After-school programs have become an essential part of the educational experience for many students, offering more than just a place to stay until their parents/guardians finish getting through their day. These programs provide structured environments where children can continue to learn, grow, and thrive outside of the traditional classroom setting. At Kids in the Game, our after-school programs are designed not only to keep kids engaged but also to reinforce academic concepts, provide homework assistance, and instill a lifelong love for learning. Here’s how after-school programs can support academic success, with a closer look at what KING offers.

Reinforcing Classroom Learning

One of the key ways after-school programs support academic success is by reinforcing what students learn during the school day. After-school activities allow children to apply and expand on what they’ve learned in a more relaxed and interactive environment. For instance, KING’s comprehensive after-school programs incorporate activities like STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) projects, where students can dive deeper into subjects like science and technology through hands-on experiments and creative exploration. By providing a space where children can engage with educational content in different formats, after-school programs help solidify their understanding and retention of classroom material.

Homework Assistance

Homework can be a source of stress for both students and their families, but after-school programs can ease this burden by offering dedicated time and support for completing assignments. The availability of homework assistance allows students to tackle challenging subjects with confidence, knowing they have the support they need to succeed. Moreover, by completing homework in a structured environment, students can enjoy more quality time with their families at home after the school day has ended.

Fostering a Love for Learning

After-school programs are uniquely positioned to foster a love for learning by making education fun and engaging. Through a variety of enrichment activities, children can explore new interests and develop skills that may not be covered during the regular school day. Kids in the Game’s enrichment classes range from Warrior Fitness and Coding to Hip Hop and Ultimate Sports, allowing students to discover and pursue their passions in a supportive environment. These activities not only broaden students’ horizons but also encourage them to see learning as an enjoyable and lifelong process. When children associate learning with fun, they are more likely to stay motivated and curious, which can lead to greater academic success in the long run.

Building Essential Life Skills

Beyond academic support, after-school programs play a crucial role in developing essential life skills that contribute to overall academic success. The programs emphasize mentorship and the teaching of valuable life lessons, such as teamwork, leadership, and time management. Through participation in group activities and sports, students learn how to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, and manage their time efficiently—skills that are directly transferable to their academic pursuits. By cultivating these abilities in a structured and nurturing environment, after-school programs prepare students to face academic challenges with confidence and resilience.

Creating a Supportive Learning Environment

A positive and supportive learning environment is key to academic success, and this is a hallmark of our after-school programs. Our programs are designed to be inclusive and adaptable, catering to the diverse needs and interests of all students. Whether through all-encompassing full programs or specialized enrichment classes, we ensure that each child has the opportunity to thrive. By creating an atmosphere where students feel valued and supported, after-school programs help build self-confidence and encourage a growth mindset, both of which are critical for academic achievement.

At Kids in the Game, we are committed to helping students reach their full potential! Are you a school interested in outsourcing your after-school programming? Visit Kids in the Game After-School Programs and get in touch with us to learn more about how we can support your students’ academic success!

Kids in the Game is excited to announce its recognition on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list, ranking at No. 1,866. Published by Inc. magazine, the Inc. 5000 list highlights the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, showcasing those that have achieved exceptional growth over the past three years. This is the 4th time that Kids in the Game has been featured.

The list is considered America’s entrepreneurial benchmark, and companies are ranked based on three years of annual revenue growth. To qualify, businesses must demonstrate not only strong financial performance but also a commitment to innovation, resilience, and impactful leadership.

Check out more information on the Inc. magazine website! https://www.inc.com/profile/kids-in-the-game

A Proud Milestone for Kids in the Game

From providing dynamic after-school programs to hosting engaging summer camps, Kids in the Game remains committed to helping children thrive physically, mentally, and socially. This recognition reinforces the company’s resolve to push boundaries, reach new heights, and positively impact the communities we serve.

For more information about Kids in the Game’s programs and to learn how we can bring our services to your school, visit our website.

Are you interested in bringing Kids in the Game to your school? Visit Kids in the Game to learn more about our programs and how we can support your students’ growth!

