Harper for Kids

Harper for Kids is a fantastic organization that has had a tremendous impact on my students and school. They help students understand the importance of John Wooden's Pyramid of Success, which I think is a really great resource for SEL and character education. Through virtual assemblies with a range of guest speakers, HFK has informed, entertained, and challenged my students to see how they measure success in new ways. They are a great organization to work with for anybody interested in looking beyond traditional measures of success or for organizations wanting to embrace a growth mindset. They could not be nicer or more accommodating, as well.

Woodland Elementary has enjoyed a longstanding partnership with Harper for Kids, which has greatly enriched our students' character development. Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success has been an invaluable framework for teaching essential traits that help our students strive for their personal best.

Over the years, Harper for Kids has brought special guests who embody these characteristics and inspire our students. The excitement Tim and Peanut bring to our school is palpable. Additionally, "Inch and Miles" has been a crucial resource in my classroom, helping us navigate and practice these traits daily as we work towards our ultimate goal of personal excellence.

We love partnering with Harper for Kids in teaching Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Succes to our students at Barranca Mesa Elementary! Tim and Peanut are amazing to work with. During our virtual Character Trait assemblies, they bring so much positive energy and the kids love interacting with a special guest each month!

The Pyramid of Success character education program has been a great addition to Franklin Elementary School in Burlingame's SEL teaching, providing our students with invaluable lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.
One of the valuable components of the program is the "Inch and Miles" book. This delightful and insightful book introduces children to the principles of the Pyramid of Success in a manner that is both accessible and enjoyable. Through the adventures of Inch and Miles, students learn important values such as hard work, friendship, loyalty, and determination. The characters and poems captivate the students' imaginations, making the lessons memorable and impactful.
In addition to the book, the inspirational guest speakers that Peanut and Tim brought to our school were incredibly motivating for our students. These assemblies brought the concepts of the Pyramid of Success to life. They provided students with real-world examples of how these values can lead to success in life.
The Pyramid of Success character education program has not only helped our students develop essential life skills but has also created a more positive and supportive school environment. The emphasis on teamwork, self-discipline, and respect has been reflected in the students' behavior and attitudes, contributing to a more harmonious and productive school atmosphere.
I highly recommend this program to any educational institution looking to cultivate positive values and a sense of purpose in their students.

Harper for Kids is a wonderful program for all students! Our students, here at Palmyra Elementary, have Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success as part of their culture from the time they start school until they promote in 6th grade. We talk about self control, determination, alertness and action, fitness and skill, and all of the other character traits throughout the year. Students are chosen for monthly awards in those areas each month, and we have the opportunity to hear from professionals and athletes who talk about their success. Such a positive program for all students. Thank you Peanut and Tim!

Tim & Peanut are really upbeat and easy to work with. They are passionate about Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success and sharing the value of all the character traits with students. They connected all the 2nd grade classes on a Zoom call with a Wildlife Biologist who shared about his career and experiences. We heard about how he utilized the traits from the pyramid to become successful. The kids loved it!!!

Our partnership with Harper for Kids has been excellent. Tim and Peanut have provided our students access to some awesome individuals who have inspired our students. Our whole school has gained tremendous value from our partnership with Harper for Kids. They are great people who inspire and motivate.

I've had a wonderful experience with Harper for Kids! Peanut and Tim were not only supportive but my staff found them extremely collaborative to work with. The character building blocks are not only effective but my students loved the books associated with it as well. Throughout the year, Harper for Kids also provided great assemblies for our students with great guest speakers. Spring Valley Elementary is very fortunate to have started this program and look forward to a continued partnership.

Harper for Kids teamed up with our school, making us the 2nd school in our east coast state, to do so. We used their Pyramid of Success which was inspired by Coach John Wooden, to model our character curriculum and made it apart of our daily discussions at school. They provided excellent support throughout this partnership and worked with us to do special Zoom calls with our students to help them learn more about success and being your personal best. The callers they lined up ranged from a myriad of backgrounds and our students benefited from those connections. In addition to providing meaningful connections, we were gifted posters and flyers as well as some books which we used throughout the school and in our community. We look forward to a long partnership with their very unique take on the building blocks of success.

I've had the incredible opportunity to volunteer with Harper for Kids for 10+ years, and I can confidently say it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Harper for Kids is a beacon of hope, dedicated to making a lasting impact in the lives of the children it serves and deserves all the recognition because of the wonderful work they do.

Their focus on fostering positive social and emotional skills is truly remarkable. I've witnessed firsthand how this emphasis has not only positively affected the students but also resonated among the adults in their lives - the parents, teachers, coaches, and school district members. I have seen and heard firsthand that Harper for Kids helps to foster a culture of kindness, empathy, and mutual respect in their partner schools, and this has a long lasting impact by way of positive interactions with the student body (aka more respect for each other and less bullying)! In today's world, what more could you ask for than to have an organization dedicated into making the next generation good people with good values?

