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K.I.D.S. was founded in 1985 as a 501(c)(3) corporation to assist children suffering from famine in Ethiopia. Within the first 60 days, members of the children's industry donated $250,000 worth of merchandise. In the first year, K.I.D.S. sent $600,000 worth of clothes, shoes and toys to children in Ethiopia and mudslide victims in South Africa.
From the initial efforts of a small group of children's industry leaders, the organization has grown into a global charity dedicated to alleviating poverty conditions among children and assisting in relief efforts following major disasters.
1985 - 1989
- K.I.D.S. distributes product to children suffering from Hurricane Gilbert in Mexico, earthquakes in Armenia and severe poverty in South Africa.
1990 - 1994
- By-laws amended to direct donated merchandise to domestic as well as international causes.
- Seven thousand underprivileged children in Los Angeles receive new clothing and footwear for back to school.
- With chartered planes from AmeriCares, K.I.D.S. sends more than $3 million worth of goods to refugee camps in Kosovo.
- In response to Hurricane Andrew's devastation in Florida, more than $1 million worth of goods are distributed.
1995 - 1999
- UNICEF veteran Mark Gelber hired as the first full-time president.
- "Business for Kids" is launched to encourage companies to make financial contributions.
- K.I.D.S. receives a $20,000 grant from Newman's Own, the charity founded by the late Paul Newman and writer A.E. Hotchner.
- With Chiquita Banana North America, K.I.D.S. reaches out to victims of deadly hurricanes in Honduras.
- Children's apparel and supplies provided in response to aftermath of Hurricane Georges in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
- Through World Vision, $750,000 worth of goods are sent to Oklahoma City in the wake of devastating tornados.
2000 - 2004
- In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, K.I.D.S. mobilizes its donor base and collects $750,000 in product, distributed through the N.Y.C. Mayor's Clothing Bank.
- K.I.D.S. launches new programs to reach needy children in poverty-stricken rural regions, such as Oklahoma, Southern Ohio, Florida, Mississippi and Southern Nevada.
- Non-profit professional Dr. Janice Weinman becomes president of K.I.D.S in 2003.
- K.I.D.S. broadens its product base to include educational materials, books, accessories and shoes.
- Through a literacy program with Scholastic Inc., hundreds of thousands of books are distributed to Native American reservations in New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota.
2005 - 2006
- Aiding the youngest victims of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia, K.I.D.S. collects and distributes close to $4 million worth of children's clothing, shoes and blankets.
- A partnership is established with Fashion Delivers, enabling K.I.D.S. to serve the entire family by distributing apparel, accessories and home furnishings for parents and other adults.
- Responding to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers distribute, within a record few weeks, more than $12 million worth of product to families in the Gulf Coast and communities to which the victims were evacuated.
- K.I.D.S. for the first time distributes more than $62 million worth of product to children and families in a single year.
- The first cause-marketing partnerships for K.I.D.S. are developed with manufacturers and retailers.
- K.I.D.S. holds its first benefit gala, a sold-out celebration of the organization's 20th anniversary, with President Bill Clinton and tsunami survivor Petra Nemcova.
- K.I.D.S. increases its efforts through specific initiatives in six key areas of programmatic need: homelessness, domestic abuse, literacy, children of incarcerated parents, military families and illness, as well as disaster relief,
- K.I.D.S. launches its first annual Women in Industry Luncheon (WIIL), with Leslie Stahl, co-anchor of “60 Minutes,” as guest speaker.
- Senator Barack Obama gives a major speech on the need to combat poverty in America at the K.I.D.S second annual benefit gala.
- Responding to the plight of thousands of people displaced by the war between Israel and Lebanon, K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers send clothing, blankets, toys, books and juvenile products to the Middle East to aid in humanitarian relief efforts.
2007
- The third Annual Gala honors industry leaders Abbey Doneger, Artie Rabin and Jerry Storch before a sold out audience of over 700 guests and raises a record $1.1 million.
- K.I.D.S. again helps more children and youth than in previous years. By distributing close to $62 million in new product, K.I.D.S. reaches almost five million of the nearly 13 million children who live in poverty in the U.S.
- K.I.D.S. begins, for the first time, to deliver healthcare products to children and families through its new association with Johnson & Johnson.
2008 – Present
- K.I.D.S. establishes new major partnerships with national retailers including Toys“R”Us and Gymboree. By distributing excess inventory from the 800+ network of stores under each of the two companies, K.I.D.S. reaches into many new communities.
- K.I.D.S. holds its largest gala ever with more than 750 attendees raising in excess of $1.3 million, with guest speaker New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and honoring Michael Balmuth of Ross Stores, Rick Darling of LF USA, and Matthew McCauley of Gymboree.
- K.I.D.S. launches new branding theme: Giving Back in Brand New Ways.
- K.I.D.S. creates new Agency Advisory Committee.
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