KING is excited to announce that we have been awarded the 2018-2019 Heisman Trophy Trust grant through the New York Community Trust. While the name Heisman is typically synonymous with college football, the Heisman Trophy Trust is dedicated to supporting amateur athletes and their goals on and off the playing field. The trust states, “our goal through these charitable endeavors is for the Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or with special needs.”

This fall will be the first season implementing academic and life skill programming into our competitive travel teams. Beyond our players receiving the highest quality sports coaching, we will be providing academic support, test prep courses, admissions guidance and life skill seminars that will prepare them for life outside of sport. The program will cater to each individual student-athlete and consider their personal career, sport and life goals.

KING is lucky to have a network of volunteers that include former Division I, II and III athletes and coaches that understand the dedication it takes to be a successful student athlete. As their own athletic careers came to an end, our volunteers and mentors have transitioned to successful careers in fields ranging from finance, advertising, entrepreneurship, education, etc. Paired with our volunteers, the grant will also allow us to hire a professional tutoring service that will provide the highest quality services to our kids.

KING as a whole organization continues to evolve and grow, our dedication to support each and every one of our kids to reach their goals is unwavering. Thanks to our new partnership with the Heisman Trophy and New York Community Trusts we will be able to continue and enhance our mission.

It may be April now but we can’t help reminiscing on March and all the fantastic basketball we were able to watch during this year’s March Madness tournament. 136 teams represented their colleges and universities represented in the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament. This premier collegiate basketball event provides a platform to each educational institution to showcase both their athletic achievements as well as broadcast their brand across the country. As college basketball games dominate cable networks and streaming platforms during the month of March, we decided to bring March Madness into our own daily programming in order to increase college awareness among our students! At Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School (BSNBCS) and Corpus Christi School. Kids in the Game celebrated March Madness by hosting a “College and Career Week.”

During the week of March 19th, eight guest speakers from various academic and career backgrounds spoke to the students of BSNBCS and Corpus Christi. Each speaker discussed their collegiate experience and career journey, leading them to offer their best advice and tips to the curious and ambitions young scholars. Check out a few highlights from the speakers below!

Hon. Richard Clinchy- Westchester Town Councilman, High School Teacher, College Basketball Coach, High School Basketball Coach, Motivational Speaker.

Coach Clinchy spoke of his time playing baseball both at Hobart University and professionally. He discussed the supreme importance of education, his role as a teacher and coach, and offered advice on how to get recruited by a college coach. After asking students to think of their intrinsic motivation, he stressed each scholar to truly believe in their ability to succeed in whatever they may be passionate about – sports, art, theater, science. Finally, all students were gifted with a t-shirt with a quote from Duke University coach, Coach K, “Always Do Your Best!”

Tatum Boehnke – Director of Community and Impact for Kids in the Game. NCAA Division One Swimmer and Swimming Coach.

Tatum spoke of her development as a swimmer and her determination to set the for swimming across the English Channel! Connecting her swimming with her education, she credits her success in both endeavors to positive goal-setting, having a strong support system, and her internal determination and belief in herself. A graduate of Northern Colorado State University, Tatum transitioned to collegiate swimming coach and working in athletic admissions at her Alma matter. As she loved to help her athletes, Tatum pursued her passion of helping those around her by joining KING as the Director of Community and Impact!

Will McKinney – Associate Director of Marketing, Urban Catalog at Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment

Will is an extremely successful marketing director in the music production industry tasked with working with top artists to select hit singles and figure out how to properly market each song to reach a widespread audience using a variety of platforms. Will enthralled the students of BSNBCS with his stories of working with SZA, Wyclef John, Whitney Houston, Tribe Called Quest, Beyonce’s marketing team, Travis Scott, and Bryson Tiller. A graduate of Belmont University, he offered advice to our students on the benefit of growing up in NYC – a cultural music hub with a multitude of music industry resources available to all students.

Dan Bradley – Senior Producer, Director of Video, Sports at VICE.

