With summer right around the corner, kids everywhere are getting ready for lots of playtime fun in the sun. For the children that Kids Wish Network serves through its gift-giving Holiday of Hope Gift Banks and Kids Wish Network On Tour program who are facing difficult circumstances such as abuse, neglect, and poverty, these hours in the sun are even more precious; they give the children time away from their troubles to socialize with friends and create bright, new worlds in their imagination. Of course, throughout the summer, we want the kids to be protected from harmful UV rays so that they can safely spend time outside.

In preparation for summer, Kids Wish Network reached out to Baby Banz Inc, an Australian-based company who specializes in designing and manufacturing UV protection sunglasses, hats, clothes, and other accessories especially for infants and toddlers. Baby Banz was impressed with Kids Wish Network’s mission and immediately responded with a shipment of their popular UPF 50+ sun hats.

Kids Wish Network would like to extend our warmest thanks to Baby Banz Inc. for their incredible generosity and care in protecting the sensitive eyes and skin of little ones in need. Together, Kids Wish Network and Baby Banz are making their lives brighter and giving them hope for a happier, healthier future.

If your company manufactures or distributes toys, clothes, books, accessories, games, activity kits, or other items appropriate for children from infancy to 18, please contact Kids Wish Network’s Distribution Center. Any help would be tremendously appreciated and every donation is given directly to the children. 

For more information, please visit www.kidswishnetwork.org. If you would like to donate merchandise, please call 727- 937-3600 or toll free at 888-918-9004.

Follow Kids Wish Network on Twitter, like us on Facebook and check out their YouTube channel!

“Our Holiday of Hope events provide children facing difficult situations nationwide with hope and encouragement for a happier, healthier future,” said Anna Lanzatella, Executive Director of Kids Wish Network. “With the generous sponsorship of Walmart and the partnership of the Pinellas Education Foundation, we were able to give hundreds of kids a chance to smile and have fun while learning about making healthy choices that will greatly improve the quality of their lives.”

Although known for granting wishes for children facing life-altering illnesses, Kids Wish Network also works with more than 180 hospitals, shelters, schools, and other care facilities throughout the United States to distribute more than $2 million in donated gifts and necessities each year through their Holiday of Hope Gift Bank and Kids Wish Network On Tour Programs.

When Kids Wish Network teamed up with the Pinellas Education Foundation to organize a Holiday of Hope event for students in need, they immediately selected Meadowlawn Middle School in St. Petersburg, Florida. Approximately 73% of Meadowlawn’s students receive free or reduced lunch programs, with over half of these students either being homeless or coming from low income families. Knowing the needs of the children, Kids Wish Network distributed gift bags loaded with toys and school supplies, along with gift cards from local businesses to the more than 400 sixth grade students. Meadowlawn Middle School also received thousands of vegetable and herb seed packets for its school garden program.

Sponsored by Walmart Market 111, the Holiday of Hope celebration focused on promoting healthy eating and making healthy choices. Kids Wish Network partnered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ “Fresh from Florida” Division of Marketing and Development, as well as the Pinellas and Pasco County Family Nutrition Programs, to provide fun, instructional demonstrations from certified nutritionists, as well as cookbooks and posters promoting healthy choices. The kids enjoyed some hands-on fun while learning how to make “brain food” – delicious, healthy trail mix and smoothies – from the Family Nutrition Program representatives.

“It was extremely rewarding for me and my team to once again partner with the Kids Wish Network in making a difference in a child’s life.  The event at the Meadowlawn Middle School was a great opportunity for me and my Team to give back to the community in which we serve.  We are committed to serving our local community and look forward to future partnerships with the Kid’s Wish Network.” Jeff Worthy, Market Manager for Wal-Mart 111 in Pinellas County.

In addition to the gift bags and demonstrations, there were numerous activities for the kids to enjoy, including a photo booth, games, visits with mascots from the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a DJ, as well as food and healthy treats from local restaurants and bakeries. The students, teachers, and staff all welcomed the opportunity to relax and have a good time during the week prior to FCAT testing.

“The sixth grade students and teachers want to thank all of the individuals at Kids Wish Network for putting together the Holiday of Hope event for Meadowlawn Middle,” said Melissa Athanson, Assistant Principal of the Sixth Grade. “Our students were truly touched by all of the time and effort that went into making this event happen.  All of the individuals who took time to come out means so much to our students, and our families.  The children were extremely appreciative of all the activities and donations! We look forward to continuing this wonderful relationship with Kids Wish Network in the future.”

