Grantee Highlight – Two by Two Character Development

September 2026

Two by Two Character Development has long believed that kindness is a skill children can learn, practice, and carry with them for life. Their Kindhearted Kids program brings that belief to life in classrooms across the region, giving elementary students a joyful, hands‑on way to explore core values like Kindness, Empathy, Respect, Responsibility, and Citizenship. Each child receives their very own “forever pet”—a soft stuffed cat or dog tucked inside a small pet carrier—along with an 80‑page Adventure Journal filled with stories, activities, and opportunities to practice caring for another living thing. It’s a program that feels like play but builds the foundation for lifelong character. 

With ACT’s support, Two by Two will continue offering this 10‑lesson curriculum to educators, complete with songs, cheers, poems, and guided activities that help children understand and apply social‑emotional concepts. The Adventure Journal encourages students to track responsibilities, create a pet budget, and reflect on how their choices affect others. Throughout the program, children learn to recognize their own emotions, manage stress, build healthy relationships, and make thoughtful decisions—skills that help them thrive not only in school, but in their homes, neighborhoods, and future workplaces. 

“As the founder of Two by Two Character Development, I’ve seen firsthand that character education isn’t an extra, it’s essential. In a time when school funding is stretched so thin, grants like those from ACT make it possible for us to reach students who might otherwise go without these experiences. But what matters most is the moment a child receives their Two by Two pet…there’s pure joy, wonder, and connection. In caring for something beyond themselves, they begin to understand that all living things have feelings, just like they do. It becomes a magical, hands-on way to practice empathy, kindness, and responsibility, the very qualities our children need to thrive in today’s world.” said Kristin Woodward-Vaassen, Founder. 

The need for programs like Kindhearted Kids has only grown. As schools have reduced field trips and other experiential learning opportunities, many children have fewer chances to practice empathy, responsibility, and social awareness in real‑world contexts. Two by Two fills this gap by giving students a safe, supportive environment to explore what it means to care for someone—or something—beyond themselves. Because each child forms a bond with their unique pet, they naturally develop the empathy and emotional grounding that shape them into kind humans, ethical employees, and engaged citizens.