Through the variety of programming Harper for Kids provides (for free might I add), I've seen children thrive in ways that extend beyond the classroom. They bring remarkable special guest speakers ranging from Olympic athletes to artists and scientists to speak to students in person and over video conferencing. They craft personalized curriculum to match with the school's theme of the month, many of the activities being used at the college level - what an incredible opportunity for these students to be exposed to this level of learning. They also develop unique hands on art classes that not only teach students about how to be artists, but also how to be good people. And lastly, they have provided free tennis assemblies to schools, painted murals and provided book baskets and other materials to support educators (again, all for free).

Their commitment to reaching children in underserved communities, where essential resources and support are often lacking, speaks volumes about the heart of Harper for Kids. They are a remarkable organization doing amazing work. The sense of fulfillment and the tangible difference made in the lives of these young individuals and the community are truly immeasurable.

Thank you for all the wonderful work that you do!

I am so grateful to have had the privilege of working with Tim and Peanut these past 6 years. They are amazing at what they do. They have helped inspire so many of my students to push themselves outside their own comfort zone. The ZOOMs and in-person presentations are great because the kids get to meet and hear firsthand experiences about the Pyramid of Success from so many different career professionals and athletes that I always have kids inspired at the end.

They have also set up a few special field trips for my class! Just last week, my students got to meet the USF Women's Tennis team and got to ACTUALLY play some tennis with them. Just seeing so many of my students learn to build their confidence and not give up even when they didn't succeed in the beginning within a two hour span was something you just can't replicate in the classroom. A few lucky students from past classes also got to get some behind the scenes experience at our local zoo!

Oh and they LOVE Tim's art lessons. The enthusiasm that Tim brings to his art lessons is infectious. Even my students who hate art keep asking when Tim will come back to do another lesson with them.

I really can't say enough of how appreciative I am of Tim and Peanut for all they do. Their character program really is making a positive impact on my students

Harper for Kids allows our students to make connections to the Pyramid of Success by hearing the stories of the guest speakers. The guest speakers allow students to hear how the Pyramid impacts each of these individuals in their careers and daily life. Harper for Kids has provided our school with an opportunity that we wouldn't have without their support.

I reached out to Peanut and Tim about 3 years ago about interest in developing a strong character education program using the Pyramid of Success. I had some experience with using the pyramid but needed guidance. Peanut immediately invited me to a Zoom and we discussed possibilities to support our school. Since then she has provided materials, guidance, and invited our entire school to Zoom meets with Olympic athletes, Professional golfers, tennis players and even the author of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to share how the building blocks of the pyramid really helped them reach their goals and become successful. These people shared their real life stories as each class posed questions to learn more about how things like friendship, family, and hard work got them where they are.
Peanut and Tim have an amazing amount of energy and this enthusiasm is contageous. We are so fortunate to be a part of the Harper family!

As a former UCLA Bruin, it was so exciting to meet Tim and Peanut and their vision for sharing the heart of John Wooden's Pyramid of Success with students. Their positive and can-do attitudes model the qualities that they teach. They are also connected with just as wonderful role models that come and speak to our students in person and over Zoom about how they apply the building blocks to success in their professions. They're inspiring students to build their work ethic, live cooperatively, and persist, just to name of few of the blocks! They are an awesome nonprofit. :)

Our class loves Tim and Peanut. As a teacher, I love that his art is totally related with the pyramid of success and how he is very positive and reinforces excellent behavior through his art lessons with our kindergartners.

So we are lucky enough to be partners for many years with Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success and Harper for Kids. Tim and Peanut Harper are amazing! They have met with us via Zoom for encouragement and support. They have had art lessons with us to encourage creativity and self esteem. They have read to us from Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success and helped the students feel supported and special. I teach kindergarten and transitional kindergarten and all of the students have felt excited each time we get to be with Tim and Peanut. We all love them! I can't say enough about how much we appreciate their friendship and support for our students!

Harper for Kids has been a blessing to me, my students, and my school site. They were instrumental in getting dynamic speakers to my students at no cost to me or my program. I've worked with a lot of vendors and speakers, and Harper for Kids it the best of the best.

Harper for Kids is amazing! They bring in the best role models for our kiddos and its always so much fun! Thank you for being a positive light in our educational world! Its an experience we look forward to each time.

What a wonderful and motivational story. My students absolutely loved hearing Maria Pepe's story and how her actions changed history for all girls who ever would like to play little league was inspirational. It's always wonderful to hear from people who change history for the better.

Our school had a wonderful Q and A session with Maria Pepe on Friday that nicely highlighted the Pyramid of Success blocks. The students at Della Lindley really enjoyed hearing Maria’s story.

Harper for Kids is an amazing program that teaches kids how to be their personal best! Not only have they provided our students with amazing opportunities to "meet" professionals in various fields and teach them how they use Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success in their career, but Harper for Kids as also provided our school with materials to implement character education. Students have learned about the blocks of the Pyramid, can identify the characteristics of these blocks, and they apply what they've learned to their daily life. Harper for Kids helps us teach our students what it means to give 100% effort.

