Campaign Encourages Bixby Students To Perform Random Acts Of Kindness

It was a kind day to be in Bixby schools. Thousands of students in the district helped launch a new campaign to encourage random acts of kindness.

Drew Stevens, from Las Vegas, visited Bixby Schools Wednesday and talked about a foundation he started in honor of his son.

Josh Stevens Foundation

Josh Stevens was 12 years old when his life came to a tragic end.

"I was incredibly proud of Josh, he was an amazing boy. Whether he was raised that way or just that way, he was just an exemplary child," Stevens said.

His dad says Josh always had a knack for being kind, especially to strangers, often holding the door at the mall open for strangers.

So Drew started the foundation in hopes that his son's kindness could be passed on to other kids.

"Well clearly our ultimate vision is to inspire more children to be more kind more often...that's the ultimate vision for this foundation," he said.

The program works by encouraging kids to think of kind things they can do during the day. If a teacher spots a kind act the child gets rewarded with a special bracelet. 

"I think that talking about character at school is really important," said Dyan Mumma, PTA President.

Organizers say that while this program is one more step to put an end to bullying, they say it has a little bit of a twist with the emphasis in a different place.

"Instead of focusing on the negative and saying, 'Don't do this or don't do that', the program takes the flip side and says, 'Do this,'" Mumma said.

The students we talked with like the idea.

"It's just really important to try to lift people up when they're down. It's really nice," said 12-year-old Logan.

Many students have been thinking of different ways they can be kind.

"To be nice to your teachers and try to be kind to your gym teacher, your special teachers, your groups of teachers," said 9-year-old Audrey Nipps.

Parents and teachers say they can't imagine what Drew went through losing his son but they hope Bixby helps pass on his legacy and simply be kind.