Current Projects
Even before the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, the educational system in New Orleans struggled. As the city has fought to come back to life, one organization has provided critical education support to New Orleans schools. New Orleans Outreach has matched dedicated teachers, administrators, community volunteers and parents willing to do whatever is necessary to improve public education for children in New Orleans.
The number of children that Outreach can help is limited only by funding. Operation Kids and New Orleans Outreach have partnered on a six-week campaign, running from August 17 to September 27, 2009, to raise awareness and funding around this critical need. Read of some of Outreach's success here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: With a $40 donation, you can give a child a week's worth of afterschool programming. With a $1,200 donation, you can fund afterschool programming for an entire year.
Help us improve the futures of New Orleans children. Share this video with everyone you know who cares about education. Sponsor a child now for as little as $40. Even the smallest donations make a big impact.
Ragnar Relays Child Health and Fitness Campaign
Ragnar Events has become a widely-recognized name in the running world for the long-distance team relay races it hosts around the country. Races in Florida, Texas, California, New York, Washington, Utah, DC, Arizona and Wisconsin feature 12-person teams and average 190-200 miles per race.
In 2008, Ragnar named Operation Kids as its national charity partner. OK’s primary task is to identify local charities along each race route that provide effective fitness and health programs for children. 100% of funds raised at each race then go to those local charities. Local charities benefited in 2008 include: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the American Heart Association, YMCA and Action for Healthy Kids.
The 2009 Ragnar Relay race season begins February 27-28 in Arizona. Funds raised will support Future for Kids’ after-school health and fitness programs in the greater Phoenix area.
Please support children’s fitness and health programs by running in a local Ragnar race, or click here to learn more and make a donation.
Christmas Box Lifestart Kits
Each year, more than 24,000 youths age out of the foster care system in America . These are teens that were never adopted, nor able to return to the homes from which they were removed due to abuse, neglect and abandonment. Many of these youth leave foster care as young as 18 years old. Without a family or support network, they face almost insurmountable challenges as they try to navigate the difficulties of adulthood, including incarceration, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, mental illness, poverty, homelessness and suicide. With the right resources, however, they have a much higher chance of success.
In October 2008, Operation Kids joined with Christmas Box International to help raise money for the Christmas Box Lifestart Initiative. Each Lifestart kit provides youth aging out of the foster care system with important necessities including dinnerware, cooking utensils, first aid supplies, bedding, a tool kit, towels, information on local resources available to them, and much more. As of December 31, 2008, more than $50,000 had been raised online for the Lifestart initiative, providing Lifestart kits for nearly 1,000 youth. The funding also allows the program to grow to several new states in 2009.
Please join Operation Kids and Christmas Box International by donating to our Lifestart fund today. Learn more here. And remember, Operation Kids will match every donation, dollar-for-dollar, contributed toward the Christmas Box Lifestart kits.
New Orleans Rebuilding Campaign
In June 2007, Operation Kids announced a partnership with NFL quarterback Drew Brees and his Brees Dream Foundation to rebuild children’s programs and facilities in New Orleans . Our goal is to raise $1.8 million for academic programs, athletic facilities, parks and playgrounds, after-school programs, mentoring programs for the intellectually disabled, neighborhood revitalization projects and child care facilities. Learn more here.
Donors to the “Rebuilding Dreams” campaign have contributed nearly $1.65 million so far. But we still need to raise about $150,000 to fund our remaining projects at New Orleans Outreach and Best Buddies Louisiana. Please donate today so we can continue to rebuild dreams for the children of New Orleans.
Little Hands Playground Campaign
In December 2007, Operation Kids announced a new partnership with the Allstate Foundation and Injury Free Coalition for Kids to build state-of-the-art, child-safe playgrounds in New Orleans and across the United States. Thousands of children are unnecessarily hurt on unsafe playgrounds every year in the United States. The child-safe playgrounds supported by Operation Kids dramatically reduce the chance of injury and make a day in the park more fun and relaxing for children and parents alike.
Three new playgrounds were completed in 2008: Lyons Center Park and Markey Park in New Orleans and at Fitts Park in South Salt Lake City. Two more playground builds are scheduled for New Orleans in 2009. Learn more here.
Please donate now to support Operation Kids’ efforts to provide safe, family-friendly playgrounds in New Orleans and in other cities across the U.S.