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following sponsors for making this Holiday of Hope event so spectacular: Walmart, Affordable Catering, Aveda, Chick-fil-A, Compound Fun, Datz Dough, Dunecraft, Douglas, FKQ Marketing, Home Depot, Light Wedge, McDonalds, Noodle Head, The Fresh Market, Three Cheers, Ritter Pen, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sweet! By the Cake Factory, Cakes by Carolyn, Rick Pegram – Sounds Great Entertainment, Pasco Family Nutrition Program, and Pinellas County Extension.

If your company manufactures or distributes toys, clothes, books, accessories, games, activity kits, or other items appropriate for children from infancy to 18, please contact Kids Wish Network’s Distribution Center. Any help would be tremendously appreciated and every donation is given directly to the children. 

For more information, please visit www.kidswishnetwork.org. If you would like to donate merchandise, please call 727- 937-3600 or toll free at 888-918-9004.

Follow Kids Wish Network on Twitter, like us on Facebook and check out their YouTube channel!

 An overwhelming number of families are flooding into shelters, and seeking assistance from outreach programs and charities nationwide. The majority are no longer able to provide even the most basic necessities, let alone toys and educational products, for their children. Kids Wish Network needs the help of caring companies to give these kids the joy and comfort they so deserve during their times of need.  

Each and every day, all year round, Kids Wish Network works tirelessly to brighten the lives of courageous kids in the care of hospitals and other facilities through their Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program, as well as to at-risk children across the country through “Kids Wish Network On Tour.” Both programs provide toys, clothes, educational products, and other necessities, to children facing difficult circumstances nationwide.

In 1999, CafePress was founded on the idea to power people’s self expression by giving them the ability to customize quality t-shirts and other products online. They branched out and let the public create their own shops on the site to sell unique products and have continued to grow. Now, there are over 2 million CafePress shops online and, with their own line of licensed and themed products, over 6 million products are printed and shipped every year.

“We create unique, custom products that speak to customers on an emotional level,” said CafePress CEO, Bob Marino. “To us, that means shipping delight in every box.”

When CafePress heard Kids Wish Network’s call to action to help children in need with donations of clothes, toys, and other much-needed items, they jumped at the chance to give their unique products to children who truly needed the delight they would bring.

Although Kids Wish network staff was aware that CafePress was sending a variety of items, when a semi-truck arrived at Kids Wish Network’s Florida doorstep carrying 23 pallets, they were overwhelmed and delighted! The huge boxes were literally stuffed with thousands of t-shirts, tote bags, baby bibs, infant clothes, jewelry boxes, mugs, and much, much more. Everything donated by CafePress will be distributed through Kids Wish Network’s gift giving Holiday of Hope Gift Banks and On Tourprograms, which deliver donated necessities to children dealing with difficulties such as illnesses, poverty, abuse, homelessness, and neglect. Not only will these fun, unique items bring smiles to the faces of the children who will receive them, but they will also help to ease the burdens faced by their families who are struggling to provide clothes and basic necessities for their kids.

With their outstanding donation and their delightful products, CafePress is a wonderful new addition to Kids Wish Network’s list of special “Guardian Angel” donors. We truly look forward to working with them in the future and to sending their donations out to the children who need them most.

If your company manufactures or distributes toys, clothes, books, accessories, games, activity kits, or other items appropriate for children from infancy to 18, please contact Kids Wish Network’s Distribution Center. Any help would be tremendously appreciated and every donation is given directly to the children. 

For more information, please visit www.kidswishnetwork.org. If you would like to donate merchandise, please call 727- 937-3600 or toll free at 888-918-9004.

 An overwhelming number of families are flooding into shelters, and seeking assistance from outreach programs and charities nationwide. The majority are no longer able to provide even the most basic necessities, let alone toys and educational products, for their children. Kids Wish Network needs the help of caring companies to give these kids the joy and comfort they so deserve during their times of need.  

Each and every day, all year round, Kids Wish Network works tirelessly to brighten the lives of courageous kids in the care of hospitals and other facilities through their Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program, as well as to at-risk children across the country through “Kids Wish Network On Tour.” Both programs provide toys, clothes, educational products, and other necessities, to children facing difficult circumstances nationwide.

