A press conference was held on Friday, August 14th honoring the life and legacy of Mother Mary Beth Kennedy, the founder of Community of Caring, on what would have been her 100th Birthday.
According to her daughter, Elizabeth Kennedy Rooks, “In 1983, my mother set out on a mission to prove that “love could change the world.” Community of Caring arose from the dreams of a woman who knew that “love” was a verb, an action word, and who expressed her care for our neighbors and this community in every way she knew how.”
As a tribute to Mother Kennedy, proclamations from Governor Josh Shapiro, State Representative Ryan Bizzaro, Pat Harkins, and Robert Merski, and Mayor Daria Devlin were presented. The proclamations had similar sentiments to honor her memory. Governor Shapiro’s proclamation stated, “we honor her memory by recognizing the organization that continues to embody her belief that love can change the world and the launch of the HOW CAN I HELP? campaign.”
The proclamation from the House of Representatives recognized the legacy of Mother Kennedy and the work that began 44 years ago, and the launch of the initiative HOW CAN I HELP? They declared “August 2026 as Human Kindness Month in Pennsylvania.”
Mayor Devlin recognized “that Mother Kennedy dedicated her life to a simple but powerful belief: love can change the world.” Mayor Devlin encouraged “every resident of Erie to honor her legacy by asking one another a simple question – How Can I Help? and then finding a way, large or small to act on the answer.”
How Can I Help? is a countywide campaign that intentionally creates a culture of kindness, civility, and help in Erie County – from school children to elected officials, from faith communities to local businesses. The transformative power of a simple act of kindness can change our world when we look around and ask How Can I Help? (Read More)
