After Son's Suicide, Dad Starts 'The Kindness Challenge'
HOLMDEL, N.J. (AP/CBS) - A mourning father's desire to honor his late son through good deeds and a focus on the positive aspects of life has inspired thousands around the globe.
According to CBS News, 17-year-old Dylan Vassallo, of New Jersey, served as an altar boy for 8 years, was on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout and volunteered with at least half a dozen organizations.
So when Dylan's parents tragically lost their son to suicide, Dennis Vassallo launched "The Kindness Challenge" on Facebook on Jan. 31, as a way to honor Dylan's selfless personality.
"The Kindness Challenge" urges people to do good deeds without expecting anything in return and to focus more on the positive.
"He [Dylan] had a soft spot for the underdog and downtrodden," Dylan's dad, Dennis Vassallo, told CBS News. "It was hard to drive him to the places he wanted to go serve — that in itself was a job."
Vassallo also saw the social media page as a way to deal with the division, rancor and anger he constantly saw online.
"People are tired of the hate," Vassallo said. "I thought, 'Maybe we can just be nicer to each other.'"
When the page went public, he thought a few dozen of his family's online friends might join in.
Less than a month later, "The Kindness Challenge" has more than 40,000 followers.
Vassallo is glad the page is serving its purpose, but he admits nothing will ever be able to replace his son.
"Dylan's irreplaceable to us. We cry every day. That's just the way it's gonna be," he said. "I would trade everything I have to have my son back; the only thing I wouldn't trade is my two other kids. The hole we have inside of us is Dylan-shaped — only Dylan can fill that. It's not something that's gonna be filled in this life for me, but if have to be here, I'm gonna try to honor him as best I can."
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