Hanna Maier, from Prospect Park, PA, was inspired by her own experience with bullies to establish an awareness and kindness campaign in her community.  Because of Hanna, each year a Prospect Park Bullying awareness Walk & Kids Kindness Day is held.  In the past over 500 participates walked to help raise awareness of the problem of bullying.  Hanna’s efforts propelled the community governments to adopt a bully-free resolution that states “There is a reasonable expectation that we will treat others the way we expect to be treated, and we will strive to ensure that each of our citizens is valued and accepted, with no exception”.

 Hanna and supports installed a bench at her former elementary school, that she called a “Buddy Bench”. The goal of the bench is to create a place for children to sit and indicate that they want or need someone to play with them.  Children can be taught that if they see a classmate sitting on the bench, they should invite them to play or go talk to them. Hanna has raised money to go toward placing one of these colorful benches at other elementary schools in her area.  Spreading the message of being kind to each other is most important to this Legend Leadership Award Winner, Hanna Maier.