We are looking for runners and walkers for the annual Vancouver Sun Run on April 23, 2017 to raise funds for the KidStart Mentoring Program.
This year you can help support KidStart kids and volunteers by joining our team –
the registration fee is on us!
Our goal is to raise $1,000 per kilometer to support activities for all KidStart kids for the month of April 2017. Let’s raise $10K FOR THE 10K!
To join our team, please contact Kristin Weatherall at [email protected] or
604-708-2645.
The KidStart Annual Report is now available! This publication outlines our key activities and achievements over the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Read about our amazing KidStart kids, mentors, staff, donors and partners.
To view it, click here.
If after reading this report you feel inspired to give you can give a monthly or one-time donation through Canada Helps here.
Or if you think you have what it takes to become one of our awesome mentors, apply online here.
To receive a hard copy of this report contact Jen Graham at: [email protected]
Late last month the KidStart Centre property at 2104 Alberta St was sold. We are in the process of packing up and will be in our new location (an outbuilding at A.R. Lord Elementary School at the corner of East Georgia and Nootka) on July 18th.
This new location will become home to most of our Vancouver – based youth programs – including KidStart. It has everything we are looking for – a few classrooms, a gym/indoor activities area and an outside, covered, area. The Communications and Development Team will move into the Bernie Agg Centre, our administrative office @ East 22nd and Commercial St.
We’re excited about this opportunity because it gives us a chance to all work together, learn from each other’s expertise and more easily collaborate on service delivery.
We look forward to sharing more details as we settle into our new space. If in the meantime you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Jen Graham on [email protected].
Over 50 people have signed up to run the Vancouver Sun Run this year in support of #KidStart! One runner, Kalli Niedoba, has worked for the program for 3 years!
Last year she completed the run in 52 minutes. This year she wants to do it in just 47. Please help her raise $47 for each of the 10 kilometers in the Vancouver Sun Run – so that she can raise $470 towards our collective team goal of $10K for 10KM.
Other team members include Atomic Cartoons Inc employees, VRCA U40 Network members and the best ambassadors for what we do – KidStart Volunteer Mentors. You guys are the best!
You can support the KidStart Sun Run team by making a donation here.
Jesse was 11 years old when she was referred to KidStart. Jesse’s father had left their home and her older siblings were skipping school and getting into trouble with the police. This took all of Jesse’s mother’s time and energy. Jesse was often by herself and her mother began to worry that Jessie had no one to talk to. Jesse’s school counsellor told her mother about the KidStart Program.
Maria was recruited by KidStart to start meeting with Jesse for a few hours each week. They went to the movies and cooked dinner together. Sometimes Maria helped Jesse with her homework and they often listened to music. Jesse spent a lot of time talking to Maria about her father and how much she missed him and how worried she was about her sisters.
Then, thanks to generous donations from the public, Jesse got an amazing opportunity to lift her spirits! Here is Maria’s story about their special outing:
“Today is the big day! I picked Jesse up from her house, video camera in hand, and we headed over to her very first concert! I think I may have been more excited than she was because I knew how great of a time she would have. It’s a lovely feeling knowing you get to be a part of giving someone an experience they will never forget. When we finally arrived, Jesse couldn’t believe how many people were there. We weaved our way through the crowd and finally found the 3rd floor (with some help, of course). We got to our box suite, and Jesse looked at me in shock -she wasn’t expecting us to get an actual suite. I urged her to open the door and, when she did, her face was priceless. It was the typical ‘kid in a candy store’ expression, and I will never forget it. Her eyes lit up as she surveyed the room that was filled with pizza, pop, and popcorn. She was not expecting this at all! We grabbed some food (several times!) and made our way to our seats. The opening act, came on and definitely started the party. Jesse was amazed at how good they were and how good of a time she was having from the moment the band hit the stage. It was so great seeing her scream, put her hands up, and let loose. She also made friends with the adorable little girl sitting next to her who sweetly offered for Jesse a look through her binoculars. I may have had more than one ‘heart-melting’ experience throughout the evening! When the concert ended, I thought Jesse would be falling asleep and all ready for bed – not a chance! She was wide awake. We talked about our favourite parts of the concert on the way home and which songs we liked best. When I went to drop her off at home, she thanked me deeply, and it was great knowing how much she appreciated it. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the generosity of KidStart and their donors, so thank you for putting a smile on kids’ (both big and small) faces. These memories will last a lifetime!”
Memories like these are a very special part of a KidStart relationships and help build the foundation of trust that each of our mentors, like Maria, create with a young person that needs help. They wouldn’t be possible with the generous gifts we receive from our donors. Many of our KidStart relationships extend for years, giving kids like Jesse a chance to grow and thrive in the communities they call home. Help them continue by giving a donation today at https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=2163&AID=2989
*To protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals accessing our services, their names and certain details have been altered. Please note the images used by PLEA are stock images used solely for illustrative purposes. Any person depicted in the images is a model.
We have a day for giving thanks (Thanksgiving). We have two for getting deals (Black Friday and Cyber Monday). Now, we have a day for giving too. #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back.
On Tuesday December 1st 2015 charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world are coming together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.
Want to join in?
We’ve made it real easy. All you have to do is donate just $5 via this website.
Donations to KidStart go directly to providing positive, adult role models to the children and youth that need them the most. Since it began, over thirty years ago, KidStart has helped more than 3000 kids across BC get the support they need to overcome the challenges they face. With your support we can help many more.
What next?
Once you’ve donated, encourage others to do the same. #GivingTuesday is predominately an online campaign so please share this message and the link through Facebook and Twitter. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #KidStart when you do.
Anything else?
Just a big thank you to each and every one of you for joining the #GivingTuesday movement and for giving kids in our community a start.
The following training is available to KidStart Volunteers and the general public:
Trauma & Attachment: Thurs Oct 29th, 6:30pm in Surrey.
For more information and to register email Kevin: [email protected]
Verbal De-escalation: Tues Nov 24th, 6:30pm in Maple Ridge.
For more information and to register email Michelle: [email protected]
The 4th Annual KidStart Community Day was a success! A big thank you to everyone who volunteered their time or came out to enjoy the day. Also a big thanks to our partners and donors: Bricks4Kids, Vancouver Public Library, Bird Lion, Sirota’s Alchymy Martial Arts, Regeneration by Product Care, Buy Low Foods-Fraser, Vancouver Fire Dept, Vancouver Community Police, Pedal Society, Vancity, More Sports and Trout Lake Community Centre. We couldn’t have done it without you.
The KidStart Annual Report is now available!
This publication highlights our key activities and achievements over the last fiscal year.
To view it, click here.
If you would like a hard copy, contact Jenny Graham at: [email protected]
Willowbrook Shopping Centre is holding a spectacular charity shopping night on November 17th from 6:30 – 10:00pm.
Tickets are $10 and include prizes, discounts, refreshments and entertainment.
All proceeds go directly to KidStart, when you purchase a ticket through us. Contact Michelle Cherak at [email protected]
