Sweatshirts Spread Positivity and Fund Dance Classes Seventeen-year-old Kennedy Lale has turned her passion for spreading kindness into a fundraising initiative to support her dance ambitions. Through the sale of sweatshirts emblazoned with the words ‘Treat People with Kindness,’ Kennedy is working to fund her dance classes while also promoting a message she believes the world needs to hear. “My Treat People with Kindness movement started this August,” Kennedy says, “It’s something I strive to live by every day. I love this message because it’s simple but can reach so many people, and hopefully, they’ll act upon it.” Kennedy aims to expand the optimism she shares with friends and family to a broader audience. This isn’t Kennedy’s first foray into designing and selling sweatshirts. In 2022, she created a successful line featuring the words ‘No Rain. No Flowers’. The positive reception inspired her to develop a new design this year. “I wanted to design something that not only looked cute but also impacted society,” she says. The placement of the message on the back of the sweatshirt was intentional, as Kennedy felt it would make a bold statement. “At school, work, and in the general public, you see thousands of people walking in front and around you, and having my message on the back can make it to a bigger audience.”
For Kennedy, the message of kindness is more than just a catchphrase — it’s a way of life. “The message ‘treat people with kindness’ is a motivating motto for me daily,” she explains. “I interact with many people between school, dance, work, and family. Just a little bit of kindness and positivity can affect so many others around you.” She believes that showing empathy strengthens relationships and makes people better to be around. As she approaches the end of her high school career, Kennedy sets her sights on the future: “Hopefully, my next steps for my movement will be to promote my message to many others and get it out for everyone to see.” After finishing her final year of high school and wrapping up her last dance season, Kennedy hopes to attend university in the fall, with the dream of pursuing a career in education, specifically working with primary and junior students. Regardless of where life takes her, one thing is certain — Kennedy plans to continue spreading her message of kindness throughout her lifetime, hoping to make a lasting impact on those around her.
Kennedy offers her sweatshirts in a range of customizable options. Buyers can choose the colour of the shirt, heart, and words, adding a personal touch to their purchase. The sweatshirts are priced at $40 for kids’ sizes, $45 for adult sizes, and $48 for sizes 2X to 5X. All profits go directly to her dance fund, which will help her continue pursuing her passion. “The sweaters can be purchased by going to Kennedy’s Dance Fundraiser page on Facebook and messaging the page with your details.”
Hometown St. Thomas • November 2024 • Page 3
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