2002 NETWORKING® MAGAZINE’S DAVID AWARD HONOREE.

JAY LOCKETT SEARS

Founder, Mission of Kindness

If well known East End architect Jay Lockett Sears isn't busy designing an exclusive home, he is likely to be found showing or teaching others about kindness.

"The simple concept of kindness is so often forgotten," said Sears.

It was 23-years ago, after Sears believes he should have died in a plane crash, that he realized his life mission was to help others. "My life was given back to me," said the David Award winner.

Everything didn't fall into place immediately, however. Whenever Sears lost track of his calling, he was somehow dramatically reminded by an event or circumstance like the wildfires of 1995 or the crash of TWA Flight 800. Both events caused him to spring into action through his volunteer work for his local fire department and with the American Red Cross.

It was in 1996 that Sears founded the Mission of Kindness after an annual Midnight Run to Manhattan handing out food to the city's homeless. Driving home he realized how much need there was right in his own community and decided to do something about it.

Today, through the Mission of Kindness, Sears cares for over 120 homeless families. Although he has a team of volunteers working with him, Sears does a great deal of the work himself.

"I'm there for the children. They're having a rough time," said Sears on Christmas Eve after days of running around making sure his families were taken care of.

Sears created the Mission of Kindness to help those in need in local communities and to educate the young on the importance of kindness and tolerance in their lives. He travels to over 30 schools a year to educate the youth.

"We do programs where we have them work in soup kitchens," he said, citing one example that gives students hands on experience in helping others. Sears also understands that he can't be effective by going into schools and just talking about the importance of kindness. "The best example you can do is be an example of what you're trying to teach," he said.

His Mission of Kindness funds needy cases throughout the year and supplies clothing and care to the homeless. Sears also organizes teams of volunteers to go out into the community during Kindness Week and spread the word by putting kindness into action.

"I feel that I've very luckily been able to make a difference. It's sure worth it," he said.

Sears has lived year round in Quogue since 1962 working as an architect with Sears & Sears. He has completed over 1,500 homes and buildings in the surrounding communities.

In addition to his work through the Mission of Kindness, Sears has donated his services to such groups as the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, Westhampton and Quogue Villages, R.A.P.P. Skateboard Park, Little Flower Children's Home and the Eastern Farm Workers.

Sears has also made a major contribution to the quality of life and the look of local villages through his designs.
He volunteers his services to such groups as East End Little League, coaching for eight years; the Quogue Fire Department where he has been an active member for 36 years; and the American Red Cross, where he served with
the trauma support group at Flight 800.

He led the Midnight Run, an outreach group that helps the homeless on the streets of Manhattan and he serves on the boards of the Family Counseling Service, the Survivors Art Foundation and the Westhampton Presbyterian Church.
He recently joined forces with the Eastern Farm Workers to aid the plight of migrant farm workers on Long Island.

Gaining recognition for his dedication to the community is not new for the David Award winner. Sears has been named Firefighter of the Year by the Quogue Fire Department; he received the Humanitarian with a Heart Award from the American Heart Association; he was named Suffolk Life's Volunteer of the Year and received an award of civic merit from the Quogue Association.

Last year, Sears received the Family of Man Award from the Family Counseling Service and was named the Grand Marshal at the Westhampton Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade.

NETWORKING® January 2002