Looking Ahead to 2009

A great thinker once said, “Someday we’ll look back on this moment and plow into a parked car.” And yet there is good reason to look back, especially as we begin a new year and consider our impact on the year gone by.

Rick Larsen

As a friend and supporter of Operation Kids, I want you to know that you have made a difference this year in the lives of thousands of children. Your reach has been broad, providing needed support to the lovable kids in Best Buddies and the children and families clinging to hope as part of the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.

You have changed lives in Ghana through the Forever Young Foundation, and given back a smile through Operation Smile. You crossed the globe delivering benefit through Vitamin Angel Alliance, Globus Relief and Enterprise Mentors. You have made kids safer in your own communities through the McGruff Safehouse Network and the National Center for Missing&Exploited Children.

In New Orleans, you built the Edible Schoolyard, funded summer internships and guest science teachers for the Foundation for Science & Math Education, supported after-school programs for New Orleans Outreach, and reopened two playgrounds. You brought music education to lower income kids through the Park City Jazz Foundation, helped families with children suffering from autism through Valley Mental Health Foundation, and helped improve the health and futures of kids through the American Heart Association.

We look back on hundreds of generous donors and nearly two million dollars in generous support received, managed and dispersed, all thanks to you.

2009 begins with challenges, but our confidence in the generosity of our donors is not in question. When you have had a taste of making a difference at this level, you never turn back. And we will never abandon our commitment to ensuring that 100% of every dollar you give to Operation Kids will support these and other worthy and effective programs.

Happy New Year.