giving money to kids korps

Well, I couldn't make it to the annual convention being held in LA, even though it was just 100 miles up the road from me. There's WAY too much going on in my life, and I just couldn't spare the four days. SIGH! But in the interests of doing my part, I instead sent out this press release.

RB Sunrise Rotary Helps Kids Korps Open RB Branch

Finishing up their fiscal year on a high note, the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary announced a $2,500 gift to Kids Korps of Solana Beach.

Dedicated to teaching children and teenagers the meaning of community service, Kids Korps helps a community’s youth develop leadership skills while introducing perspective on how every individual can make a real difference in the world.

“Rotary International is all about finding ways to help those in need – be it locally or worldwide.” says Rotary club president Steve Sayler. “In Kids Korps we’ve found a group that is built around the idea of getting kids – from 5 to 18 – to volunteer to make things a bit better.”

Some of the projects Kids Korps volunteers can expect to be involved with include:

• Serving meals to the homeless at soup kitchens
• Painting over graffiti
• Building shelters for homeless families
• Planting trees

“For these kids, this is a chance to get started immediately, helping themselves by helping others” says Dr. Kendra Jeffcoat, an educator and president-elect of the RB Sunrise club. “For us it’s a farm team. Because while Rotary International has RotorAct clubs at colleges and InterAct clubs in high schools, we still need a way to reach out further to those younger than the high school level.”

“We see this as a way to help instill positive values that will guide childrens’ choices throughout their lives, simultaneously strengthening their academic and social skills.” Dr. Jeffcoat continues, adding “to us, the Kids Korps philosophy of cultivating caring and compassion in children leads directly to Rotary’s 4-Way Test, which asks of everything a person thinks, says and does, the following:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all Concerned?

We’re delighted to be in a position to help the youth at RB High School to get their chapter of Kids Korps off the ground.

More information about Kids Korps is available online at http://www.kidskorps.org/. More information about the RB Sunrise Rotary is available online at http://www.rbsunrise.org/.

From Left –RB Sunrise Rotary Community Services Director Nasrin Barbee delivers the funds necessary to start the RB High School chapter of Kids Korps to incoming senior Maddie Baca and Kids Korps organizer Veronica Baker.