We Are Kind is our December Character EssentialsSM curriculum theme. But at Kiddie Academy® Educational Child Care, kindness isn’t limited to just one month out of the year.
Character education, in general, is a year-round priority. We believe that focusing on values like kindness, empathy, patience, pride and other traits teaches our children how to become solid citizens which in turn strengthens our communities.
We don’t just teach it. We live it. Every year, Academies across the nation, and the Kiddie Academy Corporate Office get actively involved in helping the communities we serve. Involvement helps lay a foundation of understanding for the children about how what they do can make a positive difference in the lives of others. This past year was no different. We participated in many awesome outreach programs. Here are just a few examples of how we helped in 2019:
Kiddie Academy of Upper Freehold (NJ)
“One of our goals is to encourage our children to become aware of the needs and feelings of others. We are collecting new unwrapped toys to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). We know many of our families have had the need to visit CHOP for one reason or another. While most of us are fortunate to only have a quick visit, others are there much more often. There, specially trained staff of the Child Life, Education & Creative Arts Therapy Department provide care and support designed to meet the unique needs of children and families as they cope with illness, injury, treatment, hospitalization and the overall healthcare experience.”
Kiddie Academy of Renton (WA)
“This year we are collecting winter and infant essentials, such as hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens along with diapers and wipes. All items will be donated to a local charity called Mary’s Place. Mary’s Place provides a welcoming and accepting environment where women, children and families who are experiencing homelessness can find day and night shelter, nourishment, hope, and resources to help them find employment and permanent housing.”
Kiddie Academy of Cypress (TX)
“We donate to a local organization called Cy-Hope Ministries. Each year we have a Santa visit and we set up a backdrop and allow our families to take free Santa pictures in exchange for a donation item from a list that Cy-Hope provides. (They usually request paper goods, snacks, toys, craft supplies, etc.) It is a big hit as parents love getting free Santa pics without having to wait for hours in the public! The organization is always extremely grateful for such a large donation each Christmas.”
Kiddie Academy of Darien (IL)
“Kiddie Academy of Darien has chosen Operation Christmas Bolingbrook as our holiday give-back. The mission of the organization is that every family in need of assistance receives what they need to celebrate a wonderful holiday season. The families get to choose two bags of food, clothing and toys in addition to receiving a gift card to a local grocery store. Our school has been collecting new and gently used items including clothing, toys, toiletries and non-perishable foods. Our goal is to fill our Kiddie Academy bus with items to donate to Operation Christmas.”
Kiddie Academy of Robbinsville (NJ)
“This is the perfect opportunity to teach our children what the holidays are truly about, the true meaning of each holiday, and the importance of taking an active role. At Kiddie Academy of Robbinsville, we are asking our families’ participation in ensuring that 50 foster children from Mercer County, and one local family in particular, have their holiday wishes come true. The nightmare of waking up without a loved one became a tragic reality for this particular family in August, when the mother passed away suddenly, leaving behind a husband and four children. As the family has been trying to get their lives back together and heal emotionally, we’re collecting gifts to present to the family and other foster children in our community.”
Kiddie Academy of South Fayette (PA)
“We collected gifts, gift cards and other items for a family with five children in our community whose house recently burned down.”
Here are a few of the other community outreach initiatives we helped in 2019:
Toys for Tots – Kiddie Academy of North Bel Air (MD), Kiddie Academy of Staten Island-Great Kills (NY), Kiddie Academy of South Riding (VA), Kiddie Academy of Kent Island (MD), Kiddie Academy of Woodforest (TX), Kiddie Academy Corporate Office
Ronald McDonald House – Kiddie Academy of Whitestone (NY), Kiddie Academy of Morrisville (NC)
Food, Clothing or Diaper Drives – Kiddie Academy of O’Fallon (MO), Kiddie Academy of South Riding (VA), Kiddie Academy of Bee Cave (TX)
We’re proud to work for a company that cares and we’re looking forward to making 2020 a great year for the families and communities we serve.
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