Publisher: Noozhawk
Kids Helping Kids Santa Barbara, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, has raised more than $1 million for charitable purposes since its inception in 2002. Recently, Kids Helping Kids received a boost to aid humanitarian efforts in local and global communities. State Farm Youth Advisory Board granted $78,400 to the organization.
Kids Helping Kids is one of 68 community organizations to receive a youth-led service-learning grant across the United States and Canada.
“Kids Helping Kids is incredibly grateful to receive such a substantial grant from State Farm,” Kids Helping Kids CEO Carter Hudson said. “To know that the model we have put together at San Marcos has been recognized on a national landscape is extremely encouraging. It is a testament to the diligence and commitment of the past and present Kids Helping Kids students and the support of the Santa Barbara community.”
Kids Helping Kids Santa Barbara is comprised of 140 AP Economics students at San Marcos High School. The foundation is headed by teacher/president Jamie DeVries. Over the past 11 years, Kids Helping Kids Santa Barbara has raised more than $1 million for charitable purposes. Contributions have been made to various local and global organizations, projects ranging from covering the annual AP costs for lower income families and donating over $75,000 to the Santa Barbara Unity Shoppe, to funding the building of a preschool in Rwanda and a safehouse in Nicaragua.
In spring of 2013, a branch of Kids Helping Kids started in Sacramento, expanding Kids Helping Kids ability to help others two-fold. In the months to come, Kids Helping Kids Santa Barbara looks forward to expanding nationally. The grant from State Farm will be used, in part, to fly Kids Helping Kids representatives across the country, mentoring other high school students and training the starting of a new branch.
"The State Farm grant is the first step in a long process of expanding nationally," Hudson said. "Although there is still much to do, with State Farm and the community behind us, we are confident this will be the best, most successful year yet."
The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has granted more than $24 million in grant money since its inception in 2006, empowering youth to implement service-learning in 397 communities.
— San Marcos High School senior Krista Bowdle represents Kids Helping Kids.