President & Creative Director, Operation Kids
For the past twelve years, Operation Kids has provided support to organizations dedicated to improving the lives of kids; and honored celebrities and senators for their dedication to child-related causes. Now we turn the light on the kids themselves, those teens who courageously take on service projects in their communities, daring to make a difference. We feature the most inspiring projects in our nationally broadcast show: Shoot From the Heart.
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To make a difference to as many kids and teens as possible by inspiring them to change their outlook, their peer dynamic, their community.
Operation Kids uses media to inspire, to change hearts, to motivate positive behavior. We also award surprise scholarships and prizes to deserving teens.
We provide a menu of service ops and their accompanying nonprofit partners to existing school and service clubs along with instructions on how to complete a filming project. We reward ClubOK members with scholarships, prizes and highlight the best videos on our website; and choose the most inspiring projects and feature them on our show: Shoot From the Heart. The result is: not only are the kids involved on both side of the Op inspired, so are the thousands of kids who view and share the video. There is no cost for membership.
At Operation Kids, we want to inspire, encourage and support as many teens as possible to serve their communities; and thus change their lives from self-centric to selfless agents of change.
By creating media that recognizes and rewards teens for their community service.
Shining the light on kids who are doing great things in their communities so thousands of other kids can be inspired to also do great things.
We give kids a chance to tell their stories: why they serve, what they have learned, how they have changed. We talk to the people they serve, how friendships have developed and how all other problems (bullying, drugs, gangs, etc.) go away when you learn to serve.
Scholarships, freebies, cash, a safe place to share their videos.
Create a two-minute video that captures the essence of each project. These videos should be fun, and capture the emotion of the project, and what the kids and recipients got out of the experience. It can be a documentary format, music video format, or Public Service Announcement format. The idea is to have fun, and inspire other kids to do good.
Sell dog tags and wristbands through our Facebook page. Most of the profits go to your organization to support your project. It’s easy, all you need to do is sign up for a code and spread the word. We send you a check each month.
We put the word out through school foundations, existing service clubs, community organizations and churches. The winning service projects are voted on at our Facebook page.
Members of Club OK organize service ops in their communities: building community gardens, building better facilities for the refugee population, mentoring younger children, managing book and food drives; whatever project they imagine that builds the community, we are there to help. Operation Kids supports these clubs with scholarships, funds, school materials and prizes. Our goal is to inspire kids to be active builders and leaders in their communities. We provide a menu of service ops and their accompanying nonprofit partners (vetted by our staff); instruction on completing and filming a project. Any organization in a high school or community can adopt a ClubOK project: athletics, service clubs, Boy and Girl scouts, etc. All we ask is that the service project be videotaped so that we can share it on our Facebook page and award the best projects—with scholarships, iPads, and a chance to be on our show: Shoot From the Heart.
Our mission at Operation Kids is to inspire, encourage, and support as many kids as possible to serve their communities---and thus change their lives from self-centric to selfless agents of change. In short: to grow the future leaders of the world.
We believe in using media to inspire others, and in using technology to improve society. Most of all, we believe that given the opportunity to take the lead in community service projects and by sharing the experience with their friends, children will lead us to a better future.
Operation Kids, President and Creative Director Stephen Wunderli; 20 years experience in nonprofit communications, award-winning writer and director.
Chris Harty; veteran producer for CBS and ABC, produced over 25 HBO specials, active in creating and producing positive media: Grammy in the Schools, Music Cares, and Freedom of Speech.
Production: Ron Hill Imagery; Ron Hill: 30 year production veteran, award-winning videographer for CBS, NBC.
Mark Nelson: 30 year, award-winning editing professional.
ClubOK partners with technology club.
Utilize the students' prowess in technology to serve their community. And to encourage the bright, but nerdy kids to develop social skills.
Raise money for a VGo Robot, to be placed with a patient at Primary Children's Medical Center. VGo attends school for the child when the child is bedbound. Child controls VGo with a laptop.
ClubOK partners with the filmmaking track.
Utilize the students' talents in filmmaking to serve their community.
Create a video that can be shared with potential donors: telling the emotional stories of children who need prosthetics, but don't always get the upgrades they need.
I learned that we can help people in many different ways.
This experience broadened my knowledge of how people are much worse off than what most of us think. It was a beautiful experience.
By participating in our Operation Kids Service Op, I have learned that service is well worth your time and energy; and that when you help someone in need, you think more about them instead of yourself. This project has made me a better person by helping me forget myself and go and help others gain a better life.
I am a better person after doing this service op with Operation Kids; I understand the work it takes to put a project like this together. I put in a lot of hours and was able to help out a lot and to give back and immediately get back all the good I put in.
I have learned that I can make a difference in my community. This service op has made me more ambitious. I realized that I have more passion in me to make a difference---in myself and in the community—than I thought.
This whole project has made me a better person. It showed me how a small group of people can make a big difference! It showed me how people come together and pitch in their money and support for the cause! For me, a lot of compassion and love went into this project.
The OK service Op was a great experience. It is helping kids who don’t have all the educational opportunities most students get because they are held in a hospital and don’t have the ability to make it to school. The Operation Kids program is giving kids a chance to keep learning. It’s great!