Spring 2008 News Letter
Dear Friends of the Kids,
I hope that this Every Kid Counts news letter finds you in good health and prosperity. It has been a while since we’ve have sent out an up date to what we have been doing for the kids and I want to apologies for not keeping you informed on a more regular bases. As many of you are aware and may be experiencing the tough economic challenges we are all face with, EKC has been very grateful to the many individuals and companies that still believe in our efforts we are working towards for all our community’s kids through their generosity and support.
The Past Six Months:
Since the Holiday party and toy drive of 2007, EKC and several board members have been working diligently to redefine and perfect many of the organizations structures and programs. For those of you who are not familiar with charitable fundraising, it is not easy and it is very time consuming. So Stacy Gielda, Jeff Goe, Travis Giles, Jim Lecrone and myself have been working to put together the first ever Platinum 1K Donor Club. This club is designed to bring devoted and caring individuals and business leaders together in order to create a solid foundation to assist EKC in its operational and programming efforts. Our initial founding membership base we are seeking to achieve is 150 members. For more information on this club and/or becoming a member please contact Stacy Gielda at stacy@ablesource.us.
EKC and its staff have supported a few good causes and participated in several fund raising efforts to support other worthy causes. The beginning part of each year EKC focuses a great deal of time for planning for our late spring, Summer, Fall programs. As a tradition, we continue to donate water to the students at Pinnacle Peak High School for their annul Cure for Brain Cancer Walk that raised well over $200,000.00 Great job to the kids for all their hard work. In addition, EKC donated water to the FOP Lodge in Phoenix for their fundraisers for fallen officers as well as the Major League Baseball Alumni Association.
A special thanks goes out to our friends the World Champion Arizona Rattlers Arena Football Organization for their continued support of EKC kids through their donation of tickets to all the home Rattlers games. These tickets were utilized by the Phoenix Big Brothers Big Sisters, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Valley Boy’s and Girls Club and several youth groups throughout the State. On Saturday, May 24th Rattlers’ Managing Partner Brett Bouchy and Team President Blake Edwards hosted James Plumadore, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing of PaySource USA, along with several kids, parents and board members as they presented a check for the amount of $6,000.00 to every kids counts as a commitment to supporting the kids in Arizona and as the Title Sponsor of this years EKC End of Spring 2008 Golf Tournament. This years Tournament is once again being held at the beautiful Phoenician Golf resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Contact the rob@everykidcounts.org for more information or to register.
The past few weeks have been very busy with project graduation projects throughout the State of Arizona. Partnering with Corporate Picnics & Events/Parties Picnics and promotions, EKC and its volunteers worked with several high schools along with the many volunteer parenting groups in Tucson, Wickenburg and the North Country providing the graduates with a safe and fun graduation night. Our role was the entertainment with the various attractions CPE and PP have to offer. The events went well and the graduates had an awesome time.
Current and Upcoming Projects
June 11th EKC will say goodbye to the kids at the Thomas J Pappas School with a end of the school year carnival. EKC in partnership with several companies that contracted with Corporate Picnics and Events for their recent company picnics as well as funds raised through several ASU Students, EKC will be providing food, fun and entertainment for all the kids. Volunteers are need for this event as well as any other sponsorship dollars. Event Times are scheduled from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Volunteers needed!!!
June 13th PaySource USA end of Spring Golf Tournament – 7:30 AM Shotgun Start at the Phoenician Resort – There is still time to register contact rob@everykidcounts.org to sign up. We are also in need of raffle items. Anything you can do to assist would greatly appreciate it. Deadline to sponsor a Tee box is Monday, June 9th by 5:00 PM.
Annual Cancer Camp support: Keeping with a 10 year tradition, EKC will utilize some of the funds raised from the past projects and the golf outing to purchase water and supplies for the kids for the several cancer camps this summer.
July 15th Kick off of the annual Stuff the Pack program: for back to school supplies for several charter school kids and schools through the State. More details to be announce at a later date.
EKC Needs:
Like all organizations, in order to continue we need solid support through donations and contributions. In keeping with the economic structure, EKC is under staffed and I am over taxed with my time. Through our for profit ventures CPE and Kidco Products, we have stabilized the financial well being of the organization and we are beginning to move forward once again. However, an organization is only as good as the people that make it good and we need the help from volunteers and board members who believe that we can make a difference one kid at a time. Can the kids count on you to support them?
Yours for the Kids
RJ Perelka
EKC President