Harper For Kids is an absolutely incredible organization! Tim and Peanut are so communicative, supportive, and passionate about helping kids, families, and schools. We have had some amazing guest speakers who have helped to motivate and inspire our students, particularly during the lowest times of the pandemic. They are the definition of "Always READY!"

Students enjoyed meeting the guest participants and asking questions.

Thank you so much for meeting with our students! We loved it! We are excited to incorporate the Pyramid of Success into our daily curriculum. We look forward to adding monthly assemblies to incorporate character traits into our school. We very much appreciate your ongoing collaboration!! :)

Lippitt Elementary School
Room 10 - Mrs. Nolan, Ms.Secone and Mrs. Wiggins

Our school had a great kick off with this program and were able to share the experiences via zoom with some professional athletes on their experience. Thanks for a great positive program that inspires students.

We started late in the year and Peanut made sure to make us feel excited and was so patient. We are excited to begin this program at the beginning of the year and cannot wait to get the full impact to help students feel that they can do hard things and if they put forth the effort they can also achieve their personal best.

From the very begining, Peanut and Tim have been involved personally with our Bubbling Wells Bobcats, teaching our children and staff about character education. Their presentations are engaging and meaningful, and they genuinely care about students and teachers. During the most difficult year in education for most educators and students, they joined my Zoom class themselves with the energy and enthusiasm of every one of the character traits on the pyramid they promote. Many thanks to the amazing art projects, your message, enthusiasm, and for all you do for our kiddos!

Sunset Elementary School has been blessed to work with Harper for Kids both in person and virtually. Tim and Peanut are amazing people with such wonderful, positive energy! Our students have benefitted greatly from learning about the character traits on the Pyramid of Success. Thank you, Harper for Kids!

Peanut and Tim were such wonderful guest speakers in my classroom! Peanut and Tim virtually visited our 2nd grade class at Scholarship Prep Oceanside. Even though we have not been able to take real field trips this year due to COVID, Peanut and Tim were able to bring a special treat to our students and make our day feel special. Thank you so much for all you do for our scholars, Peanut and Tim!

Sincerely,

2nd Grade "Clemson Tigers" at Scholarship Prep Oceanside

I have worked with Harper for Kids for three years now. They are such a caring, professional organization. They are always thinking of how they can give back to students and families. I appreciate how they find great guests to come on and speak with my students. I am very grateful and appreciative of their work. The students continually get encouraging, thoughtful messages with each meeting.
Here are some student thoughts from some previous meetings-
-'The message I heard was that we should have a positive mindset and if we do have a positive mindset we could achieve our goals, also that little steps can lead to big things.'

-'One message I heard from our meeting is that you are your own greatest competitor. This
means that you have to believe that you can do it and don't let yourself or anything else stop you from what you want to do.'

-'If you want to be successful, you need to be a good sport; helping people will make them want to help you which could possibly lead you to success! Good leadership is when you include people in what you are doing so they can help you and have a successful finish!
Second, working hard. If you work hard enough, your hard work can lead to success; you should always work hard for any other reasons too. Last, trying your best. Trying your best is a part of life, if you want success, you have to try your best; don't give up and keep trying no matter what. In conclusion, that is my definition of success.'

Our school has been working with Tim and Peanut for over two years now. When we first introduced the pyramid with our kick off assembly, the students were so excited. Tim and Peanut have a way of reaching all the students with their powerful message. Each zoom meeting that we did with them and their inspirational guests was encouraging and uplifting for our students. I work at a Title One school and our students really benefit from having a program to follow so that they can achieve their dreams. I think that John Wooden's Pyramid of Success can help all learners learn and achieve their personal best in all areas of their lives. I would hear my students reminding each other about the blocks on the pyramid. It became a way for them to encourage each other to always strive for their best. And, they all loved the book Inch and Miles. They couldn't wait to see what the two characters would learn next. I think that Harper for Kids is truly a wonderful program, and it can benefit all at your school site!
Teri Fish Primary Teacher

Harper for Kids is a great resource for our school (Gray Elementary)! Harper for Kids provides experiences that allow our students to meet and talk with inspirational role models. This helps our students realize they can be anything they want to be if they try. Harper for Kids and the Pyramids of Success promotes friendship, kindness, teamwork, and many other positive characteristics. Thank you for working with us to help create something great!

Harper for Kids is a great program to improve the overall culture and climate of your school. Using Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success, the program builds on positive character traits that can be used at all levels. Tim and Peanut Harper, the program's director and co-founder, walk you through the character education program step-by-step. They provide professional learning along with digital and print resources to make the implementation simple and best of all...free! The students love the virtual visits by famous athletes whose messages center around the character traits taught throughout the year. I appreciate the dedication and devotion of Tim and Peanut and all of the program's contributors who help make Harper for Kids possible.
Leslie Poythress
Principal
Jones County School System, Georgia

Tim and Peanut were excellent liaisons for us! They helped us roll out The Pyramid of Success for our Kinder through 8th grade students. They were personable, flexible, and afforded us unique opportunities to Zoom / video chat with athletes and authors who taught and inspired our students (before Zoom was a platform for our students to learn from!). They were responsive to questions and gathered our input to make their service as worthwhile as possible. We had a great inagural year with Inch and Miles and are excited to infuse the traits for Success in our school culture.

