The Hero In You Foundation’s mission is to empower, educate, and inspire children and families with the tools they need to make better decisions in emergencies or dangerous situations to prevent injuries. The Rocket Rules For Safety Program builds essential, foundational skill sets on socio-emotional, health, and safety subjects for children to keep them safe and calm.

The Hero In You Foundation (THIYF) is a California non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded by Bunni and Rick Benaron in 2014. The foundation follows a lifelong interest in reaching out and helping children from all socio-economic areas.  THIYF began by honoring the heroic lives of first responders through dedicating six foot tall Dalmatian puppy sculptures to cities, fire stations, parks, museums and libraries. There are currently 30 sculptures placed throughout the United States, El Salvador, and Israel.

The Foundation evolved into educating children on how to stay safe in all emergencies including natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, wild fires and dangerous situations). Specialized age appropriate programs were developed to teach critical skills that saves lives and prevents serious injuries. The “Sense of Safety & Beyond!” program introduced in 2019 teaches children how to stay safe to and from school, at home and in the community. In 2022, the “Finding Feelings” Mental Health program was introduced. Co-developed with school counselors and mental health experts, it addresses the emotional wellbeing of young children (dealing with anger, fear, sadness, trauma). All Rocket programs offer a free Tool Kit to classrooms and families featuring a library of special animated videos, books in English and Spanish., teacher lessons and activities, and student certificates of completion.

Rocket teaches children how to use their 6 Senses to keep them safe every day and avoid serious injuries.  Co-developed by law enforcement, safety experts, and endorsed by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), this popular program reaches students in more than 40 states.

Subjects include:

• How to use your 6 senses – activating them into action
• How to cross the street safely
• Finding Exits
• Dial 9-1-1
• Recognizing Landmarks around town
• Calling for help. How to recognize trusted adults
• Staying away from dangerous things
• Walking with a Buddy
• No Bully Zone

A complete classroom kit includes: Teacher lessons, Activities, The Sense of Safety & Beyond! Activity Book,  Rocket videos and Student Certificates of Completion.

Families, school principals, teachers and school counselors all agree there is a critical need for dealing with social and emotional issues to keep young children mentally healthy and strong.  The COVID pandemic created a mental health crisis for children who faced trauma of lost family members, a lack of social interaction with peers, and the at-home pressures of loss of family income.  Rocket’s program presents early foundational discussions about staying in touch with a child’s feelings and how to deal with frustrating situations, self-regulation, learning to ask for help.  These are lifelong essential skill sets for being healthy and successful individuals and citizens.

Rocket’s “FINDING FEELINGS” Social Emotional/Mental Health Book includes the following subjects and more:

• Get in Touch with Your Feelings/Emotions
• Self-Regulation
• Staying Calm
• Kindness/Empathy
• What to do if you are bullied, or see someone bullied
• How to Ask for Help
• Resilience and Perseverance Activities
• Identifying Adults you can trust
• Making friends, and how to be Nice, Kind
• Many Others, plus a free Tool Kit (Activity book, videos, teacher lessons, student certificates)

Launched in 2022, the animated Rocket is making live visits (via zoom/googlemeet) into classrooms across the U.S. Through innovative state-of-the-art technology, Rocket delivers a personalized live lesson with students in a 15-20 minute presentation. Children interacting with Rocket is a memorable lesson and has been a big hit in elementary schools.

Rocket’s has an extensive library of videos and books include the following, and more:

• Use Your Senses
• Earthquake Safety
• Hurricanes
• Flood Safety
• Fire/Wildfire Safety
• Staying Calm

THIYF currently works with the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles School Police, Clark County Nevada School District, and the University of Southern California’s Safe Communities Institute developing health and safety messages for young children.  Since 2018, Rocket has been an annual participant in the Great Shakeout earthquake preparation event.

More than 250,000 Rocket Rules books and printed material (in English and Spanish), as well as on line lessons have been distributed for free to children and their families throughout the U.S.

THIYF has received many awards including the 2017 Shiny Apple Award from Palm Springs Unified School District, the 2018 Rising Star Award from the Great ShakeOut, and the 2019 Appreciation Award from the Los Angeles Police Department, The 2021 Inspiration Award from Women in Homeland Security, The 2022 County of Riverside Inspiration Award from Rancho Mirage.