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When she was five years old, Julie (Juliana) Villanueva first stepped into a KidWorks’ classroom as a preschool student. Now a freshman business major at Orange Coast College, Julie overflows… Continue Reading
For the fourth consecutive year, KidWorks has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. This organization is considered the premier independent third-party evaluator of non-profits.
A four-star rating is the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator. Out of the thousands of nonprofits Charity Navigator evaluates, only one in four earns 4 stars — a rating that demands rigor, responsibility and commitment to openness.
Over 225,000 charities are rated by Charity Navigator since the organization was founded in 2001. They describe themselves as shining “a light on the cost-effectiveness and overall health of a charity’s programs, including measures of stability, efficiency, and sustainability.
The metrics inform donors of not just where their dollars are going but what their dollars are doing.”
Charity Navigator adds, “We don’t charge the charities we evaluate, ensuring our ratings remain objective.”
“Donors have a right to expect the highest level of integrity, transparency and effectiveness from the charities and non-profits they support,” says David Benavides, KidWorks’ Chief Executive Officer. “Our four-star rating from Charity Navigator inspires us to always exceed the rigorous standards to which we are held and assures our supporters that we will always do so.”
Adds David, “Charity Navigator helps guide the path to intelligent giving and their ranking system shines a light on effective organizations, such as ours.”
In their message to KidWorks informing us of our four-star rating, Charity Navigator wrote, “Thank you for making a difference in your community.”
Charity Navigator awarded KidWorks perfect scores in their Key Accountability Metrics in the areas of “Accountability & Finance” and “Leadership & Adaptability” and an overall organizational ranking of 100%.
“KidWorks deeply values the trust of every partner and supporter and we are grateful that Charity Navigator provides yet another way for everyone to be confident that we remain true to the values that have always guided us we celebrate over 30 years serving children, youth and families in Santa Ana,” David says.
For the 17th time since 2006, hundreds of KidWorks supporters gathered in November at our Foundation for Success luncheon.
Thanks to the generosity of event sponsors and attendees, over $500,000 was raised for KidWorks after-school programs that serve nearly 1,100 students in grades preschool through high school.
These students are on their way to earning college/university degrees as they excel academically, develop their leadership skills, grow spiritually, embrace healthy lifestyles and explore their artistic talents.
The annual event took place on Nov. 9 at the DoubleTree Santa Ana. We were delighted to see an increase in attendance by young professionals and encourage these individuals to consider getting involved with KidWorks and to invite their organizations to do so as well.
“As we operate three centers in Santa Ana that serve a growing number of students and their families, we are grateful that every dollar raised at the Foundation for Success luncheon is already hard at work supporting our vision, ‘We unleash youth potential,’” says David Benavides, KidWorks’ Chief Executive Officer and Board Member.
This year’s honorees and recipients of the Dan Donahue Leadership award are Camille and Tim Strader, Jr.
“The list of Camille and Tim’s contributions to KidWorks over the years are too many to calculate,” says David Benavides. “They’ve been generous with time, talent and donations, along with trusted leadership counsel.”
Adds David, “This very special, once-a-year award recognizes KidWorks’ most fervent supporters who share our passion and commitment to provide educational opportunities and life-changing experiences for students growing up in some of Orange County’s most overlooked neighborhoods.”
The Dan Donahue Leadership award was created to honor the memory of the man whose vision led to the funding and building of our main Dan Donahue Center, which opened in 2005.
In it, Tim says how he resonates with the KidWorks desire to walk alongside our students from “from pre-K to B.A.”
“To me, that’s very, very important,” Tim says. “We’re taking kids from pre-K with our licensed preschool here at the facility all the way through college.”
“Both of us were raised by parents who have very generous hearts and who have always given back to the community,” Camille says. She adds that it’s “a way for us to continue that legacy of giving back.”
Luncheon attendees also viewed a video featuring Erika Sanchez, an alumnus of KidWorks programs who is now Director of the Hispanic Serving Institute at Concordia University in Irvine, California.
In it, she says that growing up as a young person in Santa Ana in the 1990s offered joy but also presented many challenges.