Produced sports documentaries with Steph Curry, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Marshawn Lynch
Dan, a Syracuse University alumni, gave a multi-media presentation that interwove his various sports documentaries with each part of his professional development. Starting off with a Steph Curry and Under Armour commercial he directed, he spoke of starting his own production company with two friends as they combined their resources and worked day and night to find success. Next was a series produced with Carmelo Anthony, highlighting a high school soccer team in Manhattan. Dan spoke about creating VICE Sports and his continued focus on finding the cross-section of sports and culture, all packaged in a unique story. After a clip of the world’s best female rock climber, a teenager from NYC, Dan offered tangible advice for those interested in creating videos and digital storytelling. iPhones, YouTube, creativity, and finding a unique angle will lead young creators down a path of success.

Kids the Game often uses the tagline #GrowingUpKing when talking about how we want to positively affect the way kids are growing up in New York City, but the tagline also applies to how we want to grow as an organization. We are dedicated to challenging ourselves, embracing diverse backgrounds and experiences, and always striving for personal and professional growth.

As of today, Kids in the Game (KING) is excited to announce that we have recently acquired and will join forces with Fit 4 Life NYC, a youth organization focused on sports, creative movement, and physical education programs for charter schools in underserved communities. Together, the organizations serve over 20,000 NYC youth annually across 50+ schools.

Along with growing our network of schools, Fit 4 Life NYC will add over 40 talented and dedicated coaches to our current staff. The combined organization will now employ over 125 youth development instructors working in NYC schools on a daily basis across Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. Among those 40+ coaches, Maurelhena Walles will be coming on board to our Sr. team as Sr. Vice President of Program and Initiatives. Maurelhena brings both a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to Kids in the Game and we are thrilled to be working together to bring the very best programming to all kids growing up in New York City.

“By joining forces with KING, the possibilities and opportunities are limitless, said Maurelhena Walles, Execute Director of Fit 4 Life NYC. “Through our programs, services and genuine love for the work we do, day in and out, I am confident we will have a greater impact on the youth, families and communities we serve. Together, we can keep kids in the game while making NYC fit for life. We’re looking forward to this next chapter and building a tremendous organization.”

“Our acquisition of Fit 4 Life NYC allows us to further our mission to make a real, measurable impact on the health and future of NYC youth,” said Matt Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Kids in the Game. “We found through our discovery process that our teams had a tremendous amount in common, and the acquisition will make it possible for us to reach new neighborhoods, expand our programming, and deepen our leadership team. We look forward to working with Maurelhena and her team to give all New York City kids the opportunity to be active, healthy, and have access to positive coaches. ”
As we officially join forces with Fit 4 Life NYC today, we want to encourage you to reach out to info@kidsinthegame.com with any questions that you may have!

Read the full press release here!

About Fit 4 Life NYC:
Fit 4 Life NYC is committed to supporting schools, non-profit organizations and under-served communities in creating healthy and active environments. Based in NYC, Fit 4 Life NYC provides comprehensive school day and enrichment programs, professional development workshops, and traditional and non-traditional sports. Fit 4 Life NYC works with over 20 schools, non-profits, and other community based partners across 4 boroughs of NYC, reaching over 4,000 youth annually.

It isn’t easy to summarize a year at Kids in the Game – there are so many small victories that go unseen with the children we work with. Measuring confidence, friendships, perseverance, and just plain fun are not always possible. However, we close out 2017 knowing that those are the wins that we are most proud of. Our organization’s purpose is to change the way New York City children are growing up and this year was a huge step towards reaching our goals. Reading through our 2015 and 2016 reviews, we continue to make tremendous progress and find ourselves more and more excited about what is yet to come. Here are some of the highlights from the year and what you can expect to see from KING in 2018:

1. We continue to expand and serve more schools and families across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx – we worked with over 16,000 children this year across summer camps, school programming, and our travel teams. Our team has approached ~100 talented coaches, yet we still feel like a family in our approach.

