Jerry Thomas Elementary Reading

Our Vice-President and author of Exceptionally Good Friends: Building Relationships with Autism, Melissa Burkhardt, read to the students of Jerry Thomas Elementary this morning for Autism Awareness Month!!

It has been so wonderful visiting classrooms and teaching students the importance of kindness, compassion and inclusion.

Reading at Verde Elementary School

Thank you to Boca Raton City Council Member, Andrea Levine O'Rourke and Comerica Bank Market President, Patty Nobles for reading at Verde Elementary School this morning! The 4 classes of 1st & 2nd graders enjoyed celebrating Autism Awareness Month with the book, Exceptionally Good Friends: Building Relationships with Autism.

Reading at Boca Raton Elementary Today

Unicorn Children's Foundation's Ambassador Dominique Rivera and our Vice-President (and author of this book!) Melissa Burkhardt read to the students of Boca Raton Elementary School this morning for Autism Awareness Month!


The 2 classes of 1st and 2nd graders loved the book Exceptionally Good Friends: Building Relationships with Autism, and learning about acceptance and kindness.


Characters in this book are two wonderful children who become friends in their inclusive early childhood classroom. The stories are told through the perspectives of Ruthie, a young girl who is developing typically and through Clay, a Hispanic boy with autism.

The Amazing Students of Orchard View Elementary School

"If they are different, that doesn't mean you have to be mean to them. Just be a good friend."

We were SO proud of the kind, intelligent students at Orchard View Elementary School yesterday during our reading of Exceptionally Good Friends: Building Relationships with Autism!

Get Caught Being Kind at Orchard View Elementary School

Unicorn Children’s Foundation had a great morning spreading kindness at Orchard View Elementary School in honor of #AutismAwarenessMonth.

Victor Mogollon of Comerica, Miss Teen America - Florida, Olivia Occhigrossi, Unicorn Children’s Foundation Ambassador Dominique Rivera, and Frank Occhigrossi of Flakowitz Bagel Inn all came together to read to 2 classrooms today. Students absolutely loved the book, Exceptionally Good Friends: Building Relationships with Autism by Melissa Burkhardt! This is a story told from the prospective of a child welcoming a new student with autism to her class and then the story is repeated form the prospective of the child with autism responding to the change in his routine as he enters this new class. A very special thank you to Flakowitz for hosting the Post-Read Breakfast.

“They loved the book and made comments about how they have friends in class just like the characters. Several of the students commented to their teachers that it was ‘the best day ever.’” - Michelle Baker, Orchard View Elementary

Unicorn Children's Foundation Celebrates Autism Awareness Month by Spreading Kindness in Schools!

Unicorn Children's Foundation will be having representatives reading Exceptionally Good Friends: Building Relationships with Autism by our Vice-President Melissa Burkhardt throughout elementary schools in April! This is a story told from the perspective of a child welcoming a new student with autism to her class and then the story is repeated from the perspective of the child with autism responding to the changes in his routine as he enters this new class. We will be visiting Orchard View Elementary, Boca Raton Elementary, Eisenhower Elementary, and Verde Elementary to create awareness, acceptance, and kindness for #AutismAwarenessMonth!


If you are interested in volunteering to read at a school in your area, please purchase the book here, and send photos and/or videos of your reading to Amy at amy@eunicorn.org


Disclaimer: Please make sure everyone has signed permission to be in the photos


Contact Ivonne Rodriguez for more information: ivonne@eunicorn.org or 561-620-9377 x 306