Kids from across the country will be honored by Newtown Kindness at the non-profit’s Third Annual Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards on Saturday, February 21.

The ceremony will honor eight to ten finalists and 15-20 runners up from across the country who have demonstrated the mission of Newtown Kindness, to “think kindly and act boldly” through outstanding acts of kindness.

The deadline to register for the awards is Thursday, January 15.

Newtown Kindness was founded in memory of Charlotte Bacon, a young victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings on December 14, 2012.

The Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards started on Charlotte’s birthday in February 2013, just two months after the tragedy, when Newtown Kindness members wanted to do something special in Charlotte’s honor. In its first year, the organization received thousands of submissions from children across the country.

“The response we’ve received from day one of this initiative has been absolutely incredible,” says Newtown Kindness Founder Aaron Carlson. “The Kindness Awards perfectly demonstrates Newtown Kindness’ mission, which is to teach kids that kindness can lead to amazing things.”

Award finalists will receive a special invitation to attend the ceremony in Newtown where they will be awarded recognition gifts ranging from pay-it-forward donations to the charity of their choice to tickets to major sports games and a chance to meet their favorite player.

“We try to make the recognition as personal for the Award recipients as possible to create a meaningful experience these kids will never forget,” said Carolyn Walker, Newtown Kindness Board Member. “Each award includes funding to a charity of the recipient’s choice, which empowers these kids to further support benevolent efforts they believe in.”

“Kindness means peace, thoughtfulness and showing compassion and empathy to others. You can’t just think kind thoughts, you need to do kind things,” says Christian Bucks from Pennsylvania, a 2014 Award recipient for his ‘Buddy Bench’ initiative.

Newtown Kindness volunteers, members of the Newtown Community, and finalists and their families will attend the ceremony. The event will feature dinner, a performance by Connecticut-based band The Alternate Routes, and a limited-edition book signing of Good Dogs, Great Listeners, a children’s story about the importance of therapy and comfort dogs penned by Charlotte’s parents, Joel and JoAnn Bacon.

To be considered for the Third Annual Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards, send submissions to entries@newtownkindness.org by January 15 or visit www.newtownkindness.org for more information.

For a list of last year’s Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award recipients, click here.