Happy New Year and welcome to the twenty-third edition of Opportunities, Kicks For Kids' E-newsletter! With so many exciting events coming up this year, we want to regularly inform our friends of all that is going on with KFK. We thank you for your continued support and hope that you can take a moment to see what is new with the charity. Remember, you can always visit our website at www.kicksforkids.org for more information. We hope to see you soon at one of our events!

• Purchase tickets NOW for the Outback Steakhouse lunch to benefit Kicks For Kids. (Date: Sunday, February 21st)
• Bengals Ray Maualuga, Shayne Graham and Kevin Huber highlight the Christmas Party!
• For the second year, KFK launches a Tri-state service effort in the communities it supports.
• More than 70 children take to the skies during Operation North Pole!
• The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol bring magical stories to life for local children at risk.
• Become a sponsor of Kicks For Kids! 2010 Sponsor Packages are now available.

Outback Steakhouse, one of Kicks For Kids' long-standing sponsors is hosting a weekend lunch to benefit KFK. The event takes place on Sunday, February 21st. After purchasing a ticket, you can come in and eat any time in between 12:00pm - 1:45 pm, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the charity!
Here is how it works:

Purchase a ticket in advance from Kicks For Kids:

$15 each - For 2 or more tickets

$20 - Single ticket

* Each customer will receive the following: 6 oz sirloin, chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and a cold beverage (non-alcoholic)

* Please note: Additional food items can not be purchased; there are no substitutions for the set meal. Alcohol can be purchased at a cash bar.

The event is located at the Outback Steakhouse in Mason, Ohio:
2512 Kings Center Court, Mason, OH 45040

To purchase your ticket(s), please contact Britt with Kicks For Kids (859-331-8484) or britt.nielsen@kicksforkids.org. Additional tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the event(subject to availability).

On Monday, December 14th, Kicks For Kids provided a Christmas experience unlike any other to fifty children from across the Tri-state. Several special guests highlighted the evening at Paul Brown Stadium, including Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga, kicker Shayne Graham and punter, Kevin Huber.
  

Click here for the full story and pictures from the event. »»

For the second year in a row, the chaperones and children who attended the annual Christmas Celebration were asked to complete a community service project before the event. KFK worked with ten local children's agencies to coordinate projects that took place in November and December. The projects gave the chaperones and children a chance to get to know each other before the party, and also gave each child the opportunity to give back to his/her local community.
  

Click here for the full story and pictures from the service projects. »»

On December 17th, more than 70 children had the chance to fly on an airplane to the 'North Pole' thanks to Comair, one of KFK's primary sponsors. For the past three years, Operation North Pole has provided hundreds of kids at risk with their first visit to an airport and their first flight!   

Click here for the full story and pictures from the event »»

A trip to the theatre highlighted the holiday season for more than 100 local children at risk in December. Kicks For Kids provided several groups the opportunity to see incredible productions such as The Nutcracker at the Aronoff Center and A Christmas Carol at Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park. While attending these shows has become an annual tradition for a number of families in the Tri-state, for most of the children who attended, courtesy of KFK, it was their first time seeing a live performance and going to a theatre.

Children from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky took in the sights and sounds of The Nutcracker at The Aronoff Center. They were not only dazzled by the ballet, but were in awe of the beautiful theatre itself. "It was such a joy to share this experience with them," said Jeanne Bell of Innercity Youth Opportunities. "Following the performance, one of the younger girls said this was her best Christmas ever!"

The other groups of children from Lawrenceburg, Indiana and Northern Kentucky had the chance to see A Christmas Carol at Playhouse in the Park. They were engrossed in the story of ‘Scrooge', and were even a little scared when the Ghosts paid him a visit! It was an experience they undoubtedly will never forget. "If it wasn't for KFK we would not have these fun and amazing experiences, like plays, college tours, and Bengal trips," said Ashley, an 8th grade student. Kayla, another 8th grade student summarized her experience and said, "KFK puts smiles on a lot of kids faces."

Since 1995 KFK has invested nearly $1.7 million into improving the outlook of the children it serves -- and positively impacted over 45,000 young lives in the process! Just in 2009, through KFK's Career Days, Great Outdoor Adventure, Christmas Celebration, Operation North Pole, Field of Dreams, College Visit Program & Basketball Camp, and by introducing children to health/nutrition and art programs, we touched the lives of 3,150 local kids.

The revenue needed to provide these opportunities, thus "leveling the playing field" for area youth, is primarily generated through two first-class events... the RGI River Run and the Meijer/KFK Celebrity Golf Classic. The RGI River Run is one of the top 10 run/walk events in Greater Cincinnati, and over 1,300 participants are expected on Saturday, May 29th at the Purple People Bridge in Newport. The Meijer/KFK Celebrity Golf Classic is one of the area's top charity golf outings (avg. net proceeds: $150,000) and will take place at beautiful Triple Crown Country Club on Monday, June 21st and Tuesday, June 22nd.

Sponsor packages are now available for both events, and start at just $500. Please contact the KFK office (859-331-8484; ted.kluemper@kicksforkids.org) to become a sponsor.
  

Click here to view available golf sponsorship packages »»
  

Click here to view available run sponsorship packages »»