Kids Helping Kids Leadership Academy, Inc. (Kids Helping Kids) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization located in Brentwood, CA, USA.

Kids Helping Kids Leadership Academy, Inc. is a unique organization that evolved from a 10 year-old's simple idea and big heart to raise $240 in order to keep one Ghanaian child out of trafficking into a fundraising and leadership movement for global transformation.

In February of 2007, ten year-old Tyler Page got inspired while watching an episode of Oprah where he learned that children, just like himself, were being sold by their own parents into labor. Picturing himself in their shoes is all it took for him to leap into action.

Kids Helping Kids empowers youth ages 5-18 yrs through moral and value based leadership curriculum We provide cause-based, hands on experiences in fundraising to achieve relevance, retention and engagement. Kids ideas to help disadvantaged children globally is the reason we exist. Founded by a 10 year old and fueled by youth-based heart-felt compassion, kids are leading the way by being the change they want to see.

FOUNDER TYLER PAGE'S STORY
That’s my Story and I’m Stick’en to it!

At school, we have been learning about Positive Action – such as helping others, picking up trash and doing nice things in our community.

One day, I was watching Oprah with my mom and she was featuring a story on child trafficking in Ghana. It made me so sad to see children like you and me being sold by their own parents into harsh fishing labor. I knew I had to do something. I came up with an idea to put what I’ve learned in school about Positive Action to good use.

It doesn’t take much; for 1 child, it costs $20/mo x 12 mo’s = $240 yr. My goal was to raise enough money to save the life of one child for an entire year. The first fundraiser (a car wash) was so fun and successful that I decided to set my goal higher, to save the lives of 200 children for an entire year. Let’s team up and show others how Positive Action in your community can change lives. Wouldn’t you like to BE the difference and be a hero? Together as a team we can do it. If we were able to raise $38,000 in the first year, imagine what more of us together can accomplish.

– Tyler Page

MY IMPETUS FOR CHANGE

We live in an incredible community with beautiful homes, cars, boats and where most have everything ever wanted.

Kids are being raised in an environment that rarely focuses on giving to others or saving lives of the less fortunate. It's rare if they see a homeless person or under nourished toddlers with dirty clothes and no shoes or even those without parents.

I myself am guilty of over-indulging my children and not educating them as much as I feel I should about people and conditions many have to endure just to make it through each day.

Tyler’s genuine heart and drive to help other children is what opened a door to a deep hunger within my core. My love for children, their untapped simple wisdom and “anything is possible” attitude has intrigued me since I was a child myself.

After our first fundraiser, a car wash at Tyler’s elementary school, I shed a couple of tears from a place of complete thankfulness and humility for the gift that day had given to me and the others. The ambiance at the carwash was a sacred feeling of self esteem bubbling inside each volunteer, the warm hearts of the customers donating to a cause they felt wonderful about participating in and the spirit of community, unity and selfless giving. What a day! That “anything is possible” attitude had just been bottled and we are pouring it out on all who’s paths we cross.

When Tyler asked me if he could do fundraisers in order to raise $240 to keep one child out of these conditions all I simply did was listen and ask how he would go about it. His passion and intuition to listen to his integrity is what took over. With all the distractions of technology that has both blessed and plagued the 21st century are we listening to our children enough?

My hope is that our story inspires others to stop, listen and empower the next generation of leaders.

I wanted to be a part of Kids Helping Kids because it aligns with my own personal value system. We teach youth core values in everyday life and instill in them empowerment for good.

Many of these skills are not being taught elsewhere and kids want to count, be heard, be important and make a difference. KHK fills that need through their leadership programs, fundraising and community involvement. Through KHK we will see our youth become great role models and influence future generations. With my extensive background in education and fundraising, KHK was a perfect fit.

– Sheri Dickson

"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. They are much like eagles...They don't flock, you find them one at a time."

This saying is so true for me and when I found out what Kids Helping Kids was all about I knew I had to get involved. I've been a successful New Business Development Manager and have spent over 13 years in Wireless Technology. During my career, I have completed several sales seminars, studied with the Institute for Life Coach Training and been an On Boarding Sales Manager for new hires. I have spent a lot of time building relationships, establishing a reliable network and mentored people of all ages. Through my own life experiences, I have had a deep yearning to develop a Curriculum for Living, a strategic leadership program to help kids/young adults capture their core values and true sense of self.

When I learned about Kids Helping Kids, I was so moved by Tyler's compassion to help other children across the globe and the Leadership Academy here in the U.S. to support the youth in their community. It felt like a perfect 'marriage' of ideas and collaboration. Since then, I have committed to building a team of like minded individuals to expand our organization through means of sponsorships, after school programs and delivering the message of 'Why Kids Helping Kids'. Truly the question is 'Why Not?"

– Jenik Wright