“It has been such an amazing blessing to have you work with the parents, tweens, and teens of our community! I am grateful for your willingness to share your story and your wisdom so openly with all of us. As an educator, it has been a joy watching you work with each group, meeting them where they are and supporting them in feeling seen and loved. As a parent, you have blessed me with new understandings, more patience, and a deep sense of gratitude for my children and family. Please know that you and the work that you are doing makes such a huge difference to so many. You inspire us to be our best and to bring our best to each other. Thank you for being you and for doing what you do. You are enough and you are loved. I look forward to our paths continuing to cross and some day being able to bring you in person to the West Coast.”
Ardyth, Director of Education, Congregation Bet Haverim
“I want to thank you for the outstanding job today in the lecture hall. Our staff needed to hear this message from you and your delivered it in such an honest, kind and authentic way. I really appreciate how you tailored the talk to day camp and made it relevant to my staff population. You are so talented - and you haven’t aged a bit! I would love to talk after the summer about further collaborations in the future! Camp will be a better place because of what you brought to the staff today.”
Lauren W, Director 92Y Camps
“I am so thankful for you and for all the good you bring into this world. Having you here last week was amazing, and I know the students who had the chance to meet you will cherish that always. I hope we see you in Vermont again soon!”
Sharon University of Vermont
“I can not begin to thank you for bringing Scott Fried to campus today. His presentation was engaging and relevant to both students, staff and faulty. It was beautiful, honest and transformative! His message that "I am enough" is so simple and yet so relevant to the issues all people, not just college students grapple with. He covered the challenges and obstacles creating by using social media instead of human interaction. WOW JUST WOW. Thank you again for ALL you did to bring him to URI. Well done!”
Deb Bergner Housing and Residential Life University of Rhode Island
“Dear Scott: I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to join our retreat. Your words were so powerful and loving. My clients were truly moved by your message, as was I. One client said that you were the best speaker he’d seen in 20 years of attending our retreats. I hope we can work together again in the future. I wish you all the best in your journey of spreading love and self-respect.”
Ryan, Catholic Charities
“Sometime when I was in high school in the early 2000s, you came to speak to the teens in my synagogue. Over a decade later, I still remember how deeply your presentation touched me, and, in particular, your connection in a letter between the words “sacred” and “scared.” That lesson is one that I carry with me into many different pastoral care situations as I do my work as a cantor.”
Hinda Eisen Labovitz Ohr Kodesh Congregation, MD
“My students were across-the-board so impressed with and inspired by your presentation. The students in my classes were skeptical beforehand, but you won them all over. Not an easy task...I would know! In particular, they were pleased with your evenhanded stance on social media (they feel they're always told it is bad for them) and moved by the way you connected with them. Thanks again for an amazing visit!”
Zoë Constantinides Teacher Champlain College, Lennoxville, Quebec
“Scott, you are such a tremendous inspiration. Thank you for your openness and your story. The world is a better place because you are here sharing hope and love! I truly cannot thank you enough for sharing your time, your talent and your heart with us this morning.”
Dianne, Hampton Roads Rotary Club
“Wow. I honestly don’t have the words to thank you in a way that would come close to mirroring the energy and emotion you gave the Hillel@Home session yesterday. Your strength and love came hurtling through Zoom in such a powerful way – it was beautiful. Thank you. We Jews don’t talk about love nearly enough, that, among many things, is going to stick with me, as will the opportunity to be a better “c’mere” person for others.
Truly – what an hour. I am so happy to have connected with you on this and look forward to many more opportunities to work together in the future.”
Andrea Director of CJIE, Conference and Immersives
“Scott, Thank you again for taking the time to visit Delaware, speak with our students, and truly honor their experiences. Your visit was a highlight not only for me, but for countless students. I am endlessly inspired by the work you are doing and I feel grateful that I was able to be a small part in sharing it with the students at UD. I hope we can coordinate another visit soon. In the mean time, take good care!”
Cara B, Hillel Assistant Director
“... thanks Scott again for an excellent program. People are raving about it – and I’m amazed how he tailored his presentation to 3 different age groups. Kol tuv,”
Rabbi Mark Director of Congregational Learning Temple Emanuel of Kensington, MD
“Thank you for an important and provocative program. My own daughter commented on how exceptionally well you "get" kids. While parts of your presentation concerned me because of the graphic nature of your talk, I found your presentation, especially your conclusion, especially uplifting and inspiring. I also loved the way you wove Jewish teachings throughout your talk.
You engendered important conversations between our students and their parents, and we will continue to work to create a loving, accepting and embracing community at Temple Sinai for our kids. Thank you for serving as a catalyst for this important work. You are a remarkable educator.”
Michael A. White Rabbi Temple Sinai of Roslyn
“Thank you so much for meeting with the students in our GSA. You connected with them, you saw their beautiful souls and you opened your heart to let them to see yours. So extraordinary! A few of the students said you gave them much to think about and they can’t stop thinking about what you said. One said “he took the thoughts I had in my head and spoke them out loud for the first time in my life.” Your strength, courageous human spirit and honesty resonated on so many levels with all of us. Both individually and as a collective body, your words were exactly what we all needed. Thank you for being you!”
Laurie Mitchell & Robyn Raleigh Gay Straight-Alliance Lynbrook High School
“Scott has the transformative ability to impact upon and change others' perceptions of themselves and of the society around them. Every talk he gave was different, and every time I found myself dealing with a lump in my throat and a sense of connection to the extraordinary person in front of me. From the conversations I've had with students since his talks, it's been clear that I'm far from the only person to have experienced this in Scott's presence.”
