{"id":44654,"date":"2024-12-05T15:17:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T20:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=44654"},"modified":"2024-12-05T15:19:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T20:19:20","slug":"tree-kindness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/tree-kindness\/","title":{"rendered":"For This Alumni Couple, Acts of Kindness Are the Best Holiday D\u00e9cor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">Beth Dessen Duffy \u201982 and Dan Duffy \u201982 have parlayed a family tradition into a multimedia project, adorning trees with good deeds<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cornell-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bd4d3d78e6eccfd7923d16a91716eea1\"><em>&#8220;Bear Hugs&#8221; celebrates heartwarming stories of Cornellians on the Hill and around the world. Have an idea? Email us at <a href=\"&#109;a&#105;&#108;&#x74;&#x6f;&#x3a;&#x63;o&#x72;&#110;&#x65;&#x6c;&#x6c;&#x69;&#x61;&#110;&#115;&#x40;co&#x72;&#x6e;&#101;&#x6c;l&#x2e;&#x65;&#100;&#117;\">&#x63;o&#114;n&#101;&#x6c;&#108;&#105;&#x61;n&#115;&#64;c&#x6f;&#114;&#x6e;&#x65;&#108;&#x6c;&#x2e;&#101;d&#x75;<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <strong>Melissa Newcomb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">From the time their two children were very young, Beth Dessen Duffy \u201982 and Dan Duffy \u201982 found a way to teach them the true meaning of the holiday season\u2014using construction paper and some creativity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Beth Dessen Duffy \u201982 and Dan Duffy \u201982 with their children and dog.\" class=\"wp-image-44810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/family-with-dog.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dan and Beth (holding Havanese dog Luna) with kids Rachel and Eddie.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Each year on December 1, the couple would mount a small paper Christmas tree on a kitchen cabinet in their Toronto home; at the end of every day throughout the month, the family would gather there to share a good deed that they\u2019d done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It might be including a classmate at school; donating to a charity; helping wash the dishes; or simply checking in with an old friend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To mark each one, they\u2019d tape a colorful paper ornament onto the tree\u2014with the goal of having it fully decorated by Christmas Day.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"796\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-1024x796.jpg\" alt=\"The cover of the book, The Christmas Tree that Changed the World, featuring illustrations of a decorated Christmas tree and a puppy.\" class=\"wp-image-44809\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-1024x796.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-768x597.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-1536x1194.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-1264x983.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-632x491.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-316x246.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-400x311.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-200x156.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg-100x78.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/COVER-FRONT-jpeg.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The accompanying kids&#8217; book, published under Beth&#8217;s elf-ish pseudonym.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Even though their kids are now grown and living on their own, the Duffys have continued the tradition\u2014on a much larger scale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than a decade ago, the couple launched their \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/christmastreeofkindness.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Christmas Tree of Kindness<\/a>\u201d project, which has grown to comprise a children\u2019s book, a website with printable crafts, and an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to promoting good deeds at the holidays and beyond, it lets loved ones connect even from afar by decorating a tree together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"733\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-1024x733.jpg\" alt=\"Beth Dessen Duffy \u201982 and Dan Duffy \u201982 during their freshman year on the Hill in 1978.\" class=\"wp-image-44808 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-1024x733.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-768x550.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-632x452.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-316x226.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-400x286.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-200x143.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr-100x72.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/1978-freshman-yr.jpg 1044w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The couple as undergrads.<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>\u201cWe are all yearning for more kindness in the world,\u201d says Beth. \u201cEverybody has different ways to do the greatest good with the resources they have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two CALS alums\u2014who met during the first week of classes their freshman year\u2014conceived the project after inspiring friends, family, and colleagues to decorate their own paper Christmas trees with \u201ckindness\u201d ornaments.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With their <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/ca\/app\/christmas-tree-of-kindness\/id1132945164?platform=ipad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">free app<\/a>\u2014which is available in Apple&#8217;s App Store and has been downloaded more than 5,000 times since its creation in 2013\u2014users can customize a virtual tree and invite others to decorate it with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each time someone adds an ornament, they note the act of kindness it represents. When a tree is completed, a star is added and holiday music plays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We are all yearning for more kindness in the world. Everybody has different ways to do the greatest good with the resources they have.<\/p>\n<cite><strong>Beth Dessen Duffy \u201982<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The children\u2019s book, titled <em>The Christmas Tree That Changed the World, <\/em>follows a young evergreen named Spruce and her puppy friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The duo start a new North Pole tradition by adding ornaments to Spruce\u2019s branches after doing kind acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Its author? Cookie Claus, Beth\u2019s pen name.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A portion of the book\u2019s profits are donated to World Vision, a global children\u2019s charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Christmas Tree of Kindness website also offers PDF downloads of ornament designs to expand to other holidays like Valentine\u2019s Day and Easter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And Beth further shares the project\u2019s message through visits to school classrooms, where teachers and students are encouraged to create and decorate their own trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Says Dan: \u201cNo pun intended\u2014kindness makes people light up like a Christmas tree.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3-697x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"An image or a decorated tree from the Christmas Tree of Kindness app.\" class=\"wp-image-44854 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3-697x1024.jpeg 697w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3-204x300.jpeg 204w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3-538x790.jpeg 538w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3-269x395.jpeg 269w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3-341x500.jpeg 341w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3-170x250.jpeg 170w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3-85x125.jpeg 85w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/3.jpeg 739w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><figcaption>A scene from the app.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(All images provided.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Published December 5, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator aligncenter has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beth Dessen Duffy \u201982 and Dan Duffy \u201982 have parlayed a family tradition into a multimedia project, adorning trees with good deeds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":44811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"alumni_hub_syml_posts":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[652],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-44654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-hugs"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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