At Reed Elementary, kindness isn't just encouraged; it’s celebrated and is a way of life brought to action through the Difference Makers Club. In just four years, this club has expanded from 50 to over 150 students, uniting kindergarten through fourth-grader in a shared mission to make a difference.

Meeting monthly after school, the club has become a cornerstone of Reed’s culture—a culture recently recognized when the CharacterPlus Organization named the school a 2025 Missouri School of Character.

“As part of the Difference Makers Club, students learn that it only takes one person to make a positive difference,” shares Dr. Chris Schreiner, Reed Elementary Principal. “When you have over a third of your student body in this club, you can only imagine the positive impact it has on shaping Reed’s culture. The Difference Makers Club leads by example and inspires others to seek ways to be kind.”

The Difference Makers Club is about more than service projects; it’s a platform to foster gratitude and leadership. Each month, students engage in hands-on activities like making kindness grams, bird feeders for the community, and care packages for people without housing. They also dive into meaningful discussions, including the importance of empathy and how to create a sense of belonging for everyone.

“I didn’t realize how big the club would grow,” says Jennifer Hadfield, fourth-grade teacher and club sponsor. “It started with a small group of students interested in making a difference, but before I knew it, the club grew to include a third of the school’s population. Through team-building activities and discussions about the power of small acts, our students dedicate their time to making the lives of others better, both within their school community and beyond.”

The group’s annual project is a highlight for students, offering them a chance to make a big difference. Last year, they showcased their teamwork and commitment to community impact by organizing a lemonade stand in the school cafeteria, raising over $1,200 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Reflecting on the experience, Vivian Hollander, a fourth-grader at Reed Elementary, shared, “Being a part of the Difference Maker Club is very rewarding.”

The club’s initiatives leave a lasting impression on its members, cultivating motivation and character development. Maia Violette, a third-grader, reflected on her favorite meeting, “Being part of the Difference Makers Club makes me a better person. It reminds me to be more helpful, both at school and at home. The Kindness 101 meeting taught me how words can affect people and why we should always use kind words when talking to others.”

Vivian added, “I love that you get to make a difference in so many areas. Our meeting about kindness was probably my favorite because it’s all about being kind, and I like being kind. It just gives me joy a lot of the time.”

One of the club’s strengths lies in its diversity. Open to all students, the Difference Makers Club brings together children from various backgrounds and abilities, united by a shared mission to serve others. Through these acts of service, members learn about the power of collaboration, empathy, and small actions that ripple into more significant change.

The Difference Makers Club is much more than an after-school program—it’s a movement that inspires students to build on the culture of kindness and service in the Ladue School District—one small act at a time.