2. We had our best summer yet! Our 4 summer camps served ~700 families from June to August as we continued to add new and creative programming for the kids. We had an emphasis on improving our swimming program, adding lessons and better facilities. There was also more interaction between our camps, as we had days that our older camps went to other sites to meet new friends and have some healthy competition. We had fun building out our theme weeks (ie Camp Olympics, Through the Decades, Spirit Week, Superhero Week, etc) and have some creative ideas for 2018 in the works. Our newest location was opened in Park Slope, and look forward to announcing our 5th location for 2018 here shortly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvGsjrPjuiI

3. Although we have a team full of active, energetic, sports lovers, we also consciously opened our mind in 2017 to how technology can enhance what we do. We grew our partnership with CodingKidz, providing after-school and summer camp programs in Robotics, Coding, and Video Game Design, as well as made November ‘Sports Technology’ month across all our schools. Our kids collectively walked to Australia in November (measured by our Fitbits), we had SportsTechie cover our Virtual Reality event at Corpus Christi School, and started meeting as a team to talk about other technology and innovation that will help engage more children and enhance our sports programs. It certainly won’t replace what we do at the core, but always looking for ways to improve!

4. Our travel teams continued to make us oh so proud. KING Hoops had 5 teams playing this fall between middle school and high school, with kids coming from many of our schools and communities we work in throughout the year. We won our first tournament this year in Connecticut, and almost all age groups made tournament runs more regularly. Winning isn’t everything, but we’re a competitive group! KING Spikes, our volleyball program, continued to grow and is primed for a big year in 2018. We launched KING Speed, our track and field program, led by Suzie Clinchy who joined our team this year. We are so proud of the programs we’ve run in schools (PS 188M, Blessed Sacrament, Rebecca School, Leman Manhattan) and of our kids that are starting to run in competitive meets around the city. We take a lot of pride in wearing KING on our jersey and the way our players represent us and continue to grow.

5. Furthering our mission to reach all children in NYC, our non-profit KING Kids has made tremendous progress in bridging the opportunity gap. In our first full year of operation, we were humbled by the amount of support and empathy people have for making sure all schools and families have access to positive coaches and opportunities to play sports. We built a junior board of talented young professionals that have helped us drive the movement and fundraise for scholarships and new programming. Our team hosted our first large fundraising event, a 3 on 3 tournament at St Francis, with over 20 teams. We ran our first corporate volunteer day with VML Foundation, donating sports equipment to 3 public schools across Harlem and the Bronx. We’ve added life skills workshops and academic support opportunities for all our travel teams. We built a website. Tons of good work, and the best part is that we are just getting started! So much to do in 2018 in our community and we appreciate everyone’s willingness to help our cause!

6. Not always apparent to our families or schools, but we have turned inward to make staff development and training a top priority as an organization. Both personal and professional development is a big part of working at KING, which ultimately helps us grow together and run better and better programs in the community. That will continue to be the case in 2018!

Our team continues to believe in the power of sports and positive coaching to help kids grow. Although not something we typically share with our following, our internal core values are what continues to drive our decision making and what we truly believe in while we work with youth. We wanted to share them with you below to give you some insight into what we are all about and our team’s daily focus as we continue strengthening our programs.

1. Radiate positivity and a family spirit
2. Lead by example through healthy habits
3. Embrace individual strengths and diverse backgrounds
4. Present solutions, not problems
5. Be resourceful and creative – do more with less
6. Constant pursuit of personal growth and learning
7. See the big picture
8. Be a world-class communicator
9. Work as a team, play as a team, grow as a team
10. Strive to always be the best part of our kids’ day

Thank you to everyone that has made 2017 such a year to remember. The support we get from principals, parents, coaches, partners, friends, and family is what keeps us energized and healthy. More to come from KING!

Anytime a parent, school or organization asks us what makes us different than other companies in our field, the same answer always comes to mind first: our awesome staff. Each month we take the time to honor a Coach of the Month and we want to share a few fun facts about November’s pick.

Hector was awarded November coach of the month by a landslide vote by his peers and our senior team. Hector began his KING journey through the Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP). This program provides job-ready 16-24 year-old young adults who are currently not employed or in school, placement into a short-term internship opportunity. Funded through the Mayor’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO), the program offers 14 weeks of paid orientation, training and work followed by 9 months of follow-up services and assistance for placement in permanent jobs, training programs and educational opportunities. Hector successfully completed his internship and has been with KING ever since taking on various roles and levels of responsibility including summer camp counselor, after-school leader and basketball coach. In January Hector will continue to grow with KING through the Up2Us Sports Coaches program.

As good a person as he is coach, let’s learn some more about Coach Hector!

What is one word you would use to describe yourself as a child?
A. Easy, adventurous.

