Children/Youth

Youth, I.N.C. (Improving Nonprofits for Children) announced that Piper Jaffray, a leading global middle market investment bank and institutional securities firm, will sponsor Trading Day for Kids for a third consecutive year.

Determined to raise public awareness to what many are calling the “silent epidemic,” the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children launched this week with a series of online videos reminding everyone to THINK before they act out on a child.

With an annual operating budget of $2.2 million, the Support Center for Child Advocates provides legal assistance and social-service advocacy for abused and neglected children in Philadelphia County. Child Advocates is one of the most successful volunteer models serving children in the country. Since its founding in 1977, Child Advocates has trained more than 3,500 attorneys who contribute pro bono services valued at more than $3.5 million annually.

According to Philanthropedia, Big Brothers Big Sisters is not just making a difference but has been ranked best of the best on a list of most recommended, high-impact national nonprofits serving at-risk youth. The nation's leader in quality, youth mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters received praise for its effective mentoring model that leads to positive and measurable youth outcomes for children who face adversity, as well as for its organizational leadership and community outreach.

icouldbe.org, an online mentoring program for at-risk middle and high school students, today announced that E*TRADE Bank has renewed its support of the nonprofit organization, marking the ninth consecutive year. E*TRADE will provide icouldbe.org with a one-year grant of $300,000 to fund the organization’s online youth mentoring programs in low-income communities in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., San Diego and Los Angeles.

Nineteen-year-old New York City student Orayne Williams knows a lot about how to avoid becoming a statistic. Last year Williams, who was abandoned by his family when he was 12 and spent his teen years living in homeless shelters, managed to graduate from high school with honors and enrolled at Manhattanville College on a full scholarship. His campus dormitory was his first non-shelter home in years. Last November, he founded a new nonprofit, the Progressive People Movement Inc., which hopes to help at-risk "youth break free from the cycles of homelessness, incarceration, poverty and failure."

Whole Foods Market is pleased to announce the Whole Kids Foundation, a charitable organization that will provide children with access to healthy food choices through partnerships with schools, educators and organizations.

By supporting schools and inspiring families, the Foundation aims to help children reach optimal health through the strength of a healthy body fueled by nutritious food choices.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer research, announced more than $19.6 million in new grants to fund promising and innovative childhood cancer research. The grants bring the total to more than $21 million awarded by St. Baldrick's for the fiscal year. Every dollar raised came from the creativity and dedication of St. Baldrick’s volunteers and the generosity of donors, working together to help fund the best possible research.

An East Texas man is using an iconic memento to raise tens of millions of dollars for children around the world. A local and relatively new nonprofit called Superhero Kids is one of the first to benefit from Milton Verret's generosity.

In the few short weeks Verret has owned Michael Jackson's "Thriller" jacket, he's cut some pretty substantial checks. The money is from corporate sponsors who are supporting the jacket's charity tour.

Tuesday, Verret tore off a $100,000 check for Superhero Kids — an amount more than the Austin nonprofit raised in its entire first year.

The mission of Children of Uganda is to support and empower hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda to lead successful and productive lives.