I am proud to work with Harper for Kids and their mission to bring the Pyramid of Success to schools. Their work to provide support with Character Education has been second to none. They work with both students and staff in a positive manner and offer whatever is needed to see students be successful. They have been able to do this in person and virtually, even before schools were closed. They were ahead of the curve which, but the way, has allowed them to continue to provide support during the current closing of schools. Harper for Kids is a program we want in schools support students and teaching Character Education!

Harper For Kids is a fantastic educational program that allows students to see how the Pyramid of Success is used in the lives of professional athletes and people alike. My students always share how they want to use the character traits from the pyramid to make their future of going to college and even their profession a reality after hearing from the speakers. Harper for Kids rocks!

Harper for Kids is an incredible organization that has provided our school with many meaningful and valuable experiences. Each Zoom conference that we have had over the past few years has been relevant for our students and rewarding in the important messages and lessons that are shared. Students love hearing from various figures and are able to make connections and apply the message that is being relayed. We love working with Harper for Kids and look forward to future opportunities!

While searching for a character education program to bring to our schools, I came across Harper for Kids. I was immediately impressed with their program. Not only was their messaging very positive, but through their use of athletic professionals, students were drawn to their message. Not only do these athletes and coaches act as mentors and positive role models for our students, but they also reinforce the message that everyone should strive to reach their OWN personal best. Also emphasizing that one should not measure success by comparing themselves to others. Their program is based on the John Wooden Pyramid of Success, which has helped numerous athletes for many years. Harper for Kids have helped students build upon each block of the pyramid and help students attribute it to their own lives. This creates a foundation for them to find their individual paths to their own success.

Throughout the last four years in which I have gotten to know Tim and Peanut Harper, the founders of the organization, I have been impressed with their genuine concern for helping young people reach their own personal best. They have built an organization which helps to prepare youth for the obstacles which may occur in their lives and give them tools so they can become resilient over outside situations and elements. Something which has become increasingly important in this day and age. They teach values which will be of the utmost importance as students head down the road to adulthood, such as Confidence, Determination, Self-Control. All of which are presented through the message of individuals that young people admire and look up to.

I would highly recommend Harper for Kids to anyone looking to help students build their character in a positive way. It is such an essential part of learning which will help shape our youth and prepare them for what lies ahead. If their were 10 stars, I would give them 10!!!

Over the past five years, Harper for Kids has played an extremely active and supportive role at Silver Spur Elementary. This outstanding organization headed by Tim and Peanut Harper works tirelessly to teach children the 14 blocks of Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success in order to have them achieve their personal best. Harper for Kids is a key component of our schools' Character Education program that supports our Positive Behavior Intervention Program (PBIS). Harper for Kids has inspired our students to always give their best and they have done by bringing speakers to our school, organizing zoom conferences and providing us with key materials to support our work. Tim and Peanut are beyond exceptional with children and their message resonates with students not only in elementary but as they move on in their educational careers and life. Thank you for your dedication, energy, hard work and enthusiasm. You are our cheerleaders and there are no words to express the appreciation we have for your organization. I highly recommend this organization and their mission to be adopted and followed by other schools and organizations. If we all applied the 14 blocks of Coach Wooden Pyramid of success to our own personal lives we would probably not find ourselves in the situation we find in 2020 America today but rather in a society where respect, fairness, courage, grace and hope reigns for all, no matter what your color is.

Our school has worked with Harper for Kids for the last two years, and it has been a wonderful experience. The Pyramid of Success works to promote citizenship while also encouraging students to embrace a growth mindset. Our students have enjoyed speaking with athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers about their path to personal success and have been inspired to take action by organizing charitable events such as a clothing drive. Tim and Peanut have been wonderful in supporting our students even during distance learning. Thank you Harper for Kids!

Harper for Kids has been life changing for my students and me. Tim and Peanut are patient, motivating, and have been such a positive influence in our community. Their energy is contagious, and they provide such rich, memorable experiences to my students by coordinating Zoom meetings with outstanding athletes. Love the pyramid of success and Harper for Kids! So appreciative of everything they’ve done for us.

Harper for Kids and The Pyramid of Success give us a framework for talking about how to achieve our best. Our students are able to articulate their goals using the building blocks of the pyramid and have begun to reflect on their efforts through this lens. The partnership with HFK helps our students best with reflecting on their behavior and drive towards success in small and big things. Whether they are trying to complete a task for school or working towards having more confidence in a group, they can use the language from the Pyramid of Success to help guide their thinking. We are so fortunate to bring the lessons to our school community. Justice St. has a Pyramid of Success mindset!

I have worked with Tim and Peanut at Harper for Kids for six years at two different schools in two different states. Their program, The Pyramid of Success, recognizes students who demonstrate positive character traits and are thriving to become their personal best. It is important because it embodies the belief that all students can achieve their own personal best. The 15 blocks in the Pyramid of Success teaches our students essential character traits helping them to become respectful citizens who are able to handle daily responsibilities and rules.

