My Nonprofit Reviews

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