08/05/2026
❤️ Ten Years of Kindness. Ten Years of Hope. ❤️
Ten years ago, following the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub, we wanted to find a way to turn heartbreak into hope.
Our friend, graphic designer Brittany Whiteman, created the original “Hugs Over Hate” design, and we turned the message into a community campaign at KC’s. The idea of paying kindness forward was inspired by a former coworker and friend who reminded us that even the smallest act of generosity can have a lasting impact.
For 30 days we made a promise to pay for every 50th check. Our hope was simple: that the people receiving that unexpected gift would, in turn, spread kindness to someone else.
What started as a single act of compassion became a tradition.
Over the past 10 years, we have heard countless stories of generosity, friendship, hope, and love. We have seen neighbors helping neighbors, strangers supporting strangers, and our community proving time and time again that goodness still exists.
Together, we have given away more than $12,000 in meals, but the true impact has been far greater than that. The real gift has been watching kindness create a ripple effect that continues long after the check has been paid.
In a world that can often feel divided, we still believe that love is stronger, kindness matters, and even the smallest gesture can change someone’s day.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.
Here’s to 10 years of choosing hugs over hate. ❤️
🤗 Be kind. Be generous. Pay it forward. 🤗