Harper for Kids has been an influential factor in implementing our Character Education program at our elementary school in Mystic, CT. We adopted The Journey to Success about 6 years ago and we pride ourselves in building foundational life long skills in young children that will help them be successful. Harper for Kids connects our young children with grown successful adults on ZOOM presentations to teach them what success is.....it is trying your personal best. It is amazing to witness young children using the vocabulary of Coach John Wooden's book. Peanut and Tim Harper has been very inspirational and motivating to help instill these livelong attributes to our children and staff. Inch and Miles are a huge hit too!!! :)
Thank you to Harper for Kids to reaching out and connecting with schools across the country!! My hope is for more school aged children to have the opportunity to connect with this amazing non-profit organization to hep them be a better individual!
~Jennifer

HFK provided a very positive and focused foundation for our inaugural year in building our character ed program. Their leadership and collaboration with us was pivotal in our success this year. We look forward to continuing our work with HFK.

Tim and Peanut are amazing, and their program has been wonderful for our students and parents. Our AVID Student Leaders share one of the character traits each week to focus on, and teachers follow up in the classrooms with different activities. During school closure I read a character trait and description every day on the online announcements so students would stay connected. Our school has a Mandarin Immersion program and they gave us the John Wooden Pyramid of Success printed in Mandarin for our students! We are so fortunate to have the very personal support of Tim and Peanut, and hope to continue working with them in the future.

Our school staff was looking for an effective character education program to implement. We were fortunate to hear of Harper for Kids from another school in our district. Tim and Peanut Harper were such a valuable resource for the teachers, and helped us to establish a cohesive school-wide character education program that was easy to implement and continues to be enjoyed by the whole school community. We look forward to continuing our work with Harper for Kids!

Having The Harper for Kids Pyramid of Success at our school has been beneficial to our entire school and student body. It's a wonderful approach to tie academic focus and excellence in character building using the blocks of success. We use the blocks of the pyramid to reinforce positive behavior, physical education, and learning focus. The Zoom presentations help teachers deliver content and rich conversations to include character building. We love the Pyramid for Success at Rancho Mirage Elementary!

We love Harper for Kids and their dedication to helping our students find success! They provide amazing support. We are grateful for their time and effort in creating meaningful experiences for our students through Zoom with successful guests who demonstrate the words from the pyramid.

It has been a privilege for Valencia Park Elementary School to be able to use John Wooden's Pyramid of Success to incorporate character traits into positive behavior reinforcement. As a UCLA graduate, I am proud to share Wooden's legacy with my kids in order to help them grow into emotionally-intelligent, well-rounded adults.

Harper for Kids has made a monumental impact on entire school community. Our students look to the Pyramid of Success for active guidance in their decisions and goals.

Harper for Kids has been an impactful partner for Northwood Elementary. The students and staff have benefited from the inspiring stories of leaders who have worked at becoming their personal best and live their dream.

Harper for Kids does a great job of teaching kids character traits and laying the foundation with the traits kids need to become kind, hardworking, successful adults.

Coach Wooden Pyramid poems have been written on poster paper with each student's signature. Every morning after the pledge, the whole class recites each poem (two so far!) and we discuss opportunities to demonstrate the qualities throughout our day.

Harper for Kids has been a valuable resource for our school! We have been able to introduce John Wooden's Pyramid of Success while incorporating the book Inch and Miles. I have noticed a difference in my students' attitude, drive, and empathy toward their work and classmates. I am so thankful for this organization and excited to use it this year!

Fremont Elementary School is partnering with Harper for Kids for the first time this school year and our experience has been exceptional. They take John Wooden’s Pyramid for Personal Success and organize it in such a way that allows our teachers an easy way to teach specific character traits every month of the school year. They provided us with the lessons, charts, picture book, staff development and lots of communication. The best part, they helped us to re-design our current behavior reinforcement system to integrate the new with what already existed. They will even be providing us a school assembly in mid-September. It is amazing that they are able to support our school for free!

I am a first year principal and I have changed the schools whole Positive Behavior Plan to follow Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success. The kids love getting the Blue Devil Bucks and in return they have to tell me why they received the buck and which part of the Pyramid of Success did they do to earn the Blue Devil Buck. I recently had a pizza party for the kids that have followed the Pyramid of Success. Every one of them told me which part of the Pyramid that they have been working on so far this school year. It has been a huge success. I read Coach Wooden's quotes every day on the announcements to remind the students to give their personal best 100% of the time.

Harper for Kids has been a tremendously positive influence on our students, staff, and overall school culture. We are especially grateful for the time they have spent with our students, explaining the foundation and importance of the Pyramid of Success and how it can help guide them towards their "personal best". Tim and Peanut have been a joy to work with and we hope to continue our partnership with HFK for years to come!

