Matt’s Kindness Ripples On is Happy to Announce, Two Kindness Award Winners for November 2019
Jessica Munoz, of Waialua, HI, and Renee and Mike Fahey, of Selkirk, NY, have been awarded the Matt Kurtz Kindness Award, an award that recognizes people for the good that they do.
Renee and Mike started a grass-roots organization in 2016, called Street Soldiers, that helps provide hot meals and needed essentials to the homeless and less fortunate.
“It was a four-by-four card table with a box of sandwiches and a pot of soup. I don’t think either one of us pictured where it would lead,” said Mike.
They use their home, garage, and vehicles for storing and transporting all the meals, clothing, coolers, drinks and tables for the Friday evening events. What started as the two of them, has now grown to many volunteers and two locations in Schenectady and Troy, N.Y.
Jessica Munoz founded the non-profit, Hoola Na Pua (which means New Life for our Children), www.hoolanapua.org in 2013 to fight for justice for child victims of sex trafficking, to create a home facility for girls who have been sex trafficked, creating a path to restoration and healing from their trauma, and to bring awareness to the public.
Her passion started when her sister told her about the issue of human trafficking. Jessica said,
“I was like most people who thought that human trafficking only happened in places far away. But there is a hidden slave market right here in America. There are around 100,000 newly enslaved children every year in the US.”
Jessica has spent years selflessly volunteering her time and skills for kids in desperate need of an adult to fight for them. She is a constant champion for these vulnerable children and an inspiration to everyone.
Jessica, Renee and Mike are an inspiration to all and the answer to people who say, “I’m only one person, what difference can I make?” This award recognizes that individual people can change the world, one kindness at a time.
The Fahey’s and Jessica Munoz have each been awarded a certificate of appreciation and a $250 check in acknowledgment of their outstanding kindness and compassion. Whether it’s big acts of kindness and compassion or everyday small acts, Matt’s Kindness Ripples On celebrates people who make kindness a way of life and Jessica, Renee and Mike embrace that philosophy.
This award is given in honor of Matt Kurtz, (1985-2017), a young man whose personal philosophy was to live an honorable, compassionate and nonjudgmental life. To give for the sake of giving, to expect nothing in return, to be aware of the world around him and to step in to help others without being asked whenever he saw the need. Matt believed in the ripple effect of a simple act of kindness – like a pebble dropped in water, it goes on and on. You can find out more about how Matt lived his life, examples of his many acts of kindness, big and small, and why this award was created on MattsKindnessRipplesOn.com.
The next Matt Kurtz Kindness Award will be given out on May 1, 2020. Nominate someone who inspires you and they may be the next winner.
###
Contact Jackie Kurtz at mattskindnessrippleson@gmail.com or 240-832-1169.