If you were to tell one person “Thank You” for helping you become the person you are today, who would it be and why?
A. Also easy, Coach Tracey. He has mentored me over the past year and has taught me how to be a better leader, teammate and coach.

What movie or novel character do you most identify with?
I identify with the character “Zero” from the novel and film Holes. What I find the most interesting about Zero is how he is always underestimated. He has never been to school, but has great mathematical intelligence. I, like Zero, like to prove to people that where you come from doesn’t have to determine where you are going.

Fill in the blank: If you really knew me, you’d know_____

My favorite football team is the New York Jets. I am a very passionate fan of my football team even though sometimes it is not easy being at Jets fan! I practically watched my team lose in every embarrassing way possible week after week. However, I still choose to be loyal and root for them every Sunday. J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!

If you were to start a company from scratch, what values would you build it on?
I believe core values for any business to succeed is solid teamwork and strong leadership. Good communications skills are another value that is very important to satisfy the customers.

What is one memory do you treasure the most?
Going to my very first NBA game with my father! He surprised me with tickets, and it was a game that I will never forget!

What super power would you like to have?
The super power I would like to have is teleportation. I would be able to travel the world in the snap of a finger.

Big congratulations to Coach Hector and stay tuned for next month’s Coach of the Month!

Mount-Carmel Holy Rosary or better known in our office as MCHR is a PreK-3 through 8th grade school in East Harlem. KING currently runs the after-school program at MCHR led by our fearless program manager Tracey Lewis. MCHR is a member of the Partnership School Organization and arguably has the cutest school uniforms of all time. Along with the uniform cred, MCHR has been shining in the after-school game as well. Here are some highlights and shoutouts that you need to know about:

1) Program Highlight:
PreK Chess Club: Yes you read that correctly, at MCHR the PreK kids are better at chess than (more than?) half our staff. Chess club is just one of the extracurricular activities offered at MCHR, others include homework help, STEM projects, and sports activities.

2) Kid Highlight:
Mayalee is a kindergarten student at MCHR. She is an active participant in all after school activities and was an easy choice for KING Kid of the month. Mayalee takes working on her homework very seriously and always asks great questions when she needs help. Her math and reading skills have improved tremendously because of her eagerness to learn. Keep up the great work Mayalee, we love seeing that smile everyday at MCHR!

Scarlet is a Pre-K student at MCHR. A few words her coaches use to describe her are: listener, hard worker, compassionate and kind friend… those are some awesome words! She demonstrates genuine love and kindness to everyone whom she interacts. We are so grateful that we get to work with Scarlet and watch her grow up as a Kid in the Game. You are a role model Scarlet!

3) Staff Highlight:
This Staff Rocks! Our staff at MCHR is a wonderful group of coaches that love spending a part of their day at this school. Laughter and learning fill the air between structured dance routines, art projects, and sports games. The bond between our coaches and the after-school students at MCHR is undeniably strong and we know that our coaches gain just as much from the students as they do from yes. We are very grateful for the partnership with MCHR. Thank you coaches for all your hard work!

4) UNICEF Kid Power Update:
In January we started the UNICEF Kid Power Training Program with MCHR 4th-8th graders in the after-school program.(need a reminder of what this is? Click here!) Since starting the program the kids at MCHR have taken over 197,000 steps, earned over 3,800 power points, and donated 382 food packets to underdeveloped countries. Let’s keep cheering them on… keep on stepping, skipping, running, and playing!

The 2016 election cycle was no doubt full of controversy, strong opinions and unrest. Issues from healthcare to border patrol were debated upon month after month (felt like years, really) with little resolve. Our educational system was no exception to the controversy and debate of this cycle. Until recently, Senator Bernie Sanders headlined the education debates with his stance on higher education affordability. However, this past month a new name in the education politics has stolen the headlines. President Trump’s Secretary of Education pick, Betsy DeVos broke onto the scene with her lack luster confirmation hearing performance last month. America was left in traditionally unchartered territory of not knowing if President Trump’s pick would be confirmed at all.

However, as of this past Tuesday, America now knows that answer. In a 51-50 vote (tie broken, by Vice President Pence) the U.S. Senate confirmed DeVos to the position of Secretary of Education. Now we must wonder what her confirmation means to the current educational landscape.

