USA Health recognized as Distinguished Kindness Workplace by national nonprofit

By Michelle Ryan-Day
[email protected]

USA Health has been recognized as a Distinguished Kindness Workplace by The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to making kindness the norm in schools, workplaces and homes around the world.

The designation recognizes organizations that successfully complete a series of activities and initiatives designed to foster cultures of compassion, respect, empathy and connection in the workplace. The Distinguished Kindness Workplace Challenge was introduced by the foundation in 2025 and encourages organizations to incorporate kindness-focused actions into everyday work environments. As of late 2025, 59 workplaces across 19 U.S. states and five countries had earned the designation, with thousands of employees participating worldwide.

USA Health earned the recognition through a variety of systemwide initiatives that promote kindness, gratitude and connection among employees. The effort was led by chaplain Kim Crawford Meeks, manager of Spiritual Health and Counseling, and engaged thousands of employees across the academic health system.

“Each year I choose a theme for our department to encourage and uplift our employees, and this year kindness seemed to be the right thing because kindness is always the right thing to do,” Crawford Meeks said. “In situations with employees, patients, and families, I have seen where a word or act of kindness can change a conversation, relationship, or experience. Kindness has an incredible impact and makes a difference.”  

Among the initiatives supporting the effort were the annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast, Blessing of the Hands ceremonies, the “Be Kind” bracelet campaign, and reflections and communications encouraging employees to practice acts of kindness. Employees also participated in a chalk drawing event featuring messages of kindness, although the event took place after USA Health submitted its application for the designation.

Kindness can have an impact that extends beyond workplace morale. Harvard Health Publishing reported that research has linked acts of kindness with aspects of psychological and physical health and well-being, including increased happiness and engagement with life, reduced symptoms of anxiety and greater social connectedness. Research has also associated kindness with lower blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

According to the peer-reviewed journal BMC Health Services Research, a culture of kindness has a positive impact on healthcare organizations, healthcare staff members, and patients. Benefits include better patient outcomes, as well as a humanized work environment, which helps to prevent stress and burnout among healthcare workers.  

For employees working in high-stress clinical environments, kindness can help create a sense of connection and support.

“When employees receive kindness, they feel heard, seen, and respected. Kindness seems to be contagious because when you give a little kindness it seems to spread rapidly,” Crawford Meeks said. “Giving kindness to employees inspires them to offer that same kindness to one another, patients, and families.”

Founded in 1995, The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a Denver-based nonprofit organization that provides free, evidence-based resources promoting emotional well-being, social-emotional learning and community-building. Its programs reach more than 29,000 schools and nearly 145,000 educators in more than 193 countries.  

The foundation's workplace initiative is designed to help organizations make kindness a sustainable part of their culture rather than an occasional gesture. Its resources are grounded in research examining the effects of kindness on emotional, mental and physical well-being.

For more information, visit The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.