Hannah Brady UJS President England
“We had such a positive reaction to the assemblies from the students and staff; I know you made a positive impact on so many young lives. I am so grateful that we were able to have you speak to so many students and I look forward to seeing the impact. The life lessons are so important - much more important than the curriculum we teach each day. I am also so proud of my students for organizing this event with you. The one thing we strive for in our DECA chapter is to grow student leaders and to come to their advisors for help when they need it.”
Sharon Cutler DECA Advisor Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
“I have heard nothing but amazing things about your visit. I am so glad everything went well and thank you for great stamina throughout the day. I know we kept you busy!”
Alison Wearing Director of Student Life Lower Canada College, Montreal
“Given recent events of the school shootings, we all greatly benefited from coming together to hear your words. Your ability to speak on tough subjects with positivity, humor, and passion, is unparalleled. Your ability to engage with everyone in that room is a gift. With the school shootings and the scares we’ve had locally, to be seen when we all needed it was so powerful. I know it’s difficult to talk about these subjects now, but this is when we need them most. You are helping us all heal, or at the very least, I speak for myself when I say you are helping me heal.
I heard the kids around me murmur “He gets it,” while you were speaking. Your ability to take their perspective and hold the mirror up to them and show them their worth is priceless. I was floored by your articulate, deliberate, and purposeful word choice that bridged the parent/child dynamic. Both generations had a new perspective on their relationship by the time your talk ended. Thank you for helping me to heal. Thank you for seeing me. I see you, too.”
Stefanie K.
“Thank you so much for sharing your story with us-let alone on the anniversary of your diagnosis! You are truly remarkable, and your sincerity was definitely felt throughout our Sanctuary. We hope that your discussion here at Temple Emanuel will further promote questions and discussions, here or in their own homes, with our teens and families. Thank you.”
Dr. Rena Alpert
“I attended the CME dinner Tuesday night and I wanted to personally thank you and tell you how much I enjoyed the evening. Your choice of speaker's really touched my heart. I purchased both of Scott's books, so that I can share them with my sons and other family members and friends. I am happy to say that the next morning, my 16 year old picked up one of the books over breakfast and began reading it. He asked me where I got it and I told him about the dinner and asked his opinion on whether he thinks it is appropriate that a dentist speak with him regarding being careful when you have open sores in your mouth because you can catch STIs. His response: It's a doctor mom, that's what they're supposed to do, tell you about stuff that can hurt you if your not careful.
So once again, thank you. It was a very interesting evening and I learned a thing or two myself about communicating with my teenager. It was nice to know that my sons are "normal" in keeping their secrets and now I know how to better get them to open up and share them with me.”
Mary Margaret, Social Market King (Co-Founder)
“Many people experienced a weekend they will never forget. Those that came to the Beth Shalom were brought to tears and laughter many times over. Hearing your words uplifted and informed everyone. No one came away unchanged. We have you to thank for that. Words adequate enough to express appreciation fall well short. You are a gifted orator, teacher and mensch. May HaKadosh Baruch Hu take note of your acts of generosity of spirit and time. May the Holy One bless you as you have brought blessing into other’s lives. Who knows how many lives were saved? Who knows whose lives will be unalterably changed? No one knows except the One. You started us on a new path of growth and discovery. No one can tell where it will lead but we are walking in a new direction now. Thank you for being here and enriching our lives.”
Jonathan Case Rabbi, Beth Shalom of Columbia, SC
“I can't think about any moment of the day without smiling. It was an honor to be in the room with you. Watching you lead is an education in itself. "
Adam Hammond School Psychologist
Spackenkill High School
“An enormous thank you on behalf of Bishops College School. Feedback has ranged from ‘Best guest speaker ever!’ to ‘He really understands us’ to ‘He breathes acceptance,’ to simply ‘He was super-awesome!’ One of my students summed things up well, saying, ‘I think everyone of us was able to hear what we needed to hear in the presentation.’ My students appreciated your willingness to answer their questions. I've had several requests to invite you back.”
Scott Kelso Bishops College School Canada
“Scott Fried is a mind-blowingly powerful speaker who invites us to reassess the way we interact with each other. Indeed his profile on Twitter simply states, “I teach kindness” – we couldn’t muster a more accurate and succinct description than that.”
Blake Ezra Photographer London
“It has been a year since the Lynbrook Human Relations Day program. I thought the feeling in the building following your visit was palpable. I wanted to let you know that when we attended this years’ program, the teachers were still talking about your program from last year. In fact, one teacher even cried when recounting a story that you had told.”
Andrea D. PTA President Lynbrook High School
“Scott, There are no words. Your lecture was one of the most inspirational, passionate, and amazing presentations I have see thus far in my entire life.
I want you to know the impact that you have had on Hofstra students. For the past 2 days, just about every other person has stopped me in the student center and said how amazing they think you are. Some people said that you changed their life. Many people had free HIV testing that was being given in the Student Center yesterday because of your presentation.
I hope that you will come back to Hofstra to lecture again. Your words are truly an inspiration. YOU are an inspiration. You are famous. You are loved. You are most certainly enough.”
Jennifer Gold Graduate Assistant for Service and Leadership Hofstra University - Office of Student Leadership and Engagement