ANAHEIM, CA - (February 1, 2012) - Make Kindness Contagious Month, Anaheim's annual month-long celebration of kindness, begins today as Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait proclaimed February as Make Kindness Contagious Month. Make Kindness Contagious has been celebrated in Anaheim for the past seven years, and is emphasized year-round as part of the Mayors' platform of freedom and kindness.

During Make Kindness Contagious Month banners and signs are displayed throughout the City and residents are encouraged to participate in any number of Make Kindness Contagious activities.

"Kindness is a virtue to want to practice year-round, but here in Anaheim we pay particular attention to celebrating not only the acts of kindness, but in recognizing those who take the time to show kindness to friends and strangers," said Mayor Tait. "Sharing a part of ourselves through an act of kindness transforms both the giver and the receiver. I encourage our residents and businesses to creatively think of ways to show acts of kindness this month and throughout the year. We will be a stronger and more connected community because of what we can do for others."

The City has a dedicated webpage – www.anaheim.net/kindness - displaying a video message from Mayor Tait, as well as a flyer to download and display at a home or business. In addition, individuals can submit stories of kindness – whether as the recipient, provider, or witness to an act of kindness. The stories will be posted online and rotated throughout Make Kindness Contagious Month. City libraries, community centers and sports facilities will encourage kindness in the form of banners, story-telling, posters and signage.

The Make Kindness Contagious theme was first introduced in 2004, when then-Councilmember Tait was inspired by Natasha Sarah Jaievsky, a young Anaheim resident who sought to be kind to family, friends, and strangers. The Make Kindness Contagious logo is, in fact, her drawing. In 2002, a tragic accident claimed Natasha's life at age 6, but the memory of her actions and kind spirit remain an inspiration.

For more information please visit www.anaheim.net/kindness.

Media Contact: Ruth Ruiz 714.765.5060more city news

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ABOUT ANAHEIM – The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nation's premier municipalities and is one of California's most populous cities. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 343,000 residents and more than 2,950 City employees. The municipal corporation's annual budget is $1.5 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, the U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team, the 2012 Olympic Games Silver Medal winning U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, and the Professional Arena Soccer League Anaheim Bolts. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, LEED-certified and the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, City National Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. In addition, Anaheim embraces its vibrant cultural arts community, including the world-renowned Anaheim Ballet. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.

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