In Westminster, a student-led idea that started in 2007 has grown into a global movement. Day Without Hate, which takes place annually on the last Friday in April, encourages schools to dedicate one day each year to respect and connection. What began as a grassroots effort at Standley Lake High School now spans 35 states and seven countries, impacting tens of thousands of students every year—over 70,000 in 2025 alone.
“When a young person chooses violence, it didn’t just happen overnight. It started a while ago, with isolation, with feeling unseen, with pain that went unaddressed,” explains CEO Sarah Marie, a Miss Colorado titleholder and mother of two. She’s using her platform, plus her newly minted children’s book, The Best Day Ever, to “reach these kids on a heart level when they’re young and teach them that connection matters. That they matter. That small acts of kindness can change everything. We’re planting seeds that can hopefully prevent these tragedies.”
Day Without Hate provides schools with free resources, from lesson plans to step-by-step guidance for starting student chapters. The philosophy behind it is simple: small actions, like sharing a compliment, writing an apology note, watching the Day Without Hate documentary, or organizing an assembly, can ripple across entire campuses. And it’s clearly resonating. The organization has earned an Emmy, multiple Telly awards, and recognition at nine film festivals for its short documentaries, as well as a Top-Rated GreatNonprofits award.
And the impact lasts well beyond the day itself. Sarah recalls a former teacher sharing that bringing Day Without Hate into her classroom completely shifted the culture. When a student acted out or said something unkind, classmates stepped in, reminding one another, “No, remember Day Without Hate,” or “We don’t do that here.” For Sarah, that’s the ultimate measure. “That’s when you know it’s really working,” she says. “When students are leading the change and holding each other accountable. That’s real, lasting transformation.”
With the next Day Without Hate set for April 24, kids and families can get involved and make a real impact. Students can become ambassadors in their schools, while parents and community members can support the program by spreading the word or donating to help it grow.
“The goal isn’t just to have one Day Without Hate each year,” Sarah says, “but to help schools create cultures where connection and love are the norm, every single day.” These students are proving that today’s empathy shapes tomorrow’s world.
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