Foundation