After raising $420,000, Kidz For A Cause kicks off national effort Sept. 17 in Orange County, Calif.
All-kids Hawaiian fundraising juggernaut launches new program to
help other youths
HONOLULU–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#KidzForACause–What started 10 years ago when a third-grader wanted to raise money to
help kids in Hawaii is becoming a national wave.
After raising more than $420,000, Kidz
For A Cause, a Honolulu-based organization of philanthropic kids run
by an all-kids
board of directors that benefits children’s causes, is launching a
national effort in Orange County, Calif. benefiting kids at the Ronald
McDonald House.
Nicki
Lee, only 8 when she founded the organization, recalls simply
wanting to help children at the Ronald McDonald House in Hawaii by
putting on a kids’ concert in her parents’ living room partly because
she wanted to meet Ronald himself but mostly to help other youths. Her
first effort netted $1,100.
But everything changed when her mom, Cathy Lee, took her to the Ronald
McDonald House in Honolulu to personally deliver the money and meet the
children.
Lee says a light bulb went off. “That was a turning point,” Lee said. “I
realized that you should never underestimate the power of kids to do
good.”
The fundraising
powerhouse is making its national debut with a kickoff event
recruiting elementary through high school-aged youths to power the
biggest kids campaign yet.
The event begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17 at the Villa, 510 E. Katella
Ave. in Orange, Calif. Youths and their parents across the United States
may participate in this national movement by visiting www.KidzForACause.org.
Children and their parents will learn to use their creativity for what
Lee describes as “FUNraisers” that can be anything kids organize “such
as craft fairs, sports clinics, pet walks – anything to help raise money
for other kids.”
That kid-powered movement to change the world started small with Nicki’s
first fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House but grew to a thunderous
force last year when Kidz For A Cause shocked the Hawaiian community by
raising over $300,000 for new equipment for a Honolulu medical center’s
neonatal intensive care unit, the very same facility where Lee received
care as a premature baby.
Now, it’s coming full circle for Lee and Kidz For A Cause’s efforts to
bring aloha to the mainland and raise money for the Ronald McDonald
House Charities in Orange County.
Delanie Loera of Palm Springs, Calif. is bringing her family, including
son Asher, 5, to the event. The Ronald McDonald House has been a
lifeline for the Loera family who travels from their home two hours by
car to medical facilities in Orange County.
Earlier this year, the family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House for 52
days straight so Asher could receive urgent care for his severe spina
bifida.
“Without the Ronald McDonald House, we’d be sleeping in our car – or
worse, Asher would likely not be getting all the care he needs,” Loera
said.
Loera says Asher is excited to participate in the national kickoff event
and that Lee has inspired “the entire family to do more for our
community and to put ourselves out there.”
The Loera family says they look forward to Kidz For A Cause. “We are
excited about being a part of something bigger than us,” Loera said.
“Seeing other kids excited like Asher is only going to push him to want
to do more. His list of ideas for fundraisers just continues to grow.”
Lee says seeing firsthand the impact of Kidz For A Cause has forever
changed her life. Now a senior in high school, Lee is excited to
spearhead this national campaign and mentor the next generation of young
leaders.
“Kid power will be on full display this year,” she said. “And the
combined forces of today’s youth can really change the world for good.”
Kidz For A Cause 2017 National Kick-off Event
Sunday, Sept.
17 from 2 to 4 p.m.
The Villa
510 E. Katella Ave.
Orange,
CA
(Parents are encouraged to attend)
For more information,
visit www.KidzForACause.org
Contacts
Kidz For A Cause
Ted Parker Nguyen, 949-637-6836
TedNguyenUSA@gmail.com
