The Largest Single Empathy Program Launch in Our History!

Pillows with Wings has completed the largest single empathy program launch in our history. Fourteen schools, with over 750 students in the Seton Catholic School system, began the program in January 2025. The empathy program, 10 Lessons to Understanding Big Feelings, is now underway in the following Seton Catholic Schools: Catholic East, Mary Queen of Saints, Northwest Catholic, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Prince of Peace, St. Adalbert, St. Catherine, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Margaret Mary, St. Mary of Częstochowa, St. Rafael the Archangel, St. Rose of Lima, St. Roman Parish, and St. Thomas Aquinas Academy.

“We are excited to have all of our first- and second-grade students involved in the Empathy Program. Pillows with Wings made the onboarding process seamless for schools and staff. We look forward to expanding the program next year with additional offerings from Pillows with Wings.”
— Paul Hohl, Director of Culture and School Engagement

The program kicked off with a launch event where students, parents, and administrators gathered to celebrate its beginning. The book My Pillow Has Wings was read aloud, followed by an interactive art activity, “Creating Your Own Pillowcase”. The event concluded with an ice cream social, which was a hit with all involved.

Running from January through May, the program will culminate in a *Celebration Event*, where participants, parents, and caregivers will come together for a special evening featuring testimonials, speakers, art activities, and a shared dinner.

“This is now our third year with the program, and we are seeing a tremendous impact on our students. We are proud to be a leader in its growth, demonstrating our commitment to engaging all of our schools. Next year, we plan to expand the program to include additional grade levels, as well as more students and parents.”
— Brian Couch, Superintendent, Seton Catholic Schools

This year’s program enhancements include expanded measurement and assessment tools, increased parent and family engagement, and the integration of Catholic faith doctrine within the curriculum. By combining faith-based teachings with Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) principles, the program provides a fully integrated experience adaptable to any learning environment.

With over 1,500 students having participated since spring 2023, Pillows with Wings is excited to expand further. In the 2025-26 school year, we will develop and release an enhanced K-8 curriculum, broadening our reach and impact.

Pillows with Wings
Empathy Program

New for 2025-26 Pillows with Wings Empathy Program 2.0
2.0 Empathy Program

Pillows with Wings to Lead Empathy Training Efforts with Seton Catholic Schools, Supported by $1.25 Million Lilly Grant

In a transformative step for fostering empathy and emotional resilience in schools, Seton Catholic Schools has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., part of its Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative. This funding will empower the launch of the Faith Immersion Program, a dynamic curriculum that includes intergenerational worship, faith-centered emotional support, and—at its core—a partnership with Pillows with Wings to implement a groundbreaking empathy and emotional intelligence curriculum across all 14 Seton schools.

Pillows with Wings, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is dedicated to providing faith-driven, social-emotional learning (SEL) rooted in the teachings of empathy and resilience. Research highlights the need for this focus in schools: a Harvard study shows that 80% of young people today value personal success over empathy, underscoring a critical gap in emotional intelligence that programs like these aim to bridge. In the wake of this trend, Pillows with Wings is dedicated to creating compassionate, faith-focused learning environments that prioritize emotional growth alongside academic success.

The curriculum, called the 10 Lessons to Understanding Big Feelings Empathy Program, was inspired by a deeply personal story from founder Karen Ellenbecker. After stepping in to care for her granddaughters, Taelor and Autumn, through a period of family loss, Ellenbecker co-authored My Pillow Has Wings, a book that recounts their journey through grief, resilience, and hope. This story of faith and healing, symbolized by a “magic pillow” that offered comfort, became the foundation for Pillows with Wings and its 10-week curriculum. The program teaches children how to understand and process complex emotions like empathy, loss, and hope, all within a faith-based framework.

In practical terms, the 10 Lessons to Understanding Big Feelings Empathy Program is tailored for grades K-6 and gives each student their own copy of My Pillow Has Wings, along with a comforting cloud-patterned pillowcase. Educators receive a detailed 60-page guide filled with activities and lesson plans, making the program adaptable and engaging for both classrooms and home-based learning.

With the Lilly Endowment’s support, Seton Catholic Schools and Pillows with Wings aim to cultivate a new generation of compassionate, resilient leaders equipped with the emotional and spiritual grounding to positively impact their communities. This partnership strengthens Seton’s commitment to holistic education, bringing empathy and faith together to create nurturing, supportive school environments for every child.

Lilly Endowment Grant Announcement October 2024

Empathy: Now perhaps more than ever.

We created our Empathy Program to help grade school students understand their own feelings, the feelings of others, and how that awareness influences our lives — in the classroom and beyond. And what’s “beyond” is taking on increasing importance as the tapestry of society becomes more multicultural, more interwoven. And so grows the need for empathy — for the life-long skills necessary to build and maintain healthy relationships, effective communication, successful collaboration and vibrant communities.

Watch the Empathy Program Video

Click on the links below for a look at the Empathy Program:

• Why Empathy Matters in Milwaukee
• Program Overview
• Lesson Planner
• Art Activation Module

Pillows with Wings had the honor of participating in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's Opening Day for Catholic Leaders event

Pillows with Wings had the honor of participating in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Opening Day for Catholic Leaders event on August 8, 2024. Our Empathy Program has been approved for all schools in the Archdiocese, with Seton Catholic Schools leading the way with 14 schools participating in the 2024-25 school year. The event provided a great opportunity to meet the principals from all the schools, tell our story, and introduce the NEW Empathy Program to them.