On July 30, 2026, Gan Jing World (GJW), a new emerging video streaming and content sharing platform in upstate New York, held the third annual “Kindness is Cool” video contest award ceremony at Times Square in New York City.
This year’s competition received over 34,000 entries from 50 countries, presented in 11 languages and reaching audiences in more than 200 countries and regions, accumulating over one billion views. The event was honored by several U.S. governors and celebrities.
The ceremony, hosted by Ben Hedges, brought together winners, VIP guests, and “Kindness is Cool” ambassadors to witness a year’s worth of heartwarming stories. Starting at 12 PM, the event showcased award-winning entries on the MiFi billboard overlooking Military Island in Times Square, as guests around the world rallied the message of “BeKindBeCool.”
Sherry Yin, CEO of Gan Jing World, emphasized at the award ceremony the platform’s dedication to using technology to return to traditional values. The “Kindness is Cool” contest aims to plant seeds of kindness in children’s hearts, benefiting them for a lifetime.
Yin revealed that many U.S. states, including governors from New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Tennessee, commended the event. Vermont governor Phil Scott even declared a statewide “Kindness is Cool Day.” In New York, the state Senate and Assembly officially recognized the movement and its winners, spreading recognition across the U.S., Canada, Argentina, and Indonesia.
Various guests at the award ceremony spoke about the importance of kindness and the contributions Gan Jing World has made to society. Martha Flores-Vazquez, a community leader in the Democratic Party, presented Yin with a certificate of commendation, stating that kindness fills people with energy and thanking Gan Jing World for spreading positivity through the “Kindness is Cool” initiative.
One of this year’s ambassadors, U.S. Army public affairs officer and Harvard University psychology graduate Boyd Melson, highlighted “kindness” as the “sole criterion” that distinguishes individuals.
Melson emphasized, “There are only two types of people in the world – kind and unkind, that’s the only distinction. Kindness has the advantage of being something that everyone can express, like a fine wine that brings everyone together. Therefore, you must make positive choices every day.”
Eric Kelly, a former U.S. amateur boxing champion and mental health advocate, praised the event as a generous act, stating that kindness is everything and essential for the world to function.
Jill Diamond, Secretary General of the World Boxing Council with branches in 170 countries, and WBC Cares Global Chairperson, stressed that “kindness is above all.”
Diamond expressed, “In this chaotic and crazy world, kindness is more important than ever. Kindness can be a small gesture, a smile, or helping someone carry groceries. Start with small acts, don’t aim too big, and you can achieve it. That’s why I am here today.”
Diamond commended Gan Jing World for showcasing positive content for children on social media, emphasizing its significance in today’s world.
This year’s gold award winner was BI Phakathi from South Africa for his video “the anonymous ‘Good Samaritan'”. The silver award went to the feature film “Beibei’s Wish,” inspired by a real story.
Among the recipients at the event were participants from Canada and various U.S. states. One of the bronze award winners, internet personality Josh Nasar, known for his “shouting compliments to strangers,” shared his motivation behind spreading kindness and the growth of his fanbase to 11 million in just five years.
Nasar stressed, “Kindness is crucial because societal progress doesn’t rely on an individual alone. It requires collective effort in various fields. Therefore, kindness opens the door to cooperation, independent thinking, happiness, and the advancement of civilization.”
Nasar praised Gan Jing World for its contribution, stating, “I deeply appreciate everything Gan Jing World does. Nowadays, many social media platforms and even news sources can be disheartening and leave you feeling oppressed after consuming negative content. Gan Jing World aims to enhance people’s quality of life, spreading happiness and goodwill through every login, video view, share, like, and comment. By doing so, you leave feeling better than when you arrived.”
Another bronze award winner, Adel Mansilla, a mother homeschooling three children, expressed immense honor in receiving the award.
She shared, “This is the center of the world, and we need to return to kindness because that’s how everything operates.”
Samia Ali, an 11-year-old bronze award winner from Canada with a million followers, expressed excitement about visiting New York. Her dream is to live in New York, pursue a career as an actress and model, and “continue to be a kind person.”
Ali emphasized, “I feel our generation lacks sufficient acceptance of kindness, and I want to be among the first to spread kindness. When I grow up, I truly want to be a very kind person; even if someone treats you poorly, respond with kindness, always care for others, and influence them with kindness.”
During the award ceremony, Gan Jing World announced the opening of entries for the next year’s “Kindness is Cool” contest. The platform invites creators, students, and every ordinary changemaker globally to participate, with a total prize pool of $10,000 and the theme for the next edition being “Choosing Kindness.”
Located in midtown Upstate New York, Gan Jing World is a video streaming and content sharing platform with a mission of using technology to promote traditional values like kindness, respect, trust, and moral values. The platform focuses on meaningful, non-addictive, and family-friendly content while ensuring user privacy. Additionally, the platform features “Gan Jing Kids,” a safe learning platform that offers age-appropriate, ad-free content spanning over 100 educational categories and integrating educational values recommended by experts.