SPARK CONNECTION, INCLUSION & EMPATHY WITH A $250 ACTION GRANT
Our mission is to help kids and teens build meaningful connections and create more inclusive, empathetic and kind communities. How would you use a Hershey Heartwarming Project Action Grant to make your community stronger and more supportive?
2021 Program Coming SoonSee Who’s making a difference
You can too - let us help with a $250 grant
"When I walked into my first coding class, the boy next to me tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was sure I had signed up for the right class. It was humiliating, exclusive, and made me feel like I was not good enough. I want to change this in my community through my project, which seeks to empower minorities in STEM with free learning opportunities. We hold workshops, camps, and events directly targeting young people from underrepresented backgrounds and celebrating educational inclusivity and diversity, and a classroom where everyone's voices are heard. The grant will help hands-on workshops that center around STEM for social good, intertwining humanity and kindness with science and technology."
– Archika D., Washington
"My plan is to start a new club at my high school that will focus on social inclusion. We will have once a month morning meetings where students leave their phones at the door, relax, socialize, listen to a guest speaker, and make some new friends. All will be welcome. If even one person leaves the club with a new friend, is a little happier, or feels more inspired- then my mission will have been accomplished. Gen Z students are going through a lot right now and we deserve a "no pressure" club at school to be involved in, to help us build connection with one another."
– Ashlyn, Pennsylvania
"Our class won a Heartwarming Project Action Grant and we used it to host a "Mix it Up" lunch event. Forty students were selected at random to come to a pizza lunch, learn about a world issue, and mix and mingle. This event helped us learn how important it is to get out of our cultural and social bubbles. Once the students were seated and began to mingle, I couldn't help but see how important events like this are to our school community, but to the idea of greater civic duty, as well. Students who attended shared they were intrigued by learning about other students' backgrounds, simply because they didn't have the chance to connect previously. It was a surprising and fun way to build community."
-Gabriella, New York
A conversation with Snap Leaders on Creating Change
Learn how young people are creating positive change using social media, by advancing inclusion, empathy, and well-being in an increasingly divided world.
A conversation with Snap Leaders on Creating Change
Learn how young people are creating positive change using social media, by advancing inclusion, empathy, and well-being in an increasingly divided world.
A conversation with Snap Leaders on Creating Change
Learn how young people are creating positive change using social media, by advancing inclusion, empathy, and well-being in an increasingly divided world.
A conversation with Snap Leaders on Creating Change
Learn how young people are creating positive change using social media, by advancing inclusion, empathy, and well-being in an increasingly divided world.
See the Work
FEATURED PROJECT
WE Well-being
Stories of Impact: Partnering to support students & teachers in 2020
Stefanie’s Story Leigh’s Story
Thanks for Joining our Facebook Live Event on Connections and Well-Being!
WE Schools Live: Spark Connection, Build Community sponsored by The Heartwarming Project
WATCH THE REPLAY Learn More
FEATURED PROJECT
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Supporting BGCA’s Keystone Club teens, who are creating projects to support connection and emotional well-being in their clubs & communities
Learn More
FEATURED PROJECT
Makers of Good Teen Summit
Check out highlights from our national summit on overcoming social isolation.
Learn More
RESEARCH MATTERS
Teaming Up With the Best
Learn what Hershey and Harvard are doing to help parents set their kids up for success.
READ THE STORY
Meaningful connections and friendships are essential in today's complex world. We believe that the smallest heartwarming gesture can make a big difference. That's why we're partnering with leading organizations to promote social and emotional connections at home, school and in the community.
Small Steps for Big Changes
Use these resources to learn more about the power of heartwarming actions.
Great Minds, Working Together
We’re partnering with organizations and experts doing great work in communities everywhere.
