Top Nonprofits | Kids Wanna Help™
Building the Next Generation of Philanthropists
Kids Wanna Help™ provides opportunities for kids to raise money for charity through fun activities that build self-confidence and encourage a lifetime of community responsibility. What sets this nonprofit apart from others is that the fundraising activities are actually run by kids. This kid-powered organization is the brainchild of Mary-Brent, age 12, and Beverly, age 10, Brown. Recognizing that kids have good ideas for fundraising but that those ideas are not always heard, these girls decided to change all of that. And change all of that they did. Creating the next generation of philanthropists, it offers children in our community a way to really make a difference through activities that they enjoy and that their parents appreciate. The Kids Wanna Help™ annual fall fundraiser for pediatric leukemia is a fashion show and an all-day pre-fashion show workshop. In 2007, both the workshop and fashion show were sold out events, and the 4th through 7th grade girls who participated raised over $11,000 for pediatric leukemia. By emphasizing that “To Be Beautiful You Have to Be Yourself,” this activity helps girls empower themselves with a positive and giving attitude, one that will serve them well when faced with the inevitable choices raised by peer pressure.
For their summer fundraising activity, Kids Wanna Help™ has harnessed the energy of business-minded kids and has directed that energy toward the act of giving. The Kids Wanna Help™ Lemonade Brigade™ kicks off with a Young Business Owner Workshop that teaches kids how to start their own businesses and then how to run them successfully. Northshore business leaders give presentations on topics such as marketing, fiscal responsibility, successful interviewing and effective communication skills. Although these topics could be heavy for kids in 3rd through 6th grade, the workshop is designed to make these topics interesting and fun, and includes a very well received presentation on “How to Become a Millionaire.” The kids at the 2008 workshop in April were also motivated by high school aged entrepreneurs who shared their tips on starting a successful business before you are a grown-up. The members of the Lemonade Brigade™ are now using these business skills to run their own professional lemonade stands to raise money for charities over the summer. At the end of the summer awards ceremony, the money raised by the Lemonade Brigade™ will be distributed to the charities and Kids Wanna Help™ will recognize the most successful teams as well as the individuals who exhibited strong leadership and team building skills. Kids Wanna Help™ is one of the most promising new charitable organizations on the Northshore. Anyone interested in joining the 2008 Lemonade Brigade should visit www.KidsWannaHelp.com.
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