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276 supporters of Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) looked on as three extraordinary women of the fashion and media industries were celebrated at the organization’s 4th annual Women in Industry Luncheon. This year’s honorees were: Elyse Kroll, Chairman & CEO of fashion trade show company ENK International; Liz Lange, Founder of Liz Lange Maternity and Christina Miller, Senior Vice-President of Cartoon Network Enterprises and Turner Sports. Critically acclaimed broadcast journalist Roz Abrams emceed the event on June 3rd in the Cotillion Room of the Pierre Hotel, and Silda Wall Spitzer provided a keynote speech on the changing face of volunteerism.
Abrams welcomed the attendees, stating “K.I.D.S. is unique in its ability to reach 4.5 million children in need every year to help them strive for a better life than they have. Your joining us this afternoon allows the organization, in its 25th year, to continue to make a difference in the future of our youth, one child at a time.”
Miller, also a Board Member of K.I.D.S., said in her acceptance speech, “the success this organization has had and continues to have each year would not be possible without the diverse range of partners and donors who are all committed to one shared goal: making a difference in children’s lives when they need it the most.” The event raised more than $140,000 for K.I.D.S., twice the amount of last year’s luncheon.
Spitzer, the founding chair of Children for Children, commented on how volunteerism is changing due to advances in technology and strategy options, noting that “K.I.D.S. has a terrific Web site when it comes to social media and self-start project possibilities – from following the group on twitter to online instructions for How to Hold Your Own Fundraiser and How to Hold Your Own Product Drive. K.I.D.S. has embraced a holistic view of service and has positioned itself to take advantage.”
John B. Mattingly, Commissioner of the NYC Administration for Children’s Services presented a Mayoral proclamation of June 3rd as K.I.D.S. Day to Karen Bromley; an original founder and Executive Committee member of K.I.D.S. “We are greatly honored that the City of New York has designated June 3rd K.I.D.S. Day,” said Bromley. “This designation signals the importance that K.I.D.S. has on the lives of children who rely on us for a second chance.”
Kroll addressed the importance of corporate partnerships between K.I.D.S. and the fashion industry, calling up industry leaders to continue to help K.I.D.S. “Now that most companies have cut back on inventory due to the economic trends we have all faced, the job in front of K.I.D.S. has become even more difficult. It is in our best interest to find a way to continue to help.”
An emotionally stirring video of K.I.D.S. President Janice Weinman’s recent visit to Haiti was also shown, noting the help that children in the earthquake-ravaged nation are receiving thanks to more than $16 million worth of donated product that has been sent there by K.I.D.S. since January. The video can be seen online at https://www.kidsdonations.org/videohaiti.htm.
See our gallery of event photos on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KIDSdonations.
For 25 years, K.I.D.S. has provided over 65 million underprivileged and disaster-struck children with close to one billion dollars of NEW clothing, toys, basic necessities, juvenile products, books and much more. The donations of new products are distributed through an established network of nearly 1,000 local community social service agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Our efforts reach children who are challenged by poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, low literacy, military family service, major illness, incarcerated family members and disaster survival. More information about donating new products and supporting our work is available online at https://www.KIDSdonations.org.
Photo caption:
(L to R) K.I.D.S. President Janice Weinman; Honorees Elyse Kroll, Christina Miller, Liz Lange; K.I.D.S. Founder & Executive Committee member Karen Bromley.