HFK has been a life saver in my classroom & school wide! It has enabled me to reach deep within each one of my students to bring out their best character from the beginning on the very first day of school! My third graders walk around representing each block of the POS & constantly spreading the positive vibes throughout our community reaching families everywhere they go! It has been a blessing partnering up with Harper For Kids & bringing Coach Wooden’s vision to life year after year! Thank You to both Coach Tim & Peanut for their friendship & guidance for the past 6 years!

My name is Korinne Kornmann and I am a Kindergarten teacher in Irvine. My school adopted Harper for Kid's character education program this past school year and I have loved every minute of it. Their Pyramid of Success, designed specially for kids from John Wooden's famous Pyramid, gives children tangible ways to work towards being their absolute best.

I love this program for all grades, including for Kindergarten ! I love the fact that as they grow, their relationships with the pyramid character traits will evolve based on their maturity and life experiences.

Their program is also easy to embed into your school day curriculum, so that you do not have to make extra time for it. I embedded my students' Pyramid of Success work into our Language Arts curriculum.

I would give my highest recommendation to anyone who works closely with children to adopt this program as part of your school wide character education. I saw a personal change in every single one of my students because of their exposure to the Pyramid of Success and Harper for Kids.

As an elementary school principal, I have proudly used Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success since 2005 at three different schools. Tim and Peanut Harper do a fantastic job of organizing their assemblies and bringing in local college and professional sports players to help bring home the importance of character education. We can never have enough of that! Our students love the Pyramid of Success and my staff loves having a program that supports character education for the entire school.

To teach our students about good character, Silver Spur Elementary, a public elementary school in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, partnered with Harper for Kids in the 2015-2016 school year. Harper for Kids helped and supported us in incorporating legendary Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success into our character education program. For the past 3 years, Harper for Kids have provided us with posters, lessons plans, assemblies and handouts that have allowed us to teach monthly character traits from Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success and have led us and are leading us to the highest standards for our school. This year Silver Spur has been awarded National Blue Ribbon 2017. We attribute part of our success to our close partnership with Harper for KIds. This partnership have resulted in a better education and a better school for everyone.

Marta Jevenois-Richardson
Principal
Silver Spur Elementary

The Harper for Kids Foundation is an amazing program! Tim and Peanut are wonderful leaders and such a positive influence. The Foundation sends a fantastic message through the Wooden Pyramid, which is something children of all ages can relate to. Harper for Kids truly cares about each student and it shows through their heavy involvement from the start. Whether it's setting up assemblies, introducing the Pyramid, answering questions, surprising the kids with special guests, Tim and Peanut are present. Always guiding the schools through the program that best compliments the community. Harper for Kids is truly special.
- Jennifer Sicklick, Past PTA President
Silver Spur Elementary School, Palos Verdes CA

They do so much to promote happiness and success to the students. First, they help paint the Pyramid of Success on one of the yard walls. Then, they provide a copy of the Pyramid of Success for each student to take home. They also provide a bigger copy so that teachers can hang them in their classrooms. They also give each classroom a copy of the " Pyramid of Success" book. The words in the book are child friendly and the message is clear for students to understand. They really understand consistency in order for students to learn the concept and think about it throughout their day - in or out of school. In addition, they communicate with teachers to set up a time where for Kindergartners get an introduction presentation about the Pyramid of Success. Other grade levels get USF athletes to come to their classes and share parts of the Pyramid of Success and which traits they find most important to them. The students are always happy and love working with the athletes.

Harper for Kids has been instrumental to our school's success. The program has offered us presentations and assemblies that encourages and inspires our students to climb the pyramid of success each and everyday, in and our of the classroom.

Harper for Kids has been supporting kids journeys to achieve their personal best at Sunset Elementary for years. Learning about the building blocks on the Pyramid to Success each year deepens student's confidence with their own skills/strengths and helps them take risks to be their very best version of themselves.

Many USF athletes have taken their time to come share their own journeys of success and instill in students the ongoing need to strive for their personal best in all that they do. Tim and Peanut are always so supportive and encouraging, they motivate us all!

As a school we have been working with HfK for over 3 years now. When I first met Tim and Peanut I had no idea what they could bring to our school. Since our first meeting we have worked together to provide field trips and assemblies for our K-5 students around John Wooden's Pyramid for Success. Our students have been provided opportunities to meet student athletes, coaches and engineers that have talked about how they are striving to reach their personal best. Tim and Peanut always bring positive energy when they are on campus. They are super easy to work with and are doing great things for kids. Our students get excited every time they come on campus and I hear all the time how great it was to have Tim do an art lesson with them. HfK helps make a difference for students!

Having the opportunity to work with Tim and Peanut through their Harper for Kids program has been a great experience. Being in partnership with them throughout my teaching career, I can attest to the fact that their kid-friendly approach to spreading the wisdom of Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success has benefited my students greatly. I love how their connection with the USF Athletic Department allows for Tim and Peanut to bring in college athletes that my students can get to meet, and that with the teamwork and positive attitude that they are promoting, that one day my students too may find themselves giving back to the community. I highly recommend Harper for Kids to any teacher that is looking for a resource that promotes wellness, teamwork, and a positive attitude within the classroom setting.

