Inlet’s Cousins That Care, back row, from left, Shawn Hansen, Shelby Townsend, Founder Melanie Levi, Britney Levi. Front Row, Cory hansen, Thomas Levi. Couputer in foreground waiting to Skype.
The Cousins that Care, the seven Inlet cousins who raise money for special causes, were among eight recipients of a Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award through the recently created foundation, Newtown Kindness.
The Newtown Foundation was created by Aaron Carlson whose six-year-old daughter, Ava, was close friends with Charlotte Bacon, a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2012.
The cousins received the honor via a Skype presentation during the inaugural awards ceremony that took place in Newtown, CT on Friday, February 22.
Their nomination for the award was made by Charlotte Bacon’s grandparents, Dan and Lindie Bacon, who were deeply touched by the personal letter their family received at the time of the tragedy from Melanie Levi on behalf of the Cousins.
The Bacons, and all the other families who lost a loved one to the tragedy, also received a gift of $20 to be used “to do something that would make them smile.”
In a letter to the Cousins, the Bacons wrote, “As we read about your activities over these last four years, we were amazed at the incredible way you, as cousins, are reaching out to serve and help so many others. That is awesome, and what a powerful example or model for others to follow.”
For their charitable effort, the Cousins received a “pay it forward” award of $1,000 that is to be donated to the charity of their choice, and an all expense paid trip to Boston.
The Cousins that Care includes Shawn Hansen, Shelby Townsend, Founder Melanie Levi, Laura Levi, Britney Levi, Cory Hansen and Thomas Levi.
The Newtown Kindness Foundation was created for the sole purpose of encouraging kindness in children.
More information is available at www.newtownkindness.org, or on the foundation’s Facebook page.
