Our Impact

KYDS is celebrating 30 years since incorporation as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. More important than the test of time, is the number of lives positively influenced and the tens of thousands of children and youth who have benefited from our organization’s work.

A few words from an alumni:

KYDS has definitely been a big factor in my academic success. Prior to the pandemic shutdown, KYDS made it possible to have an additional coach to help out after school for Cross Country and Track and Field. It was extremely helpful to have an extra perspective on the sport to help guide me towards being the best student-athlete I could be.

The COVID 19 shutdown period was tough for all of us, and I found it especially tough to focus on school from home. Despite this struggle, KYDS always brought something that I could look forward to at the end of the day. Everyday after school, we were able to enter a Zoom session where our coach would give us a workout. Being able to workout with a few other students everyday really helped improve not only my physical health, but my mental health as well.

Now, with all the resources that KYDS has graciously provided for me and other students, I am extremely proud to be able to work with KYDS. My main motivation every single day is to be that role model for other students, just as the KYDS staff was for me when I was in high school.

I would like to give a big thanks to KYDS Inc. for allowing me to have access to additional resources that definitely helped me as a student, and for allowing me to give back to the community and now be an additional resource for the current generation of students as a proud KYDS staff member.

Diego T. , KYDS Inc. After-School Coach

Testimonials

  • Without the program I would have been in a lot of gang violence, and I would have straight F’s. I’m just glad KYDS is here because it keeps me away from bad things and closer to good friends.

    Marcos V., age 15

  • KYDS is a safe community where you can be yourself. You can trust other students as well as the staff, and if there is anything we need, they are always willing to help. KYDS is the reason why my grades have improved and I was eligible to play basketball.

    Katherine O. age 17

  • Without KYDS I wouldn’t care as much about coming to school, and I wouldn’t be able to participate in the programs which have helped me a lot. I wouldn’t have met my best friends so that’s what I think about KYDS. I love it!

    Ashley T., age 13

  • I like KYDS because the teachers make me feel welcomed, they help me with my homework and they explain whatever I don’t understand. When we have a problem they encourage us to tell them so that they can help. I like staying because they offer us many activities to choose from like: Martial Arts, computers, cooking, science, arts and crafts and much more.”

    Sergio Z., age 11

  • My dad has type 2 diabetes and what I’ve brought home from KYDS SOSMentor [nutrition club], I told him to stop drinking so much coke and read the label so he can learn more about what he is drinking. Now we drink less soda. My parents have always said, they want to have a longer life to see us grow, so if they want that, I want that for them. Thank you for showing us about the sugar and how to read a food label, I never knew that until I learned it!

    Jorge, age 10

  • Three reasons why I like staying after school is because people help me with homework and they’re never too busy. Second reason, is because we do fun educational things and not just sit around. The third reason is that we make a lot of friends rather than staying at home.

    Amanda J., age 10