At the 2026 Kiddie Academy® Annual Conference, Kiddie Academy of Floral Park, Flushing and Whitestone were honored with the Community Essentials® Award, which recognizes Academies that exemplify character development through meaningful experiences for children, families, and their communities.
The award reflects a year of service-focused initiatives that helped children put kindness, empathy, and responsibility into action.
One of the Academies’ most impactful efforts was a community-wide Baby Essentials Drive, which collected diapers, wipes, formula, clothing, and other necessities for families facing hardship. Children didn’t simply observe the effort. They helped collect, organize, and prepare donations, learning firsthand how communities support one another during challenging times.
That spirit of service carried throughout the year. During a Random Acts of Kindness initiative, students across all three Academies completed more than 3,000 acts of kindness, ranging from creating friendship bracelets for classmates to assembling care packages for local workers. Seasonal projects, including food, clothing, and toy drives, gave children additional opportunities to help others while building empathy and compassion.
According to Lead Teacher Rosanne Shrivnauth, kindness is woven into everyday life at the Academies.
Families have seen that impact as well. One parent described feeling an immediate sense of community and shared how excited her daughter was to participate in a school fundraiser supporting an important cause.
The Community Essentials® Award celebrates Academies that help children develop the values and life skills needed to build strong relationships and make a positive impact. Through service projects, community partnerships, and thousands of acts of kindness, Kiddie Academy of Floral Park, Flushing and Whitestone have demonstrated what it means to make character development part of everyday learning.
