New Charity Promises Birthday Smiles For Children In Need Smiling Kids, Inc. Receives 501 (c) 3 Status
Southborough, MA—June 10, 2004
Co-Founders Karen and Bob Sommers announced today the establishment of a new charity designed to provide birthday gifts to children in need. Called Smiling Kids, Inc., the non-profit, tax-exempt organization works to anonymously provide birthday presents to young children and teens in the Metro West area.
Smiling Kids, Inc. works behind the scenes through partnerships with established, local non-profit agencies that provide services to low-income families. These partnerships are the cornerstone of the charity’s “Birthday Smiles” program, which is a service as much for the parents as it is for the children: each child receives a birthday gift directly from the parent/guardian, not from the charity.
“Smiling Kids provides something every child should experience,” says Karen Sommers, co-founder and president of Smiling Kids, Inc., “the excitement and thrill of receiving a special gift on their birthday.”
Karen and her husband Bob Sommers decided to establish Smiling Kids, Inc. following years of organizing toy collections during the holiday season. “When it came time to make our holiday gift donation,” remembers Bob Sommers, “ I wondered who provided gifts for these children on their birthdays.”
Over the last year, the Sommers have been working with Southborough Youth and Family Services and the United Parishes of Southborough Food Pantry to test the concept of the “Birthday Smiles” program and to develop protocols for identifying the children and families who could most benefit.
“Smiling Kids is such a wonderful program,” says Barbara Jandrue, director of the Southborough Food Pantry. “Parents associated with the Food Pantry are so excited when they receive a gift for their child’s birthday. It has been a God send for so many.”
To date, with the help of generous individual donors, Smiling Kids, Inc. has been able to provide gifts to nearly 100 children. Now that the charity has received its 501 (c) 3 status, they will actively begin fund-raising, targeting corporations, foundations, and individual donors. Fully one hundred percent of all donations received will directly benefit children. Currently, operational expenses for the charity are provided through a separate fund.
To learn more about Smiling Kids, Inc., visit www.smilingkidsinc.org or call 508-486-9299. Smiling Kids, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization. All donations are fully tax-deductible.
