The Healing Tree Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2008 to fund the Kindness Cure Campaign. This ambitious project will spread kindness, happiness, gratitude, and generosity to one million people in one year, beginning on World Kindness Day, Nov. 13, 2008. The main component of the project consists of 365 daily acts of kindness performed by Foundation founder CJ Scarlet, and more than one million acts by volunteers who commit to performing one act of kindness each week for a year. At the triumphant conclusion of the project, the Foundation will offer funding to programs that advance the values of generosity and kindness at the local, national, and international levels.

The idea for the Kindness Cure Campaign was conceived by founder CJ Scarlet in recognition of the value of and need for greater kindness and generosity in the world. This is a lesson CJ learned the hard way. In 2002, CJ was told that her long-term disability had become life threatening, and her world fell apart. Then a Tibetan lama told her with fierce compassion to “stop feeling sorry for herself and focus on the happiness of others” and her life was transformed. The more CJ benefited others, the happier she became and the better she felt. She reached a state of such joy that it no longer mattered whether she lived or died—she was happy regardless of the obstacles she encountered. Amazingly, her condition went into reverse and she feels better today than she has in 20 years!

The lama next commanded CJ to share with the world the secrets to happiness she had learned. The Kindness Cure Campaign is her attempt to show others the power and value of kindness and generosity in a way that will make a lasting impression. CJ decided to form a foundation to enable her and other supporters to make an even greater impact.

CJ Scarlet is an award-winning author, motivational speaker, and certified “Happy Endings” coach, offering happiness tools and inspiration to those who are facing major life challenges. She has volunteered, served on the board, and worked for several nonprofit organizations, including United Way, American Red Cross, and Kids First, Inc., where she served as Executive Director. Most recently, CJ served as the Developmental Officer of the RCI Foundation.