About us
The Kindness Club of Arizona
Our mission is to empower students to perform acts of kindness and become difference makers within our communities.
The goal is not only to help others but to teach our youth the importance of giving. We aim to build character through the practice of kindness, to instill generosity as a core value, and to improve social skills through meaningful interactions. We believe these experiences will help our kids grow up to become more empathetic, kind, and patient members of society.
The day after we finished our first year of Operation Secret Santa, every single student was so overcome with happiness and pure joy that they were begging to do it again the next year, and WE DID.
We would love your help making this year’s mission even bigger, better, and more impactful. Get involved.
A moment shared during Operation Secret Santa, 2025
Board of Directors
Pleasure to meet you
Derek Brown
President
I’ve been a fifth-grade teacher in Phoenix, Arizona since 2008. My passion and purpose in life is to teach children essential life skills like character, empathy, compassion, and the selfless act of performing random acts of kindness. For more than 15 years, I’ve been showing my students the inspiring stories from CBS reporter Steve Hartman, believing that kids need to learn respect, kindness, generosity, humility, and so all the character traits that help make them productive and caring members of society. In January of 2025, I founded The Kindness Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization aimed at empowering our children to be difference makers. To quote one of our students, “Their joy, that’s the gift to you!”
Monique Preciado
Vice President
Jason Kvam
Treasurer
Ren Fahey
Director
I’m a retired educator with 28 years of service in the classroom, dedicated to inspiring and mentoring students throughout my career. Passionate about continuing to serve the community, I recently earned EMT certification, bringing the same commitment and care to emergency response and public service.
Clay Jackson
Secretary
I’ve been blessed to work within all levels of education to help provide support for our students and teachers. And I continue to be blessed with the opportunity to maintain this meaningful work through the inspiring efforts of the Kindness Club to empower students to be difference-makers in their communities.
Terri Jackson
Volunteer
Coming from a family of educators, I’ve worked with students from pre-school to college with an emphasis on character education. I’m grateful to be part of the Kindness Club which foster a student’s growth in their understanding and value of empathy, generosity, and goodwill in their interactions with others.
We foster human connection
Planning
Allowing students to plan their strategies for getting donations fosters leadership, a sense of personal ownership, and autonomy.
Fundraising
When students execute their plans for fundraising they build resilience, while mastering skills in communication.
Outreach
Students who engage with a variety of community members, are more likely to gain social confidence and adaptability.
Reach out
Send your comments, media inquiries, and all other questions here!