Making Kids Count cuts ribbon in Boardman
Making Kids Count, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the Mahoning Valley, celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 1 at 7178 West Blvd., Boardman. with co-founders Jenny Kennedy, Shelly Marlowe and Jana Hammer-Coffin in attendance.
The organization’s mission is “To make the lives of children and their families a little brighter by focusing on their individual needs with the help of volunteers.”.
The family organization began in July 2010 and is currently partnering with various organizations. The first organization was the Beatitude House (both Youngstown and Warren locations). Making Kids Count puts on monthly birthday parties for all the children and their families to attend and gives a homemade blanket to the mothers of newborns filled with essential baby items.
At Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley, the organization has quarterly birthday parties for the patients in the Blood and Cancer Center and also donates blankets and craft bags for the children in the hospital on a monthly basis. In December, a holiday celebration for the patients was held at Antone’s Banquet Center which was attended by more than 400 people.
Making Kids Count also began working with Struthers Elementary School to provide assistance by working with the kindergarten teachers each Wednesday, donating school supplies and clothing and providing other assistance as needed. Other places that Making Kids Count provides support to include the Pregnancy Help Center in Boardman, the Family Promise Program, West Boulevard Elementary School and Williamson Elementary School.
Making Kids Count was the beneficiary of the third annual Big Tap In Craft Beer Festival that was held on April 21 at the Covelli Centre. With the funds from the event, the organization intends to start one or two new programs and plans to announce them late spring/early summer. For more information, visit www.makingkidscount.org.