Kids Helping Kids
| Founded | December 2002 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non Profit |
| Location | |
|
Area served
|
World-wide |
| Method | Donation |
|
Key people
|
Makena Hubbard (CEO) |
|
Volunteers
|
180 |
| Mission | "Empowered students making a difference from the classroom to the community" |
| Website | kidshelpingkidssb |
Kids Helping Kids is an entirely student run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based out of the San Marcos High School AP Economics classes in Santa Barbara, California. Headed by Economics teachers Jamie DeVries and Jillian Wilber, Kids Helping Kids originally began with a student-run penny drive in 2002 and has evolved into an annual signature gala event at the Santa Barbara multimillion-dollar Granada Theater. Over the course of fifteen years, students have volunteered over 10,000 hours of work, resulting in a gross of $2,200,000 raised for children in need throughout the community and abroad. The Kids Helping Kids mission statement reads: “Empowered students making a difference from the classroom to the community.”
Kids Helping Kids was founded in 2002 by one of the San Marcos High School AP Economics classes. Its vision came from teacher Jamie Devries, who wanted to change the stagnant atmosphere of the AP Economics curriculum and give the students a real world application to the principles they learn in class. The organization’s first project was a penny drive, enlisting the help of local grade schools and high schools. From there, Kids Helping Kids students hosted a benefit night and silent auction at Santa Barbara’s Ruby’s Diner, where a portion of each dinner was donated to Kids Helping Kids. Through money raised from food sales, the silent auction, and donations, Kids Helping Kids was able to raise $8,000 for the 2003 year. This money was donated directly to the Santa Barbara Unity Shoppe, a public benefit corporation encouraging self-sufficiency and independence through education and basic necessities. Since then, Kids Helping Kids has grown exponentially; each year, the students have been building off of the accomplishments, both financial and organizational, of the prior class.
Kids Helping Kids hit its big break in 2008 when Tyrone Wells, folk-pop singer and songwriter, agreed to perform for a benefit concert. Largely because of the concert, the Kids Helping Kids class of 2008 ended up raising $105,000. 2008 also marked the year that Mark Chipello, Tyrone Wells’ personal manager, became Kids Helping Kids' talent buyer. Chipello continues to serve as a liaison between Kids Helping Kids and record industries, securing each year's artist. The following year, the Kids Helping Kids class of 2009 landed alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket to headline, and Tyrone Wells to open, at the now annual benefit concert. 2009 was also the first year the concert was held at the beautiful, historic Granada Theater in Santa, Barbara, CA, where it continues to be held every year. Since then, Kids Helping Kids concert artists have been: Five for Fighting (2010), Matt Kearney with Tyrone Wells (2011), Sara Bareilles with Tyrone Wells (2012), Switchfoot with Brad Corrigan (2013), and Andy Grammer with Tim Lopez (2014), Ingrid Michaelson with Jon McLaughlin (2015), NEEDTOBREATHE with JohnnySwim (2016). Many are Grammy nominated and platinum recording.
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