It has been said that one act of kindness can start a ripple to change the world.
That’s the idea behind the SevenDays Make a Ripple, Change the World Scholarship competition, now under way in Kansas City as part of SevenDays 2016. This competition will provide five, $1,000 scholarship to graduating high school seniors. The scholarships are underwritten by Cleveland University-Kansas City. SevenDays 2016 will take place April 12-18.
The focus of SevenDays is strengthening a sense of community, building upon understanding our commonalties and embracing the diversity among religions, races and cultures in our metropolitan area. SevenDays was started following the senseless acts of violence and hate that tragically took the lives of teenager Reat Griffin Underwood, his grandfather, Dr. William Corporon, and wife and mother Terri LaManno outside of two Jewish facilities on April 13, 2014.
While hate crimes and acts of violence continue, this SevenDays Make a Ripple Scholarship competition encourages high school seniors to complete a project of kindness embracing one or more of seven themes: Love, Discover, Others, Connect, Go, You and Onward. Students will then write an essay about how their project has had a positive impact on their community.
“It’s a meaningful way to publicly use funds from our foundations in our community,” Mindy Corporon said. “We hope to encourage students not only to have thoughts of kindness but to act on them and receive public recognition.”
Essays should be between 500 to 1,000 words and may include up to five photographs to illustrate the student’s project. The essay should address how the student’s project impacted them and others, and include:
• A description of the kindness project,
• When and where the project took place,
• Why they chose to create the project.
Scholarship applications should be emailed to with “SevenDays Make a Ripple Scholarship” in the subject line. The deadline for submissions for the SevenDays scholarships is March 20. Applicants must include with their entry the official scholarship application that can be downloaded by clicking on the “Competitions” tab at www.givesevendays.org.
Winners will be notified via telephone by April 10, 2016, and will be publically recognized during the Peace Walk Celebration event on Monday, April 18, at the Church of the Resurrection-Leawood Campus.
Volunteer and Walk Registration opens
Scores of volunteers are needed to help with SevenDays 2016. Those who wish to lend a hand should pre-register by clicking on the “Volunteer Signup” tab on the givesevendays.org website. Volunteers can register for the specific day and shift they wish to work.
There will be a mandatory training/orientation session for all volunteers on Saturday, April 2, at 2 p.m. at Church of the Resurrection-Leawood Campus. At that time volunteers will receive specific instructions and volunteer T-shirts.
Registration is also requested to participate in the April 18 Peace Walk; to sign up visit the givesevendays.org website and click on the “Register to Walk” tab. All participants must register, including children. The 2016 Peace Walk has a $10 per person participation fee that includes receiving a SevenDays commemorative T-shirt, if registered by March 31. (Note: T-shirts are not available for children under age 5.)
About SevenDays
In the continued effort to overcome tragedy produced by hatred, bigotry and ignorance, SevenDays-Make A Ripple, Change the World was created in 2014 to make a difference in Greater Kansas City and beyond. A cross-section of dedicated community volunteers representing various ages, religions, races and cultures pulled together to make SevenDays a reality.
Sponsored by the Faith Always Wins Foundation in partnership with several organizations, SevenDays includes a series of community events that continues the healing journey following the tragic events that took place outside of the Jewish Community Campus and Village Shalom in Overland Park, Kansas, on April 13, 2014. Dr. William Corporon, his grandson Reat Underwood and Teresa LaManno - lost their lives at the hands of a convicted Neo-Nazi shooter.
Following the tragedy, family members and friends joined together to create something positive to overcome these senseless acts of hate.
In addition to the Make a Ripple Scholarships, SevenDays includes a teen song-writing competition, a week of activities focused on acts of kindness and a Peace Walk, ending with a celebration. Each day has a special theme — Love, Discover, Others, Connect, Go, You and Onward. Suggested kindness activities and educational events for the community and more information about the themes, activities, sponsored events and the Peace Walk can be found on www.givesevendays.org.
While most events are free of charge and open to the public, The Reat Griffin Underwood Memorial Foundation and The LaManno Hastings Family Foundation are equal beneficiaries of net proceeds and donations to continue this important work. Donations are tax deductible.