Harper for Kids is one of the best youth character development programs I have ever seen in schools. I brought it to the elementary school where I was principal, and my students, parents, and teachers totally loved the program and embraced the Pyramid of Success. Every character trait builds and strengthens students' social emotional learning leading to happier children with greater success in school.

I have personally known Tim and Peanut Harper, founders of Harper for Kids, for over 30 years. It would be hard to find two people more committed to the cause of helping children build character and enabling them to live successful and productive lives. The kids become engaged through sports and other fun activities and learn that by giving their best, they will always come out on top – win or lose.

I believe so strongly in what they do, that I joined Harper for Kids as a Board Member in 2013. I strongly support their mission.

Bob Bratt

They have been very supportive and proactive in getting their character program into our school this year. We were provided with all the materials to integrate it into our school, as well as provided us with a great assembly to 'kick-off" our program for the year. We already have follow-up assemblies in the books for later this school year. Additionally, the communication has been very transparent and consistent. Great to work with.

As a teacher at Reilly School, I have seen the wonderful benefits of the Harper for Kids program. We recently had 200 parents attend a special presentation at our school, and then enthusiastically use the Pyramid of Success at home. It is the foundation of our school's behavior program, and very successful with all of our students.

Tim and Peanut are always available to motivate our kids, and we love having them at Reilly! Their program are a reason we have had parents choose Reilly school for their kids!

I am a board director of Harper for Kids and am pleased at the growth of the organization over the last several years. Harper for Kids now serves over 100,000 students in over 100 schools both in and out of California. I think this growth is attributable to the broad outreach of the organization through the implementation of the mission of the program by the individual teachers and educators in schools as well as through events that Harper for Kids conducts throughout the year. The close coordination between Harper for Kids staff and the educators who have incorporated and adopted the mission of the organization (including school visits and presentations by Harper for Kids) has been instrumental in maintaining the continuity of the Harper for Kids' message as the students progress through their education.

Harpers for kids transformed our school districts character education program from anemic and emptying to one that's practical and inspiring. The Harpers are energetic, positive, ever so helpful. Every time you speak with them you feel better about the work you were doing. The Harpers inspire you to do more to help kids.

Since 2012, Tim and Peanut Harper, founders of Harper for Kids foundation (HFK) have been supporting and cheering on the students, staff, and community of Reilly Elementary School. During these past 5 ½ years, HFK have been a major factor in teaching our students the importance of good character from the traits on Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Through their yearly visits, valuable guest speakers, interactive assemblies, classroom lessons, uplifting and informative Parent Nights, and continued encouraging words and ways, the Harpers strengthen our Character Education program and motivate our students to learn and live by the Pyramid of Success.

We started our partnership with the development of a new tennis program at our school. The Harper for Kids foundation supported us with teacher workshops, a tennis day clinic for the students, teaching materials and resources for equipment. The HFK even made sure we were able to have tennis courts painted on our playground. We continue to teach the blocks of the Pyramid of Success during play while learning the fundamentals of many sports and game activities.

Tim and Peanut are wonderful about keeping in touch and providing whatever is needed to keep the students excited about learning and practicing good character. They are both very reachable and spend the time needed to plan the perfect lessons or assembly that work for our school. The kids look forward to their visits and so do I, knowing that I will always get some good ideas to think about over the next few months.

Since we have started teaching and practicing the Pyramid of Success within our Character Education program, which has included HFK, we have seen a decline in discipline problems and rise in compassion, friendships, loyalty and our students have a true understanding of what it means for them to give their best effort in all that they do. It has proven to be an excellent fit for our school and so has Harper for Kids.

Tim and Peanut have become part of our Reilly School family and our students embrace them as much as they have embraced the message they bring with them about always giving 100% of your best effort. Their dedication to the lives of children and their future success is amazing. The energy, enthusiasm, determination and overall team spirit felt from their visits send such positive vibes throughout the Reilly campus that it lingers on for weeks! Reilly has made a friend in the Harpers and our students are learning to be more successful and more compassionate people because of them, their visits, and program. In turn our students are learning to pass on their knowledge of success and hopefully help encourage more people to be a little kinder, helpful, mindful, and compassionate in the world we live in today. The Harper for Kids Foundation has been a powerful and valuable resource for our school.
Cheryl Kamphefner
Retired Teacher/Volunteer

Harper for Kids was a great presentation for elementary aged students. Having a pro tennis athlete discuss her difficulties getting to the level she achieved was inspirational for the students. The John Wooden Pyramid of Success sends a positive message for our society today.

Harper for Kids is an amazing partner with our school! Teachers, parents and the community strive for our students to become individuals with character. Harper for Kids provides amazing assemblies and supports our mission! Amazing!

Harper for Kids has gone out of their way each year to give free assemblies to our students and parents. Peanut and Tim come down to Southern California at least one a year to help our children strive to be their personal best. The assemblies are always high energy and engaging, and their always partner with a local sports figure. Our school works on character throughout the year thanks to the Harper Foundation. We are so thankful for their continued effort to build children of character for today... and tomorrow!

