The holiday season is a great time to teach children about giving back and helping others. At Kiddie Academy®, we not only incorporate these learnings into our Character Essentials® curriculum, but we also encourage Academies across the country to give back to their local communities. This year, Academies went above and beyond to spread holiday cheer in unique ways.
Kiddie Academy of Fishers, Noblesville, Carmel, and Greenwood held a fundraiser at Adrenaline Family Adventure Park in Indiana. 25% of proceeds were donated to The Mustard Seed of Central Indiana, an organization that helps rebuild the lives of families and individuals who have suffered disaster, personal tragedy, or other misfortunes by providing furnishings that turn their house into a home.
Kiddie Academy of Apopka rolled up their sleeves and participated in Ronald McDonald House’s Baking Buddies initiative, preparing sweet treats and providing families with comfort and care while their children received treatment in the hospital.
Other remarkable efforts included hosting toy, food, and coat drives and partnering with various local nonprofits.
Toy Drives
Toy drives are a great way to create some holiday magic for children who aren’t able to experience the joy of receiving gifts. This year, several Academies collected toys for hundreds of children. They each partnered with different charities and local shelters including Toys for Tots, Joy4Kids, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Realities for Children, South Santa Clara County Firefighters Association, and Family Connection. The Academies that participated include:
- Kiddie Academy of Darien
- Kiddie Academy of Morgan Hill
- Kiddie Academy of Five Forks
- Kiddie Academy of Carmel-Westfield
- Kiddie Academy of Fishers
- Kiddie Academy of Greenwood
- Kiddie Academy of Noblesville
- Kiddie Academy of Katy West
- Kiddie Academy of Robbinsville
- Kiddie Academy of East Setauket
- Kiddie Academy of Edmond
- Kiddie Academy of Dunwoody-Chamblee
- Kiddie Academy of Windsor
- Kiddie Academy of Florham Park
- Kiddie Academy of Morgan Hill
Food Drives
Hosting a food drive can provide immense support to families in need. This year, more than 1,500 non-perishable food items were collected and distributed by Academies including:
- Kiddie Academy of Alpharetta
- Kiddie Academy of East Setauket
- Kiddie Academy of Robbinsville
- Kiddie Academy of Greenwood
- Kiddie Academy of Florham Park
- Kiddie Academy of Silver Spring
- Kiddie Academy of South Reno
- Kiddie Academy of Paradise Hills
- Kiddie Academy of Edmond
Each partnered with a local charity or food bank to create even more of an impact, including North Fulton Community Charities, Long Island Cares, RISE Organization of Hightstown, Ronald McDonald House, New Hope Ministries, and Storehouse New Mexico Food Pantry.
Coat/Clothing Drives
Too many children and families lack the proper clothes to keep them warm in the winter. Hosting coat drives are a great way to help. This year, Academies partnered with nonprofits including Metropolitan Family Services, Florida Living, and BCS Together. They collected thousands of coats, clothes, and essentials to provide support. Those Academies included:
- Kiddie Academy of Darien
- Kiddie Academy of Apopka
- Kiddie Academy of Olathe
- Kiddie Academy of Bryan & College Station
- Kiddie Academy of Windsor
- Kiddie Academy of Florham Park
Special thanks to Kiddie Academy of Bothell, Kenmore, Bellevue, Kirkland, Millcreek, and Seattle Queen Anne. These incredible Academies, owned by Rimmi Josan and Devinder Singh Josan, contributed more than 2,000 clothing items to Clothes for Kids and Mary’s Place, and more than 750 food items and other essentials including, walkers, and strollers for HopeLink, Northshore Senior Center, Hope Creek, KidVantage, and FamilyWorks Food Banks.
These efforts have had a big impact on families and communities across the country and we couldn’t be prouder of how many Academies chose to participate this year.
