How One Teacher Turned Personal Loss into Hundreds of Acts of Kindness
When Pennsylvania high school teacher Kristina Ulmer tragically lost her sister in 2018, she wanted to honor her memory in a way that truly reflected her sister's generous spirit. Kristina decided to inspire her students by giving each of them $20 from her own pocket, with a simple mission: use it to perform a random act of kindness.
Her students rose to the occasion beautifully:
One student bought doughnuts for the homeless.
Another surprised a local veteran with thoughtful gifts.
Yet another student put together gift baskets filled with treats for children at a nearby orphanage.
What began as a heartfelt tribute quickly transformed into an annual community tradition, drawing additional funding and support. To date, Kristina’s students have completed over 350 acts of kindness, proving that even a small gesture—like $20—can profoundly impact someone's life.
As one student reflected, “I now realize how much something as small as $20 can do to help someone.”
Kristina’s inspiring story is a powerful reminder of how kindness multiplies when shared. Her sister's legacy now lives on through each act of generosity.
#ActsOfKindness #FeelGood #CommunityLove #InspireChange