Buddy Benches are a wonderful movement that started in Germany and came to America by way of an elementary school child named Christian, from York, PA.
The idea is to spread kindness, and fostering friendship at school; the bench is a designated place for a child to take a seat, which sends a  message to their classmates 'I'd really like to connect...’ and inevitably a child responses becoming an ambassador of kindness and connection. 

My first bench, to the right, and seen in action below, was donated to Florence Markofer Elementary School in Elk Grove, CA. and was supported by these kind hearts: Tom & Carol Lumbrazo, Tom Roman, Chris Kyle, Mike Davis, Jaimie Scott, Aart DeWaard, Steven J. Gottesman, Tony Camuti, Juan Aquino Jr., Brook Rivera, and The men of Ripple Effect a Sacramento Mankind Project men's group.