A Big Five-O! 50 Campers!!

K.I.D.S. sent fifty Central Oregon children and youth to Summer Camp in 2024. That’s an increase of eight kids over last year. Up by almost 20%. What an awesome ROI. Well done!

One mom shared her thoughts: “My daughter really needs this camp. She is going through a tough time now.” Summer camp can be a refuge, a respite, and a chance to be a kid. That’s what K.I.D.S. monies can help to happen.

A Big Thank You!!

The June 7 fundraiser at OnTap was very successful and K.I.D.S.’ wants to thank you all! The Doc Ryan Band attracted a good crowd. Raffle tickets were bought. Silent auction bids were made. There was fun, merriment, and drama (friends of an imminently-expecting Dad-to-be pooled their raffle tickets and won the “Baby Gift Basket” item! Good job guys!!). We’ll hope to see all of you (& more friends) at next year’s event. Info TBA.

High Hopes: A K.I.D.S.’ Hoops Story

Eleven-year-old J.L. wanted to play basketball for her school’s Parks & Rec. team, but there were some big challenges that stood in the way. A grant from K.I.D.S. helped relieve a large portion of the financial burden. Then with coaching from her COPY mentor, her family firmly in her court, and her drive for the goal, J.L. played for her team and realized her first time playing team sports in January. Read Bob Moore’s full account here.

K.I.D.S. Partnerships Provide Fun in the Snow!

Thirteen middle and high school kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Program will be participating in Hoodoo’s Snow Days with their mentors. These young people will get to take a free ski lesson each Wednesday for four weeks. Hoodoo Ski Resort is providing the equipment and the lessons. K.I.D.S. pitched in by purchasing under layers, socks and snacks. Needless to say we have thirteen excited youth who will be able to participate in an activity that they would never dream possible! Activities like this help kids do what their friends take for granted.  Partnering with BBBS, Hoodoo, and K.I.D.S. brings a light into young lives

Your K.I.D.S. dollars at work

One of my COPY girls was never able to play team-sports. Now that she is middle school, she can participate in a girls’ basketball program via Bend Park and Rec. The family qualified for a scholarship and the money from KIDS paid the rest. She starts that program after the New Year and is very excited.

A freshman in high school was behind in math. Behind to the point she was not going to get caught up without some outside help. Her COPY mentor knew a gal that tutored math. The funding from KIDS let us buy 30 hours of math tutoring… AND, that program was willing to work with her at ½ price and we stretchered those dollars and instructional time.

Mom moved from Redmond to Bend. It was great move for her… but it happened the last few weeks of summer. Mom works fulltime in Bend and didn’t have any childcare there. So we used KIDS funding to partner with Bend Park and Rec to buy 2 weeks of summer drop-in programing at the Pavilion. That made it possible for mom to juggle work until the new school year started.