“There was a lot of violence going on, a lot of gang issues and things kids shouldn’t be seeing,” Erika says. “At KidWorks, I found a safe haven for me and my family. It was a place to grow and start dreaming big about my life.” She says we helped equip her “with the ability to do big things.”
The keynote speaker at the Foundation for Success luncheon was Grant Lottering, a cyclist who defied death and achieved extraordinary feats. He’s continuously astounding both the medical profession and audiences by going beyond the limits of what is thought to be possible. In addition to his extreme-endurance cycling, Grant is an author, UHSM (Unite Health Share Ministries™ ambassador athlete and international speaker.
We are deeply grateful to our generous event sponsors: Presenting, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
As KidWorks celebrates our 30th anniversary, we give thanks to everyone who attended and supported the Foundation for Success luncheon and all who have walked with our students and their families as we enter our fourth decade.
By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer
Between COVID-19 and the digital divide, KidWorks youth need your support now more than ever.
You can help ensure college success for KidWorks’ youth gets a big boost on Sept. 23 when we join with 11 other Orange County youth-oriented organizations for the third annual “Igniting Potential” giving day led by the Orange County Community Foundation.
“KidWorks’ goal to raise $40,000 over 24 hours to support our College Success Initiative™,’’’ says Lisa Gels, our Associate Director of Development. “As our operations and fundraisers have been severely impacted, now, more than ever, your support is so critical to our success.”
Adds Lisa, “COVID-19 means that college and university-bound students are experiencing additional pressure beyond the normal transition from high school to higher education. KidWorks students have added stress ensuring they have adequate access to technology, a quiet place to study and their families are able to pay rent and put food on the table.”
That’s why ‘Igniting Potential’ has added significance in 2020.”
Here’s what makes the opportunity to support Igniting Potential even more exciting:
A generous KidWorks donor will match dollar-for-dollar every gift up to a cumulative total of $20,000
Here’s how you can be part of this once-a-year event:
· Create a personalized fundraising page that shares why you support KidWorks
· Share about Giving Day with your friends on e-mail and social media leading up to September 23.
· Give securely online to KidWorks on September 23 (even $5 can make a BIG difference for a KidWorks student AND with the match it DOUBLES the impact!)
“KidWorks’ College Success Initiative is equipping students from kindergarten through college graduation to earn degrees and be fully prepared to enter the workforce,” says David Benavides, our Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director. “Every dollar donated during the ‘Igniting Potential’ event is a long-term investment in Santa Ana’s youth.”
David adds, “For the past six years, 100% of our high school seniors graduate on time and 100% continue on to higher education. The monies raised for our College Success Initiative during the Igniting Potential event will assure that that this trend continues far into the future.”
To learn more, please contact: beckie.white@kidworksoc.org
Dear Friends,
Welcome to 2020 at KidWorks—which I’m tempted to write as 20/20 since it gives me a chance to share our “20/20 Vision.” We’re always evolving at KidWorks because our community’s needs and opportunities are always evolving. We have such wonderful opportunities in 2020, and KidWorks’ 20/20 vision keeps focused on continuing, more strongly than ever, our mission that began in 1993.
Our 20/20 vision for 2020 (and beyond) includes:
Program Success Strategies: Everything we do is now focused on our newly announced Program Success Strategies. The three key components are:
After School Program Enhancements: Like all of our programs, our after school programs develop learners and leaders who are “life-ready.” Among the new ways we’re doing this are:
Development Outreach: Income to fund our many programs and four centers that serve 1,100 students weekly comes from various sources. We’re continuing to expand our network of supporters through outreach to corporations, churches, foundations, individuals and other partnerships.
We have two new fundraising events including our Festival of Chefs and a Pickle Ball Tournament.
We see such wonderful opportunities in 2020, and KidWorks’ 20/20 vision keeps us focused on continuing the faith-based mission that began in 1993 and continues more strongly than ever today. Thanks for walking alongside us on this incredible and ongoing journey as we venture into the next decade!
With Gratitude,
David Benavides,
KidWorks CEO/Executive Director
