For this year’s “I Am Love” charity event Oceanside's PROJECT EXTRA (New York) students from all six elementary schools worked together to raise awareness and funds for the Limb Kind Foundation.

Written by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, "I Am Love" is a beautifully inspiring picture book that is a celebration of love in all its forms. Love allows us to act with compassion and kindness, to live with gratitude, and to take care of ourselves by practicing self-love. 

As schools across the country are currently closed, the Project EXTRA event on March 31, 2020 became a virtual celebration.

Angela Abend, PROJECT EXTRA teacher shared on Facebook:

“What a day it was ... our virtual ‘I Am Love/Limb Kind’ Celebration definitely added some light to our day today and it was wonderful to be able to "share" it together. Thank you to all those who stepped up and helped out in a pinch! Here are all the links to the videos and presentations that were shared today. Remember ... together, especially at this time, WE are LOVE!.”

Celebrate the event with PROJECT EXTRA.

Oceanside PROJECT EXTRA reads “I Am Love”

Oceanside PROJECT EXTRA students, with the support of Oceanside High School students, created an inspirational video recording of "I Am Love" that was to be shown as the kick-off to their charity event on March 31. 

”I Am Love” author Susan Verde shout-out to PROJECT EXTRA

Peter H. Reynolds Reads "I Am Love" during
his Facebook LIVE event

Rob Schulman from the the Limb Kind Foundation shout-out

As one of their final projects in this three-year PROJECT EXTRA program, the annual sixth grade charity project gives the students an opportunity to "give back" and share their gratitude. The students would have given their "big check" to Mr. Robert Schulman, founder and executive director of the Limb Kind Foundation, on the day of their "I Am Love" event. Inspired by the writing of Peter H. and Paul Reynolds, the class was also going to receive a surprise visit from Paul Reynolds, twin brother to Peter and co-author to one of their favorite books, "Going Places". 

The Limb Kind Foundation, is to improve the lives of children with limb loss both domestically and internationally, by strengthening the amputee community, and providing pediatric prosthetic care for all. Fifty sixth grade PROJECT EXTRA students have reached out to their Oceanside community and raised over $13,000 for the foundation. Fundraisers, speaking engagements, and community service projects rounded out their efforts and some famous musicians even joined in with generous donations, too! In addition, the students raised funds to have Limb Kind volunteers bring 30 copies of "I Am Love", along with 30 matching Beanie Babies, to the children of Ethiopia receiving free prosthetic care from the foundation. Amazingly, these students have raised $30,000 for the Limb Kind Foundation over the last three years!

More PROJECT EXTRA Shout-Outs and Rob Schulman Interview