For many people, life brings with it everyday challenges that can create a sense of anxiety that can sometimes be debilitating or depressing. In those times, small gestures of goodwill can be just the thing to brighten their day. For the second year in a row, the University of Utah is hosting a campus- and community-wide Day of Kindness event on April 2, 2025.

Created by U President Taylor Randall, the Day of Kindness project is based on the Semnani Family Foundation’s One Kind Act a Day initiative, explained Michelle Thompson, manager of the Office of Student Experience.

The initiative engages a simple but powerful belief: small acts of kindness, when multiplied by many, have the potential to spark monumental change. At the heart of movement is the belief that kindness is a transformative force that can positively impact individuals, communities and the world.

“We are trying to promote something that we believe is going to help the spirit and the soul of this university,” she said. “The more people participate, the greater the impact we can have throughout the U community.”

Last year, 54 volunteers handed out about 2,000 donuts to students across campus.

This year, the effort has expanded to make more of an impact. The hope, explains Thompson, is for students, staff and faculty to help flood campus with welcoming smiles and other cheerful gestures such as tiny tokens gifted to those observed being kind.

“We have about 30 different departments on campus participating in a myriad of different ways,” Thompson said.

“Kindness Ambassadors” will work with “Kindness Coordinators” in the student experience office to plan and coordinate logistics for each team at assigned times and locations. Participants can choose a time and location to spend an hour spreading kindness.

“We’re going to give away free food and numerous freebies throughout the day,” she said. “Some departments are hosting free activities for students. For example, the vice president of research and their department is going to do yoga in Presidents Circle for students.”

Thompson foresees that “Kindness will be shown in many forms that will hopefully create an uplifting environment for everyone around this campus.”