We admit it is not in the typical Kids in the Game wheelhouse to blog about politics. However, the landscape of our nation’s educational system directly affects organizations, like us, that do direct programming within public, private and charter schools. The confirmation of Betsy DeVos presents an interesting ideology change in our country’s current educational system. With a conscious effort to present the facts, we will explore who DeVos is and how her confirmation could affect Kids in the Game and New York City Schools.

Who is Betsy DeVos? She is a Michigan native that describes herself as a philanthropist and education activist. She is an advocate for school of choice, a system that utilizes the voucher system. Politico reported President Trump campaigned on a $20 billion proposal government funded voucher program making his pick of DeVos not overly surprising. The voucher system would allow families the financial flexibility to choose schools for their children. For example, a child would be able to attend a private school that they could not afford prior to receiving a voucher. We can all agree that $20 billion dollars is a significant amount of money and that money will need to come from somewhere. Most likely, that somewhere will be the current public educational budget. Meaning, while some students will be able to go to a private school of their choice, public schools potentially lose general funding.

It is no secret that the first programs cut in financial burden are arts, physical education and after school programs. According to a report city Controller Scott Stringer put out in 2015 32% of NYC schools currently do not provide physical education. More alarmingly 600,000 New York City K-12 graders are reported to “take care of themselves” after school already. In efforts to lower these statistics, NYC mayor Bill de Blasio introduced a $100 million initiative for physical education programs in the city last spring. DeVos and de Balasio aligning very differently on funding issues will be something to watch.

What else does DeVos believe?

1. While like many political events, DeVos Congressional hearing provided a lot of questions with few firm answers. One of the more interesting questions poised at the hearing to DeVos, by Senator Tim Kaine, was her take on providing funding for students requiring special education. DeVos repeated her stance of leaving that decision up to the individual states. Dependent on which side New York State would choose to be on – fund or not – would greatly impact the educational landscape of New York City. Families requiring special education programs for their child would potentially be forced to reevaluate where they reside.

2. Commonly connected to DeVos are charter schools. Charter schools are tax-payer funded but privately ran schools that traditionally have more flexibility in curriculum, hiring practices, and are occasionally owned by for-profit entities. DeVos has promoted charter schools in her home state of Michigan, particularly in urban Detroit. In general, support of charter schools has come from both sides of the political aisle. So it would seem that DeVos’ connection with charter schools wouldn’t be too hot of a topic. However, it is important to note that in Detroit 80% of the charter schools are for-profit and are not subjected to strict performance standards due, in part, to DeVos lobbying against firmer evaluations.

New York has taken a different approach to charter schools than Detroit and originally capped the number of operating charters to 100 statewide until it could be definitively proven there is educational benefit from this style of school. Currently there are 183 charter schools in New York City and any with Department of Education accreditation are set to the same standards as traditional public schools. With a DeVos cabinet-ship confirmed, the questions of how charters will be evaluated, funded and expanded upon need to be asked.

A full fact sheet of the history of charter schools in New York can be found here.

3. Citing a small town in Wyoming, DeVos showed support for guns in schools for situational grizzly bear trespassing. How does this affect KING and NYC schools, you say? Considering, grizzly bears do not inhabit the state of New York (unless you count the Bronx Zoo) we should naturally stay pretty safe from those darn grizzlies. All jokes aside, gun violence is a topic that will continue to be of both great importance and great debate in our country. With school security currently at all-time high it is something to keep a close eye on.

*It should also be noted that DeVos did not provide a definitive answer if only schools with potential bear invasions would be allowed on on-campus guns.

As of today, DeVos is our Secretary of Education. As our country continues to transition to new leadership and a new presidency, Kids in the Game’s mission remains the same: we strive to provide opportunities through sport and fitness to as many children in New York City as possible regardless of what neighborhood they are from or what school they attend.

What if all it took to make a positive impact in the world was to simply walk, play and be a kid?

