The $5 Kindness Challenge: Making change with a few dollars

At the k20 Kindness Summit, every attendees were giving $5 and asked to pay it forward. 

One of the k20 kindness's co-founders, Francesca Donlan, taught the first kindness class at Florida Gulf Coast University. Each semester she issued a $10 Kindness Challenge — made possible by the steady support of her "Kindness Patron," Sharon Arnold. And each semester, her students found extraordinary ways to spend it. 

At the Kindness Summit, Sharon showed up again, this time offering every attendee a $5 challenge of their own. The money came with some rules. Be kind. Put it in your pocket for a few days and be alert for any opportunity to help. If nothing happens, make a plan for the following week. Give the money away with intention and human connection. Every cent matters. Everyone can make a difference.

A few people, including Sharon Arnold, donated their $5 (and more) to Janet Lee. She is working on a documentary about Arnie Stewart, a man who overcame low literacy to become a beacon of hope. Janet Lee also sold some of her artwork, with all proceeds going to her documentary. 

During the k20 Summit, Sally Stockreisser, an emotional empowerment coach, shared her Sophie cards with the audience. The $5 challenge inspired Sally to buy 50 “Self‑Compassion Cards” (Sophie cards), for local school children. They’re small enough to fit in a pocket or under a pillow, a place for each child to write a kind, supportive thought they can revisit, helping them internalize kindness as their brain develops. It gives them a chance to experience calm, reassurance and compassion through their relationship with themselves, learning to become their own best source of emotional support. 

It’s a small step toward a future where internalized kindness and emotional empowerment are the norm. Where kindness becomes an effortless, subconscious part of each day. Sally is starting with Sophie's school and making plans to incorporate other schools as well.  

Jenny Haase was inspired to use her $5 from the k20 Kindness Without Borders Summit Challenge to honor the memory and legacy of her treasured mother, Jean Hendricksen. In August of 2025 (at the age of 96), Jean had a bad fall. She spent time at the Draper Rehabilitation and Care Center before moving back home into Hospice care and then sadly passing away in September.

With her $5 bill as “seed” money, Jenny created 20 silk flower arrangements in vases for residents at the care center. Each was accompanied by a personalized note. “Hello, Beverly – I hope you find joy in even the smallest of things today. Flowers always brighten my day and I hope that this bouquet, arranged just for you, will brighten yours, too! With kindness, Jenny Haase”  Knowing that many of the residents had few visitors and could use some cheering up, Jenny delivered each arrangement with a smile and a short visit. She hopes that the flowers brighten their rooms, warm their hearts, and help them to feel seen, remembered and valued.

Vicky Bowles took a flight from Fort Myers to Dallas shortly after the k20 Summit. She spent the week visiting family and friends in Dallas and Austin and was preparing to fly back to Fort Myers. She was sitting at the gate when she learned the Fort Myers flight had been moved from C1 to C4. That's when she noticed an older woman asking - in Spanish - about how to get to the right gate for her flight to Fort Myers.

Minutes later, Vicky learned the gate had changed to a third location. Vicky asked a woman who could speak Spanish to help her find the older woman and let her know that Vicky would help her get to the right gate. Once they found the older woman - Maria - they realized she had issues walking. So, Vicky flagged down a man with a wheelchair and asked if he was available to assist Maria. 

He checked Maria's boarding pass, got her seated and they headed toward C33. The man didn't understand Spanish so he and Vicky found another person to translate. They ultimately got Maria to the right gate and both made their flight to Fort Myers with no more changes. Vicky used her $5 (and some more) to tip the man who pushed Maria in the wheelchair. 

Dayna Harpster loves to go thrifting. Like most shoppers, she's looking for a bargain. Shortly after the summit, she was at a thrift store and overheard a woman at the cash register deciding what she should keep and what she should leave behind because she was short a few dollars. Dayna realized she had her $5 in her purse and stepped forward to cover the difference. It made everyone smile including other shoppers. 

Linda Cohen took her $5 home to Oregon. She saw a woman walking through her neighborhood collecting botles and cans out of recycling bins. She ran up and got the $5 she still had in her k20 folder from Florida. Linda learned her name was Erica and gave her $5. Both left their interaction feeling much happier.