Beat the Giving Tuesday Noise: Help KIDS FIRST! Bridge the Gap to 2027
Dear KIDS FIRST! Family and Friends,
As we look back on Phase 1 of our Annual Fundraising Campaign, we want to start with a heartfelt THANK YOU. Thanks to our incredible community, our Fall Sweepstakes raised $4,172 to support youth journalists across the country!
Every single contribution empowers young media critics, giving them the tools, mentorship, and national platform they need to thrive.
We Need Your Help Before December 31
While our sweepstakes reached its 10% milestone, we still have $35,828 left to raise (90% of our goal) to reach our $40,000 threshold before December 31, 2026.
Here is the honest reality: Without reaching this year-end baseline, our core operations face a critical gap in 2027. Reaching $40,000 directly sustains our biggest ongoing program expenses:
- Professional Video Editing: Refining student reviews into broadcast-ready media.
- Expert Coaching & Mentorship: Hands-on instruction in critical thinking and journalism.
- Social Media Outreach: Amplifying youth voices to national audiences.
- Core Office & Operational Expenses: Keeping our daily program delivery running.
Why Give Today (Instead of Waiting for Giving Tuesday)?
Giving Tuesday is right around the corner on December 1st. We all know that inboxes will be flooded with dozens of charity requests that week.
We’re asking our closest supporters to beat the Giving Tuesday noise and give today. Supporting early gives us the clarity to plan our 2027 youth journalism programs with confidence, rather than waiting for an end-of-year scramble.
What Your Tax-Deductible Contribution Accomplishes
Every dollar brings us closer to keeping our doors open and our young reporters thriving:
- $25 — Keeps Our Tools Running: Pays for 1 week of essential administrative, software, and office utility costs that power our daily program coordination.
- $50 — Amplifies Youth Voices: Funds social media marketing campaigns to share student video reviews and interviews with over 20,000 online viewers.
- $120 — KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Boot Camp: Covers boot camp for one tween/teen to receive expert coaching and editorial feedback and be trained to join our KIDS FIRST! Film Critic team.
- $150 — Professional Edit: Pays for full video editing and post-production on a student-led film review or interview, bringing it up to broadcast standard.
- $500 — Operational Lifeline: Directly sustains core office expenses, technology platforms, and coaching resources needed to run an entire month of youth journalism programs.
- $1,500 — Sponsor a KIDS FIRST! Reporter for 1 Year: Fully funds a young journalist’s entire year of boot camp training, 1-on-1 coaching, video editing, and national media promotion.
Give a Little Love Today
Whether you can chip in $25, send a tween to boot camp for $120, or sponsor a reporter for $1,500, every gift matters.
Click Here to Donate & Support Phase 2 Today
Thank you for standing with our young reporters and helping us keep KIDS FIRST! going strong into 2027!
With gratitude,
Evie Kaatz, Campaign Chairperson
Ranny Levy, President, KIDS FIRST!
