How it works
Why it works
Where it works
What it provides
Frequently asked questions
When you become a KidStart Champion, you help give a child the tools she or he needs to succeed. KidStart Champions make a difference in our communities by helping to provide a better future for some of our most vulnerable citizens - children.
KidStart Champions sponsor local children in The John Howard Society of North Island's KidStart Program. Champions can choose from three levels of sponsorship:
- Gold Sponsorship: $100 per month (covers the entire cost of a mentee's participation in KidStart)
- Silver Sponsorship: $50 per month (covers 50% of the cost)
- Bronze Sponsorship: $25 per month (covers 25% of the cost)
After you have pledged to sponsor a KidStart child, you will receive a welcome package that includes information about KidStart and information about the child you are sponsoring. This package will also include information and quotes from your sponsored child, his or her family, and the KidStart Coordinator. Each year, you will receive updated information about the child you have sponsored. All donations will receive a charitable tax receipt.
"Sponsoring a KidStart child shows them you believe in their future. Becoming a KidStart Champion means supporting our local children. It's a gift that will help them succeed."
- Wendy Richardson, Executive Director of The John Howard of North Island
Your sponsorship can help change a child's life. KidStart is founded on the principle that engagement with a caring adult outside a child's family brings significant and long-lasting benefits. Mentoring programs like KidStart that match stable, competent adults with vulnerable children have proven to be highly successful by helping them cope with and avoid a high risk lifestyle.
Some of the positive benefits of mentoring include:
- Better attendance and attitude toward school
- Decreased chance of drug and alcohol use
- Improved social attitudes and relationships
- More trusting relationships and better communication with parents
- Increased chance of going on to higher education
"My son has never had a father figure or male role model in his life. I do a lot with him, but I can tell that there is still a void. I know he really needs a guy to do guy stuff with."
- Mom of a 9-year-old boy on our waitlist
"I love my big buddy. We do fun stuff together. We smashed ice puddles. We drank hot chocolate. I liked that.
- 8-year-old participant explaining his first outing with his mentor
"Life is tough right now. My girls mean everything to me, but I just can't give them everything they need. I can't say how much it means to me that they have their buddies there for them."
- Dad of 2 participants, ages 8 and 10
Your sponsorship helps pay for the administrative costs associated with a child's participation in KidStart. KidStart has two part-time KidStart Coordinators - one in Campbell River and one in the Comox Valley - that recruit, match, train, and support KidStart volunteer mentors. KidStart mentors also receive a small monthly allowance of $30 to help pay for recreational activities with their buddies.
This valuable program relies on public donations for its operational costs. Your support will help ensure KidStart's continued success in Campbell River and the Comox Valley, and will change the lives of children right here in your community.
Unlike other child sponsorship programs, KidStart Champions sponsor children locally. By investing in a KidStart child, your sponsorship will contribute directly to the well-being of our community. You can make a difference - right here, right now.
How long will I sponsor my child?
- You can choose to sponsor your child for as long as you like - from a couple of months to the entire length of his or her participation in KidStart. When your child is no longer involved in KidStart, you will be given the opportunity to sponsor another child.
Will I receive a charitable tax receipt for my sponsorship?
- Yes. The John Howard Society of North Island is a registered charity that issues charitable tax receipts. You will receive a tax receipt at the end of each calendar year.
Why can't I have a picture of my child?
- We respect the privacy of the children in the KidStart program. Because the children involved are members of your community, we cannot give sponsors their names or their pictures. You will receive non-identifying information about the child you sponsor instead. Rest assured that you are making a big difference in a child's life.
$100 dollars per month seems like a lot of money for one person. Can I be part of a group sponsorship?
- Yes! We encourage a group of friends, a family, a workplace or other groups to pool small monthly donations to make up a sponsorship. It's a great way of doing something big with a little money.
- To become a KidStart Champion please contact:
- Tara at (250) 286-0611 in Campbell River or at tara@jhsni.bc.ca
- Wendy at (250) 338-7341 in Courtenay or at wendyt@jhsni.bc.ca
KidStart is a volunteer-based mentoring program that connects vulnerable children and youth with positive adult role models in Campbell River and the Comox Valley. Being a KidStart mentor is a meaningful and fun way to make a positive impact in the life of a child. If you want to support KidStart, but can't commit to becoming a volunteer, why not become a KidStart Champion?
