Small Acts, Big Smiles: Honoring Matthew Ferry
Nominated Four Times by His Neighbors for Everyday Acts of Service
Some acts of kindness are grand gestures.
Others are quieter — steady, consistent, and deeply woven into the fabric of a neighborhood.
For Random Acts of Kindness Day and our Small Acts, Big Smiles theme, we are proud to recognize Matthew Ferry, who was nominated not once, but four separate times by the people who know him best — his neighbors.
When four independent nominations all tell the same story, you know something meaningful is happening.
The Neighbor You Can Always Count On
According to those who nominated him, Matt is simply always there.
He cuts grass.
He plows snow.
He trims trees.
He fixes what’s broken.
He gives rides.
He checks in if he hasn’t seen someone in a few days.
And he never expects anything in return.
One neighbor shared:
“Matt is always there for whatever anyone needs… I don’t think he knows the word no.”
Another wrote:
“The whole neighborhood is better because Matt lives here.”
Showing Up in Life’s Hardest Moments
Matt’s kindness isn’t limited to yard work.
When one neighbor lost her son, Matt and his family were among the first people she called. When she later fell and broke her arm, they stepped in again — caring for her home and even her cat while she recovered.
Another neighbor shared how Matt has helped her elderly mother for years — plowing her driveway, salting walkways, mowing her lawn — ensuring she never has to worry.
These acts may look small from the outside. But to the people receiving them, they mean safety. Stability. Peace of mind.
A Family That Leads by Example
Matt’s wife, Carla, and their son, Max, often join him in caring for neighbors — even calling to check in when away at college.
It’s clear that kindness in this family is not occasional. It’s a way of life.
And that’s what makes it powerful.
When Small Acts Add Up
Kindness doesn’t always arrive in a headline moment.
Sometimes it shows up on a scooter dressed as Santa, delivering gifts to neighborhood children.
Sometimes it shows up in freshly plowed driveways before sunrise.
Sometimes it shows up in a quiet knock on the door: “Are you okay?”
Four different neighbors took the time to nominate Matt because his small acts have added up — creating a community where people feel cared for, safe, and connected.
For embodying what Small Acts, Big Smiles truly means, we are honored to recognize Matthew Ferry as a 2026 Kindness Award winner.
Because when one person consistently chooses to serve others, an entire neighborhood smiles.
