Kids In Focus

KIDS IN FOCUS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO GIVING AT-RISK YOUTH THE CHANCE TO SEE THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD IN A NEW LIGHT, EQUIPPING THEM WITH ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS TO MAKE THE SHIFT FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING.

2021 PROVED TO BE ANOTHER CHALLENGING YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. KIF REMAINED COMMITTED TO BEING A LIFELINE FOR AT-RISK KIDS AND CONTINUED TO SERVE KIDS IN PERSON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. KIF SAW PROFOUND MEASURABLE SUCCESS IN BUILDING THE KIDS RESILIENCE, TRUST, AND CONFIDENCE WHILE IMPROVING THEIR ATTITUDES, BEHAVIORS, AND OUTLOOKS. THROUGH YEAR-ROUND AFTERSCHOOL, WORKSHOPS, CAMPS, GRADS IN FOCUS, LIFELINE, AND JUNIOR MENTOR PROGRAMS, KIF INCREASED THE NUMBER OF KIDS SERVED FROM 514 TO 737. WERE ALSO KEEPING MORE KIDS CONNECTED AND ENGAGED WITH US FOR MANY YEARS BEYOND THEIR INITIAL PROGRAM. WE IMPLEMENTED BRAND-NEW PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE FIRST ANNUAL PICNIC FOR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE FIRST ANNUAL THANK-YOU PARTY FOR VOLUNTEERS. WE BUILT PARTNERSHIPS AND CREATED PROGRAMS FOR SEVERAL NEW ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING ARIZONA AUTISM CHARTER SCHOOL, CATHOLIC SERVICES, ESPERANZA COMMUNITY SCHOOL, AND HOMEWARD BOUND. KIF PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS (PHOTOGRAPHERS, WRITERS, DESIGNERS, AND OTHERS) DONATED OVER 4,700 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE TO THE KIDS, VALUED AT $282,000, A FIGURE NOT REPRESENTED IN THE BUDGET. THE YOUTH SERVED IN 2021 ARE 55% HISPANIC, 26% BLACK, 16% CAUCASIAN, AND 3% AMERICAN INDIAN. 98 AT-RISK YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN MULTI-WEEK PROGRAMS RANGING FROM 2 TO 9 WEEKS EACH. 80 FOSTER YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN TWO 2-DAY SUMMER CAMPS AT CHAUNCEY RANCH. 103 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW ANNUAL PICNIC AT MARGARET T HANCE PARK. 30 KIDS PARTICIPATED IN ONE-TWO DAY WORKSHOPS. 225 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE YEAR-ROUND ALUMNI PROGRAM THROUGH QUARTERLY TEAM-BUILDING OUTINGS AND MONTHLY PHOTO CHALLENGES WITH INCENTIVE PRIZES. 105 CFLA STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A SCHOOL ASSEMBLY LED BY FIVE JUNIOR MENTORS, WHO WORKED WITH MENTORS TO CREATE THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION OVER 5 WEEKS. 55 KIDS WERE HONORED AT THE ANNUAL EXHIBIT OPENING CELEBRATION, AND MANY OTHERS ATTENDED. 41 KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED EMERGENCY AND BASIC-NEED SUPPORT THROUGH THE LIFELINE PROGRAM. KIF CONNECTED WITH THESE KIDS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH 15 ORGANIZATIONS SERVING VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN THE VALLEY INCLUDING ARIZONA AUTISM CHARTER SCHOOL, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, CHILDREN FIRST LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, ESPERANZA COMMUNITY SCHOOL, OCJ KIDS, HOMEWARD BOUND, SEQUOIA DEAF SCHOOL AND SEVERAL FOSTER CARE AGENCIES.OVER 400 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE FREE PUBLIC EXHIBIT OPENING TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 55 KIDS. THE KIDS INSPIRING IMAGES WERE FEATURED IN EXHIBITS AT 12 VENUES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, VIEWED BY 440,000 PEOPLE. ONGOING TRAINING OF THE 75 VOLUNTEER MENTORS WAS DEEPENED AND IMPROVED. RAPPORT WITH ALL 100 VOLUNTEERS WAS STRENGTHENED THROUGH QUARTERLY GET-TOGETHERS AND A HOLIDAY THANK-YOU PARTY.