Kids Charity of Tampa Bay
Kids Charity of Tampa Bay, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization of concerned individuals whose mission is to improve the quality of life for foster children and foster families. After years of involvement in areas of direct service for children that have been abused, neglected or abandoned, this group of community leaders decided that an organization was needed that could focus on areas of service that are less directly funded by the state or federal government, yet still provided support in areas of critical need and life improvement. Raising funds and developing resources, both in-kind and monetary, that directly affect these areas of critical need is the primary focus of Kids Charity of Tampa Bay, Inc.
One of the community initiatives of Kids Charity of Tampa Bay is A Kid’s Place, a Residential Care Facility in Hillsborough County.
A Kid’s Place was developed and built from what started as a group discussion in the community involving Kids Charity of Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Children and Families, Hillsborough Kids, Inc., YMCA, Child Abuse Council, Hillsborough County School District, Hillsborough County Children’s Services, the Children’s Board, and other community leaders. Working in partnership, a task force was formed to discuss and resolve the many issues regarding child welfare services in our communities.
In order to provide stability to the system of care and appropriate facilitation of assessments for better placement determination, it was decided that A Kid’s Place would be a viable solution. Not only is it designed as a solution, it is a model program to the nation.
Additional community initiatives include the collection of school supplies in the summer to provide all foster children with the tools needed to go back to school, the collection of Holiday and special occasion gifts for all foster children in our service area and Safety Net which provides support to Foster Families in crisis.
Development of public support is done solely through the volunteers, the Board of Directors and private support. No governmental funds or United Way funds are received. Fundraising is in the form of events that are open to the public such as the Krop for Kids, Vine to Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, and “Home is Where the Heart Is” Holiday Stroll.
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