The beauty of being an online business is getting to reach and serve people all over the country. I Love Sparklers recently received an inspiring video from clients in California who are making a difference in their community while simultaneously learning important business and marketing skills. These students and their cause struck a chord with us and we are sure it will tug at your heartstrings as well. Here is a peek at the video promoting their upcoming fundraiser concert (it also just so happens to feature our sparklers).
Kids Helping Kids is a student-run, non-profit organization out of Santa Barbara, California benefiting local youth, families in hard times, and even some international organizations. A few examples of local causes they have raised money for include paying funeral costs for a student who passed in a tragic accident, purchasing a much-needed wheelchair for a student with a rare skin disease, and subsidizing ACT/SAT testing fees for students who couldn’t afford it. They also donate to global charities including Club Hope in Nicaragua. The organization is run by students in the Advanced Placement Economics class and they have raised $2.5 million dollars total for their causes since the organization’s inception in 2002.
Kid Helping Kids puts together several fundraising events each year ranging anywhere from restaurant nights and school dances to their annual benefit gala concert. They host the gala in the world-class Granada Theatre and attendees have been entertained by some incredible artists. Headliners have included Five for Fighting (2010), Mat Kearney and Tyrone Wells (2011), Sara Bareilles and Tyrone Wells (2012), Switchfoot and Brad Corrigan from Dispatch (2013), Andy Grammer and Tim Lopez from Plain White T’s (2014), Ingrid Michaelson and Jon McLaughlin (2015), NeedtoBreathe and Johnnyswim (2016), Gavin DeGraw and Parachute (2017). This year’s concert will be a 2-day event in honor of the 10th anniversary of the gala with one concert on January 12th and January 13th with Andy Grammer and NeedtoBreathe headlining. I don’t know about you, but we want to go!
Kids Helping Kids Staff in front of Granade Theatre
Kids Helping Kids has a goal of raising $500,000 this year and they are not yet halfway to their goal. It is the season for giving! If you are looking for a worthy charity to give to in the name of a loved one or maybe you live in Southern California and you have the ability to attend an epic concert for a good cause. We think you would be hard-pressed to find a better organization to give to. With ticket prices ranging from $34- $804 per ticket, they would make a great gift for that person on your list who has everything.
If you happen to be a teacher or administrator at a high school check out their website at www.kidshelpingkids.org. They have received a grant to plant more organizations in high schools throughout the country and if you are interested in starting a chapter, this type of education for young people and philanthropy is exactly what we need in communities all over the country.