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September 11, 2026 — SHAWANO, WI. — Students at Sacred Heart Catholic School spent September 10 exploring how kindness, compassion, and positive connections can shape their school community during a visit from Rachel’s Challenge.

Presenter Chad Wolfinbarger led age-appropriate sessions for students from kindergarten through eighth grade, using stories, reflection, and discussion to help students think about empathy, inclusion, and the impact their choices can have on others.

Younger students took part in interactive conversations about kindness, while middle school students focused on leadership and ways they can make a positive difference in their school and community. Students also shared ideas for future service projects and signed a Rachel’s Challenge banner as a commitment to kindness, acceptance, and compassion.

The day reflected a central message of Rachel’s Challenge: small actions can create a much larger impact. By choosing to reach out, include others, and lead with compassion, students can help start a chain reaction of kindness that extends beyond the classroom.

See more on TCH News. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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September 10, 2026 — SHERIDAN, IN. — Sheridan High School students recently gathered for a Rachel’s Challenge presentation centered on a simple but powerful idea: each person has the ability to make a positive difference.

Presenter JB Braden shared the story of Rachel Joy Scott and the way her kindness, compassion, and belief in others continue to inspire students decades after her death at Columbine High School. Rather than focusing on tragedy, the presentation highlighted how Rachel lived—and how her actions created a lasting chain reaction.

Students were encouraged to take on five challenges: look for the best in others, dream big and believe in themselves, choose positive influences, speak with kindness, and start their own chain reaction of kindness.

The message was clear: we may not be able to control the actions of others, but we can choose how we respond, how we treat people, and how we show up for those around us. By putting those choices into action, Sheridan students were challenged to help build a more connected, compassionate school community.

See more on The Hamilton County Reporter. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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August 4, 2026 — CAMBRIA COUNTY, PA. — Rachel’s Challenge CEO Kristi Krings joined educators, school leaders, mental health professionals, and safety experts this week at the Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit in Butte, Montana, to discuss one of the most important factors in school safety: student connection.

The summit brought together professionals from across the state to share best practices for creating safer schools through prevention, preparedness, and positive school climate. During her keynote, Kristi emphasized that connected students are more engaged, more likely to seek help when they need it, and better equipped to contribute to a positive learning environment.

Throughout the event, speakers reinforced a common message: creating safer schools requires more than emergency planning—it also means investing in relationships, student well-being, and proactive school climate strategies.

See more on WJAC. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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August 18, 2026 — JOHNSTOWN, PA. — Educators from across the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, area recently came together at Richland High School for a Rachel’s Challenge experience focused on connection, vulnerability, and the power of kindness.

Rachel’s Challenge CEO Kristi Krings and presenter Poet Ali led the program, sharing personal experiences and helping educators explore how hope, resilience, and connection can strengthen school communities. The message was especially timely as teachers and staff prepared for a new school year and considered the impact they can have through small, intentional acts of kindness.

Participants described the experience as moving and meaningful, with several educators sharing plans to bring what they learned back to their own schools. For many, the day was also an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from across the region and reflect on the shared challenges—and opportunities—facing educators today.

At its heart, the experience reinforced a central idea of Rachel’s Challenge: one person’s actions can influence another, creating a chain reaction of kindness that reaches far beyond a single moment.

See more on The Tribune Democrat. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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August 4, 2026 — BUTTE, MT. —Rachel’s Challenge CEO Kristi Krings joined educators, school leaders, mental health professionals, and safety experts this week at the Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit in Butte, Montana, to discuss one of the most important factors in school safety: student connection.

The summit brought together professionals from across the state to share best practices for creating safer schools through prevention, preparedness, and positive school climate. During her keynote, Kristi emphasized that connected students are more engaged, more likely to seek help when they need it, and better equipped to contribute to a positive learning environment.

Throughout the event, speakers reinforced a common message: creating safer schools requires more than emergency planning—it also means investing in relationships, student well-being, and proactive school climate strategies.

Rachel’s Challenge was honored to be part of this important conversation and to stand alongside so many educators and leaders committed to creating schools where every student can learn, grow, and thrive.

See more on NBC Montana. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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April 23, 2026 — LYNN, M.A. — At Saint Mary’s School, students are bringing kindness to life by supporting children with autism as they learn to ride bikes during the annual Bike Clinic.

Through patience, encouragement, and hands-on guidance, student volunteers help build both skills and confidence—proving that small, intentional actions can create meaningful breakthroughs.

More than an event, it’s a reflection of a deeper culture: when students lead with empathy and connection, they create a chain reaction that strengthens both individuals and the entire community.

Read more on WBZ News. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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April 25, 2026 — LYNN, M.A. — Students at St. Mary’s High School are turning compassion into action—partnering with Northeast Arc to help children with autism learn to ride bikes during a hands-on community event.

Led by student volunteers, the initiative reflects a simple but powerful idea: small acts of service can create meaningful change. Whether supporting a child’s first successful ride or offering encouragement along the way, students are building connection beyond their school walls.

Moments like these show how kindness, when put into action, strengthens communities and creates impact that lasts far beyond a single day.

Read more on ItemLive. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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April 22, 2026 — ALMONT, M.I. — Almont School District brought together all PreK–12 students for a unified stand against bullying, creating a powerful, student-centered experience focused on connection and belonging.

Through a symbolic chain activity, students demonstrated a simple but critical truth: every individual matters, and stronger connections create safer schools. Inspired by the message to “start a chain reaction,” the event reinforced how small acts of kindness can reduce bullying, strengthen empathy, and build a culture where students support one another.

When connection becomes visible, culture begins to shift—and that’s where real change starts.

Read more on The Tri-City Times. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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April 22, 2026 — BRAINERD, M.N. — Forestview Middle School is building a culture where kindness isn’t occasional—it’s intentional, consistent, and student-led.

Through year-long initiatives, from kindness chains and student-created campaigns to leadership training and peer-led clubs, students are actively shaping a more connected and supportive school environment. Experiences like these reinforce a key truth: when kindness becomes part of daily behavior, it strengthens mental health, reduces bullying, and helps every student feel seen and valued.

By empowering students to lead and model compassion, Forestview is creating more than activities—it’s creating lasting cultural change, one small act at a time.

Read more from The Brainerd Dispatch. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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April 22, 2026 — ALMONT, M.I. — More than 1,300 PreK–12 students at Almont Community Schools came together on April 20 to form a symbolic ribbon chain at the high school football field—representing unity, empathy, and connection.

Led by student volunteers, the event turned a simple act into a powerful reminder: when students come together with intention, they help create a culture where everyone belongs.

Read more from The County Press. 

To learn more, get in touch, bring Rachel’s Challenge to a school, partner with us, or donate please visit our website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

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