We have amazing people committed to making a difference in the lives of Canadian youth. With our awesome mentors, Kids Now has been able to mentor over 13,00 kids to make positive decisions so they can reach their full potential. In our new series Mentor Moments, we would like to highlight Adrian Gomez, from Telus. Please get to know why he mentors and why he thinks you should too.
Mentor Moments | Adrian Gomez
Posted in Spotlight, Volunteer Spotlight
Tagged Adrian GOmez, after school program, canadian youth, mentor, mentoring, Telus, volunteer
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State Farm | Together Building Resiliency in our Youth
Pictured from the left: Nicola Campbell, State Farm Marketing Analyst, Constable William Arniel, York Regional Police, Paula Sanchez, Kids Now Director of Programs and Operations. Kneeling: Tammy Winter, Supervisor, State Farm Payment Plan.
Bullying is real; it’s plaguing our youth. Too many tragic stories of young lives lost have made headlines and we all have a part to play if we want to these stories to stop.
Our friend and long-time partner State Farm Canada, not only protects your belongings but it is also interested in protecting our youth against the dangers of bullying. They recently hosted a Lunch & Learn session on Bullying and invited Kids Now to take part in the event alongside a representative from the York Region police.
Constable William Arniel teamed up with Paula Sanchez, Director of Programs at Kids Now, to give advice to State Farm employees on how to build resiliency in today’s youth.
Posted in News, Partner Spotlight
Tagged bullying, Constable William Arniel, mentor, mentoring, resilience, safety, State Farm Canada, tips, York Region police, youth
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CRESCENT SCHOOL’S CENTENNIAL ROCK BENEFIT CONCERT
CRESCENT SCHOOL’S CENTENNIAL ROCK BENEFIT CONCERT DONATES PROCEEDS TO KIDS NOW
Band The Grams: (L to R) Ryan O’Rourke, Jacob Rosenberg, Tal Bibla Eben-Ezra and Eric Noble-Marks.
On Friday, April 13, things were “Really Rocking” at Crescent School’s Centre For Creating Learning as they hosted the Crescent Centennial Rock Benefit Concert. In total, 12 acts took the stage with 20-member jazz band to a lone performer–just doing my thing–on his set of drums. State Farm, Kids Now Champion supporter, was the key sponsor of this event.
“We had some great talent take part in the concert,” said Crescent School student Robert Halperin, who not only was the drummer in one the performing group Post, but chaired the organizing committee for the event assisted by fellow students Eric Noble-Marks, Michael Venier and Hytham Farah. “The crowd attending got a little taste of everything—jazz, pop rock, percussion and some ‘light’ heavy metal. It was all good.”
Posted in Uncategorized
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Kids Now friends | TD Bank Group
Throughout the years, we’ve been lucky to make great friends and partners with organizations that have helped us achieve our goal of mentoring youth so they can reach their full potential. Today we want to recognize the long-term commitment of one of our very valued donors, TD Bank Group.
TD prides itself in giving to organizations that make a difference in local communities across Canada. TD is committed to supporting the communities in which TD employees live and work and their focus is on 3 funding areas including education and financial literacy, creating opportunities for young people, and the environment. Continue reading
Posted in Partner Spotlight, Spotlight
Tagged banking, Community, financial services, kids now, mentoring, TD Canada Trust, volunteer
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From past participant to youth leader | Cas Legrand
Cas Legrand, past Kids Now participant and current Chair of the Youth Advisory Committee, with Rosie MacLennan, Canadian Olympic gold medalist
In Grade 7, I had an amazing teacher that knew that taking advantage of opportunities could lead to bigger opportunities. She encouraged a couple of us in my grade to sign up for a TDSB supported leadership program called Kids Now. What a good move that turned out to be for me!
At our first meeting, I remember being a little reluctant about participating in the team-building activities when I found myself partnered up with a group of grade 8 students. It was nerve racking since I didn’t know any of them or had ever talked to them before. But our coach, Richard, took us through the program, gradually engaging us, teaching us how to communicate, to gain self-confidence, and to trust each other. Over time, a sort of intermolecular bonding started to happen. We got to know each other’s stories and respect each other for them. We seemed to understand each other so well that by the end of the 12-week sessions, we felt that as a team we could conquer the world. Continue reading
Posted in Kids Spotlight, Spotlight
Tagged Cas Legrand, kids now, leadership, mentor, mentorship, youth
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Top 5 Tips | Get Organized
It is no secret that in order to be successful, you have to get organized. Organizing may come naturally for some, but for others it requires a little more effort. You have all the potential to reach your goals, and with these Top 5 Tips you will get organized and ready for success in no time!
Top 5 Tips | Get Organized
HCF | Edith Turner Foundation Fund
Kids Now program at RL Hyslop Bishop School getting busy!
Kids Now is pleased to announce a new grant from the Hamilton Community Foundation, Edith Turner Foundation Fund. Our programs have been very well received in Hamilton, and we are currently running 20+ programs each year. The interest from our local Hamilton schools has been very encouraging, and we currently have a further 26 Equal Opportunity schools on a waiting list to receive our program. With this strong demand, we hope to increase our presence in the community and we are very thankful for the support from the Edith Turner Foundation Fund.
Posted in Partner Spotlight
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Rosie MacLennan’s blog
February 12 was the 3rd annual Bell Let’s Talk Day, a day with sites set on creating a conversation about Mental health and fighting to break down the stigma of mental illness. As an athlete, I have learned the importance of health and that it extends beyond the physical, achieving health in all realms is what helps you get to the top but it does not come without effort, it does not come with out challenges, it does not come without support and it does not come without conversations.
Bell Let’s Talk Day is a great way to get the conversation started but let’s keep it going! I think that this conversation can start with kids so that as they grow, they are able to have the strength to have difficult conversations and they are not constrained by the same limitations that many adults face today. This is one of many goals of the organization Kids Now - a program that I have a great deal of heart for.
Posted in Homepage, News
Tagged gold medal, kids now, mentor, mentoring, Olympics, Rosie Maclennan
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Ambassador Spotlight: Lauren Kidd
We’re thrilled to highlight our youngest Kids Now Ambassador, Lauren Kidd. This young leader grew up with Kids Now fundamentals because her mom is Kids Now President and founder, Janet King.
Lauren represents what Kids Now is all about and shares her passion with pride. Lauren gave a presentation about Kids Now to her class for The Give Back Project, and her speech was so heart-filled that she inspired her entire class and raised the bar. Lauren used her communication and leadership skills, which she’s developed through Kids Now principles, and delivered a stellar speech. Continue reading
Posted in Kids Spotlight, Spotlight
Tagged ambassador, communication, kids now, leadership, mentoring, skills
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5 Tips to Tackle “Thinspiration”
The Toronto Sun published an alarming article last week about the harm young girls are subjecting themselves to in order to meet the new ideal. The author, Joanne Richards, explains that girls are starving themselves in order to have a “happy gap” – a space between their upper thighs big enough so that thighs do not touch.
Peer pressure is a harsh reality for many young people, and sadly many girls are falling victim to the pressures of ‘thinspiration’ because they lack the self-confidence to believe that they are beautiful just the way they are. As a youth organization that works to help kids build their self-esteem, and acquire the skills to overcome these challenges, Kids Now is speaking up on the ‘thinspriation’ craze in hopes to overcome it together with mentors and parents.
Posted in Parent Resources
Tagged mentoring, parenting, parents, self esteem, thinspiration, thispo, youth
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