August 14th, 2025 marks what would have been the 99th birthday of Mother Mary Beth Kennedy — a woman remembered for a lifetime of compassion. Mayor Joe Schember has proclaimed August 14th as Human Kindness Day and this month as Human Kindness Month in her honor.

At the Community of Caring, the mayor joined state representatives to present proclamations to Kennedy's family, reflecting on her mission to spread kindness and her legacy of philanthropy from Africa to Erie.

Friends and loved ones shared memories, celebrating her belief that "love can change the world," including her granddaughter, Angela Collins. "The biggest thing that inspired me about my grandmother is her willingness to not take 'no' for an answer. If she saw a need she was going to do what she needed to do to make sure it was filled and she got other people around her. It was so inspiring that so many other people joined in the work."

Others recalled her generosity and spirit, including one who called her a mentor, friend, and partner. "She didn't just talk about her faith. She lived her faith. She lived the life that you hear the people on the television and all that, preaching about and singing about and all that. She was a very quiet, quite, quite storm. She, I tell you, she was somebody special."

Her legacy lives on — inspiring Erie to lead with kindness in her honor.