I often get asked, “Why send kids to events? What do they get out of it? There’s hungry kids out there, shouldn’t we be feeding them first?” My answer, “Through supporting Kids Up Front, you are feeding them–those same kids–by nourishing their broken spirits.”
–Karla Schell, Executive Director, Kids Up Front Foundation (Edmonton)
Kids Up Front has donated 237,174 event tickets valued at $5.8M to Edmonton kids and families.
The Edmonton Kids Up Front Foundation was created in 2003 to provide access to arts, sports and entertainment events for children and youth. Kids Up Front grants event tickets that would otherwise go unused to children and youth identified through Kids Up Front’s broad network of partner agencies that provide child and family services in the Edmonton Capital Region’s education, health and social service sectors. Our foundation strives to provide every kid with a ’larger than life’ experience that fosters possibilities, passions, and dreams, one ticket at a time.
The kids feel: “I do fit here … I’m part of society … I’m part of community.” They have something to talk about with peers when they come back from the weekend …
It’s about normalizing things for kids …
–Agency Representative
Impacts
Kids Up Front has a big impact on children and youth in Edmonton. Kids broaden their experiences, are given an opportunity to feel included and part of our community, and feel recognized and special. (Click here to read Kids Up Front-Impacts & Value Added, Felix Research and Consulting, 2010 funded by the RBC Royal Bank of Canada Foundation)
Kids Up Front allows somebody to feel included. So, when you’re at an event,
no one knows how you got there, you’re just there with other people.
And you’re not pointed out to be different. You’re just belonging.
– Agency Representative
For families, Kids Up Front gives parents and caregivers a break from daily challenges — like poverty or pressure from coping with other issues — to have a fun and new experience instead.
For community agencies, Kids Up Front decreases pressure on organizations and enhances services, by providing opportunities for children and youth to build social skills and enabling frontline workers to build meaningful relationships with children and youth.
Value
Kids Up Front targets disadvantaged children, youth and families.
There’s nothing else out there like it. The work they do has a social return down the line …
and we have to recognize the investment Kids Up Front is making for the rest of us.
– Agency Representative
Provides a direct positive experience
Tickets go directly to the kids. It has a direct impact.
–Donor
Makes effective use of community resources
[Kids Up Front connects] people who have tickets and not using them
to people who could use them. The model makes sense.
–Donor
