It’s often a moving sight: A kid in need being fitted with eye glasses, or clothes, shoes, or given medical care or housing.
Yet that’s commonplace for Care For Kids, a major project of the Silver Dollar City Foundation. The project has served more than 25,000 children in Stone and Taney counties – part of $1 million in assistance to take care of their physical needs – since being launched in 2006.
“Kids who are hungry or cold or in pain – those kids can’t focus on learning,” said John Baltes, President of the Silver Dollar City Foundation. “Care For Kids is about providing the resources for those needs to be handled immediately, making moments matter. When you can move quickly, that’s the language of a child, and that is going to make a difference in that child’s life forever.”
Which is why the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper is committed to helping the Silver Dollar City Foundation. The tournament, part of the PGA’s Web.com Tour, has generated almost $12 million in its 25-year history for area children’s charities, including a record $1 million-plus last year alone.
But more help is always needed and appreciated.
SUPPORTING THE PCCC = SUPPORTING CHARITIES
- HELP THE SILVER DOLLAR CITY FOUNDATION: The major project is the Care For Kids, which benefits from the PCCC. To contribute in any way, contact the foundation at 417-336-7077.
- FOR GOLF FANS, WIN PRIZES: The purchase of a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket serves as a four-day tournament pass, but that’s just a start. You’re also entered to win daily prizes during the tournament as well as grand prizes of $10,000 and a 2015 Ford Mustang. Contact the PCCC at 417-887-3400.
- TICKET REVENUE GOES WHERE: Contact the local charity of your choice, simply because they receive revenue directly from those TLC Property Charity Sweepstakes tickets marked with their names.
- BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS: Businesses can support the PCCC through various sponsorships, such as the daily newsletter, website or through several events such as a dozen Pro-Ams. Additionally, restaurants, clothing stores and entertainment stops and such are asked to donate a gift card with at least a $25 value in the name of your charity of choice to benefit them in the Golf Ball Charity Auction. Contact the PCCC staff at 417-887-3400.
- WHEN, WHERE: The tournament is Aug. 7-17 at Highland Springs Country Club, with the pros playing beginning Aug. 13.
About the Silver Dollar City Foundation
The Silver Dollar City Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to preparing the hearts of kids to become men and women with Christ-like character in the communities of Stone and Taney counties. Incorporated as a private foundation in 1996, the Foundation has been funding projects and providing grants supporting youth and adult ministry programs and projects strengthening families ever since.
Its Care For Kids project works in a unique partnership with the 14 school districts in the two counties, providing kids in need with eye glasses, clothing, shoes, coats, medical care, food and housing. Care For Kids works on the principle that school staff who see kids every day are often aware of crises or issues needing attention but have no resources with which to provide immediate help.
Care For Kids’ funds, given to school administrators at the beginning of the school year, can be used to address essential needs immediately, lifting kids out of problem or painful situations and allowing them to focus on learning.
The program also provides mentoring services in which kids who could benefit from extra attention are matched with caring volunteers who become advocates as tutors, lunch buddies or book buddies.
Mike Fransen, the Blue Eye Elementary Principal, cannot say enough good things about Care For Kids.
“Care For Kids is a program that directly impacts students and their families. Children, staff and administration know that there is a way to provide hope in situations when it may not have existed before,” Fransen said. “Care For Kids funding has assisted with an apartment rental after a house fire, electric bills, medical expenses, prescriptions, eyeglasses, gas cards for getting to work or medical appointments, counseling, clothing and school supplies. This has helped our district fill the gaps for kids in need.”