 An overwhelming number of families are flooding into shelters, and seeking assistance from outreach programs and charities nationwide. The majority are no longer able to provide even the most basic necessities, let alone toys and educational products, for their children. Kids Wish Network needs the help of caring companies to give these kids the joy and comfort they so deserve during their times of need.  

Each and every day, all year round, Kids Wish Network works tirelessly to brighten the lives of courageous kids in the care of hospitals and other facilities through their Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program, as well as to at-risk children across the country through “Kids Wish Network On Tour.” Both programs provide toys, clothes, educational products, and other necessities, to children facing difficult circumstances nationwide.

 An overwhelming number of families are flooding into shelters, and seeking assistance from outreach programs and charities nationwide. The majority are no longer able to provide even the most basic necessities, let alone toys and educational products, for their children. Kids Wish Network needs the help of caring companies to give these kids the joy and comfort they so deserve during their times of need.  

Each and every day, all year round, Kids Wish Network works tirelessly to brighten the lives of courageous kids in the care of hospitals and other facilities through their Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program, as well as to at-risk children across the country through “Kids Wish Network On Tour.” Both programs provide toys, clothes, educational products, and other necessities, to children facing difficult circumstances nationwide.

An overwhelming number of families are flooding into shelters, and seeking assistance from outreach programs and charities nationwide. The majority are no longer able to provide even the most basic necessities, let alone toys and educational products, for their children. Kids Wish Network needs the help of caring companies to give these kids the joy and comfort they so deserve during their times of need.  

Each and every day, all year round, Kids Wish Network works tirelessly to brighten the lives of courageous kids in the care of hospitals and other facilities through their Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program, as well as to at-risk children across the country through “Kids Wish Network On Tour.” Both programs provide toys, clothes, educational products, and other necessities, to children facing difficult circumstances nationwide.

For nine years, King Features Syndicate in New York has been an incredible “Guardian Angel” for girls in need through our Holiday of Hope Gift Banks and Kids Wish Network On Tour program. We’d like to take this opportunity to give our most sincere thanks to the world’s premier distributor of comics, columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to newspapers for all the true joy that they help us to children and teens nationwide.  

King Features Syndicate immediately wanted to be a part of the magic of Kids Wish Network after learning of our mission to improve the quality of life for children facing life-altering circumstances. From their first donation to their latest, King Features has continually delivered amazing licensed Betty Boop clothes, toys, and other gifts for girls across the country facing poverty, homelessness, illnesses, neglect, abuse, and other difficulties. Despite whatever unfortunate circumstances they face, as soon as these girls open a Kids Wish Network gift bag filled with Betty Boop items from King Features, their eyes just light up.

“Everything King Features Syndicate sends for our girls is wonderful,” said JackLyn Wright, Kids Wish Network’s General Manager of Program Services and Distribution. “The girls can’t get enough of the Betty Boop lines of clothing and gifts. These items truly help give a much-needed boost to their self-confidence.”

In boosting their self-confidence and bringing a bright smile to their faces, the merchandise from King Features Syndicate immediately improves these girls’ outlooks as well as the very quality of their lives. For all of their continual care and generous donations, Kids Wish Network will continually be grateful to King Features Syndicate. You are a true “Guardian Angel” in every sense of the word. 

If your company manufactures or distributes toys, clothes, books, accessories, games, activity kits, or other items appropriate for children from infancy to 18, please contact Kids Wish Network’s Distribution Center. Any help would be tremendously appreciated and every donation is given directly to the children. 

For more information, please visit www.kidswishnetwork.org. If you would like to donate merchandise, please call 727- 937-3600 or toll free at 888-918-9004.

An overwhelming number of families are flooding into shelters, and seeking assistance from outreach programs and charities nationwide. The majority are no longer able to provide even the most basic necessities, let alone toys and educational products, for their children. Kids Wish Network needs the help of caring companies to give these kids the joy and comfort they so deserve during their times of need.  

Each and every day, all year round, Kids Wish Network works tirelessly to brighten the lives of courageous kids in the care of hospitals and other facilities through their Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program, as well as to at-risk children across the country through “Kids Wish Network On Tour.” Both programs provide toys, clothes, educational products, and other necessities, to children facing difficult circumstances nationwide.