Mike and Nick Fiorito are social entrepreneurs from Brooklyn, N.Y., and the Founders of Blankets of Hope, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that partners with schools to deliver blankets and handwritten notes to the homeless. They will be discussing this project today (October 25) at the Clinton School at 6pm.

Blankets of Hope started two years ago as a simple family project. As Mike and Nick were commuting to their unfulfilling jobs, they passed by the same homeless people freezing on the streets of New York City. But day after day, they did nothing about it. Their endless to-do lists would take over, and they were always “too busy” to help.

Finally, during a sleepless night, Nick came to Mike with an idea that was both practical and thoughtful: “What if we just gave them blankets?” The next day, they set up a simple GoFundMe page telling their story. They raised enough money from friends and family to purchase 100 purple blankets. They chose purple because the color represented royalty. To add a personal touch, they attached a handwritten note to every blanket, each with a simple but powerful message: “We believe in you.”

In just three years, they have delivered over 11,000 Blankets of Hope and have crowdfunded over $75,000 using social media.

Blankets of Hope has been featured on all major TV networks including CBS, NBC, ABC, and more. An organization that started as just a small family project has now spread to schools in 23 states across the country, including two schools in Canada and one in Mexico.

Mike and Nick’s ultimate vision is to live in a world united in love. That’s why their mission with Blankets of Hope is to inspire a global movement of kindness.

All Clinton School Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or by calling (501) 683-5239.