The founders of Harper for Kids, Tim and Peanut Harper, has developed an outstanding Character Education program that it is simple to implement in any schools. And it works! Vanalden Elementary community is grateful to Tim and Peanut for allowing us to be part of their organization.

As a principal of a SFUSD school, our students benefited greatly from the partnership. Students learned that it's not just one thing that helps us to reach our goals but a combination of characteristics! HFK brought athletes, role models, contributing members of society, to come speak with our students. Strong role models shared their journey to success through activities, stories, and Q & A. There was much to be celebrated by all. It was evident that students learned about the Pyramid of Success as they used terms such as team work, friendship, determination, and hard work in their daily work.
Parents shared that they used these characteristics in parenting their children at home. That the building blocks to success are all encompassing for a holistic approach.
Hooray for Harper for Kids! Hooray for Peanut, Tim, and Coach Wooden!

Harper for Kids has helped our school begin a new program of character building. Not only have they provided us a multitude of materials, but they have come to our faculty and staff to introduce the program and give direction. In another month, they will be here for two assemblies, which we are truly looking forward to and it will help us launch the entire program with the children. Tim and Peanut Harper are very accommodating.

Harper for Kids has been instrumental in helping our club to incorporate Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success in our tennis program. We began using the Pyramid of Success in both of our jr tennis classes and our summer tennis camps several years ago. When we first approached Harper for kids about setting up our program, they were more than helpful in providing us with insights as to how to get the message across that "Success is happiness in your heart that you made the 100% effort to do your best).
The response from parents was overwhelmingly positive. With all of the stress that the kids confront with school and sports, they were very pleased that we were passing along the message of joy in the journey to achieve success. We feel that with Harper for Kids help and support, if we can just help one child to be the best that they can be, then its a job well done!

Tim and Peanut fro Harper for Kids has been helping spread the message of coach John Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" at Rio Vista Elementary School in Cathedral City. They provide the message coach Wooden used to build a winning team and outstanding character in his players. Tim and Peanut bring examples of current sports figures who exemplify the characteristics of the Pyramid of Success and engage students by having them share examples of how they use the Pyramid of Success. Thank you Tim and Peanut!

It has been awesome working with Harper For Kids. HFK has been so supportive and helpful in providing us with ideas and materials in implementing the Pyramid of Success into our tennis programs throughout the years. We have used the Pyramid of Success as our life skills component in our summer camps (tots through high school) as well in our year round tennis classes&lessons, and as a character building program for our high school&college teams. Harper For Kids has no boundaries when it comes to their boundless enthusiasm and support of our programs! We appreciate all their HARD WORK and ENTHUSIASM! Their message is universal and Harper For Kids is the BESTEST!!!

We have enjoyed using the materials and curriculum from Harper fro Kids! Tim and Peanut Harper were so helpful and generous. They visited our school many times to kickoff the year, and even did an outreach night to our parents! We are in our 3rd year of using Harper for Kids and each year, we build on the practical and effective resources for our students.

Harper for Kids immediately presented solutions to some of my initial implementation questions. As an organization, they made resources available, and worked quickly to schedule a presentation and guest reading of the book “Inch and Miles” by Coach Juniper from University of California, Irvine. My questions about how to make the book and posters of the Pyramid of Success available in all classrooms on our campus were immediately answered by Harper for Kids’ generous offer to provide one of each for our classrooms. This substantial contribution to our program quickly transformed our initial implementation from a pilot program with a few interested teachers, to a coordinated resource for every student at Adams Elementary School. Furthermore, Harper for Kids shared lesson outlines, character recognition awards, and presentation suggestions with us.

Harper for Kids has made the Pyramid of Success at Adams Elementary something we can all promote and share with our community. Parents, school staff, and students are all thrilled about the ability to help students develop the personal attributes to persevere through difficult academic tasks and, most importantly, to interact with other people in a respectful and professional manner. By focusing on "Hard Work", "Determination", "Cooperation", "Team Spirit", and "Confidence", students will develop the skills to succeed and achieve their personal best.

Working with Harper for Kids has been a positive and rewarding experience every step of the way. I strongly recommend their program and would be excited to see their energy, skill, and enthusiasm continue to expand in other schools state-wide.

I founded a middle school in Los Angeles four years ago. I reached out to Peanut and Tim for support in developing a character education program for our school and I was overwhelmingly impressed with the support I received. The Harper for Kids pyramid of success curriculum became the cornerstone of our character education program and we continue to receive personalized support from the team. They are the best!

Harper for Kids comes to our school to talk to our children about Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success. We are a K-2 school and Peanut and Tim's presentation is fine tuned for our young children, keeping them engaged and focused. They also will be presenting an education night, free of charge, for the parents in October, explaining the Pyramid of Success and how they can integrate it into their home life to complement what the teachers are doing at school. We so appreciate their enthusiasm and love for the children.