Care For Kids

Following the successful first year partnering with area schools to meet the physical needs for kids where funding was inadequate or nonexistent, the Silver Dollar City Foundation's Care For Kids program launches its second year adding in-school mentoring programs, all part of the Foundation's half-a-million dollar commitment to kids over a five-year period.

Care For Kids gave a total of $60,000 to area school districts in the first year of the program to provide necessities that were beyond reach for many kids - items such as eyeglasses, coats, gloves and school supplies. "The first year of Care For Kids targeting physical needs was extremely effective," said Foundation President John Baltes. "In fact, we are increasing the amount we're giving to each school district by 30 percent this year so they can continue meeting those needs."

With 14 area school districts serving Stone and Taney county kids involved, the Foundation is gifting nearly $100,000 to the schools this year. Additionally, four Stone and Taney county youth ministries will again receive funds for operational and individual needs, bringing the total to over $130,000 given this year to meet the needs of area kids.

"We started last year with the basics of physical needs - those areas that weren't covered by existing resources and programs, such as providing coats, eyeglasses, clothing and even a wheelchair ramp to kids whose families couldn't afford them," Baltes said. "We found that being able to offer assistance in these small but significant ways gives great joy to the school staff involved, encourages the families, and best of all, these tangible acts of love really do make a difference in these kids' lives."

Also this year, Care For Kids is expanding the partnerships with the school districts to include in-school mentoring to support kids beyond the physical needs. To facilitate the mentoring programs, the Foundation has been working with area churches, training volunteers to take part in programs that the schools identify as important to their individual needs. So far, 120 volunteers from 52 churches have been certified through the training program and some are already involved. Six school districts have mentoring programs already in place, with more scheduled to begin soon. "With the guidance and partnership of educators and pastors along with the help of community volunteers, we hope to have teams in place to support youth in a myriad of ways," Baltes said.

Building upon the Silver Dollar City Foundation's framework of enlisting, screening, training and certifying volunteers, Blue Eye Elementary Principal Mike Fransen designed a mentoring program that began this year with 15 volunteers. The specific goals are reducing absenteeism, providing positive role models, assisting kids who repeatedly fail to turn in homework and, in the long term, improving Missouri Assessment Program or MAP scores, Fransen said.

Other mentoring options include "Book Buddies," where volunteers read books with a student who may need some extra help or attention, and "Lunch Buddies," where a volunteer has lunch with a student once a week. The school administrators choose or design programs to meet needs at their individual schools.

In addition to the funds and administrative support from the Foundation, the employees of the Silver Dollar City Attractions are involved as 'champions' of specific efforts, holding fund raising projects as well as providing volunteer support.

The vision of the Silver Dollar City Foundation is that, through our collective efforts, we will Care For Kids for many years to come," Baltes concluded. Anyone interested in becoming a Care For Kids volunteer should call 417-336-7077, he said.

Care For Kids Update:

Care For Kids Update, September 2007

Hear more about how the program has met physical needs:

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, March 2008

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, February 2008

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, January 2008

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, November 2007

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, October 2007

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, July 2007

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, June 2007

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, April 2007

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, February 2007  

Care For Kids/Share For Kids Journal, November 2006

School Districts serving the kids of Stone and Taney Counties with the Silver Dollar City theme park as champion:

Taneyville	Branson	Blue Eye
Bradleyville	Forsyth	Crane
Mark Twain	Hollister	Reeds Spring
Kirbyville	Galena	Hurley
Spokane	Shell Knob

Additionally, each ministry is championed by a Silver Dollar City Attraction, committed to additional support and fundraising:

Young Life / Stone County - Championed by the Showboat Branson Belle
K-Life of Stone Co. & K-Life of Taney Co. - Championed by White Water
Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch - Championed by Celebration City