Thanks to the Jr. NBA, Kids in the Game has been selected to participate in UNICEF’s Kid Power Training program and do just that. Starting this week, 4th through 8th graders in our Mount Carmel Holy Rosary (MCHR) after-school program will be participating in the program that translates steps taken into philanthropic efforts. The Training Program is a kids-helping-kids initiative that “promotes both fitness and global citizenship”.

Each student will receive a Kid Power band that will track their movement and count their steps. With every 2,400 steps the student takes they will receive a Kid Power Point. A cumulation of 10 points earns a therapeutic food packet donation. These packets contain a nutrient-rich peanut paste specifically designed for kids in malnourished communities. UNICEF has donated to over 190 countries and will determine where the packets go by which communities need it the most.

Not only will this program increase our kid’s physical fitness awareness but it will also test their responsibility skills. The kids will be wearing the bands throughout the day and will take them home each evening. They are responsible for their own band and keeping it in tip-top shape. Our staff will collect the bands for each weekend to recharge and sync all results on the program tablet.

“I was amazed by the infectious humanitarianism my kids displayed right after I introduced the Kid Power Band mission. My kids are informed and ready to be active to help as many kids as possible”, said Tracey Lewis, Kids in the Game, MCHR After-School Director.

And because everyone loves a good ol’ fashioned contest, we have decided to add a classic grade versus grade competition to help those legs keep stepping. 4th grade will be competing against 5th and the middle school 6th, 7th and 8th grades will try to outstep each other. Along with the kids getting Power Bands, teachers and Kids in the Game staff will also be joining in the fun and stepping along with the kids. Their steps will count towards their team totals as well as gaining overall power points.

We at Kids in the Game feel very fortunate to be a part of this program. Bringing social awareness and empowerment to our kids and staff is a core value we hold. It is an honor to be taking this step (pun intended!) with UNICEF to end malnourishment around the world.

With negativity plaguing the internet our Kids in the Game wanted to remind us all that there is always time to be kind. We asked an array of participants in our various after-school programs two simple questions, “How can you show kindness?” and “What does kindness mean to you?”. What we got in return are heartfelt, raw, and admittedly hilarious answers that give hope that kindness is our future.

“If someone was alone at school, I would go play with them. You can also clean your sister’s room… she would LOVE that. And mostly, be a good listener, listening to others is what being kind is.” -Steve, 1st Grade

“Kindness is being nice to everyone no matter what they look like” -Evan, 4th grade

“Kindness is being nice even when you don’t want to.” -Taylor, 3rd grade

“I share!” -Marvin, Pre-K

“It is kind when people help me with my homework. It’s unkind when other kids play around during class, because people like me want to learn. I can be better at not fooling around too, especially during taekwondo class because I don’t want to get kicked in the face for not being careful. Kicking is also just not kind.”-Teagan, 2nd Grade

“I can help people that are being bullied by standing up for them. I can also be kind to old people because they have trouble hearing and seeing plus they are nice to me.”-Roberto, 1st Grade

“Giving friends hugs.” -Ja’Cobe, Pre-K

“By being nice to my family and cleaning the walls with my mommy, because that’s my job. My mommy is kindness to me. Oh, and I have another kindness: when I play with my daddy and my daddy plays with me.” -Scarlet, Pre-K

Let’s face it being a good dancer just makes life easier. It allows you to walk confidently onto the dance floor at your cousins wedding and shake it off, electric slide, and nae-nae all night long. You don’t sweat it when your friends want to go out dancing and you feel no anxiety joining that salsa class going on at the studio down the street. I can confidently say that is not me…my life is not easy. Not that I want to blame my parents for this but one hundred percent… its all their fault. Growing up I played every sport offered but was never enrolled in a dance class. I never learned the grace of a ballerina, the rhythm of a jazz dancer or the creative movement that modern dancers possess. Lucky for the kids in our Kids in the Game programs they don’t need to live their adult lives resenting their parents for never letting them dance! In 2017, we are upping the ante and are offering more movement and dance classes then ever before!

Thanks to KING staff member Frances Niduaza-Murphy, KING has always implemented movement and dance into our curriculum. Frances is a professionally certified Zumba instructor and also teaches step and hip-hop classes to many of our after school programs. She also led the way to have Kids in the Game be accredited by Zumba Kids. Her desire to combined music and movement has paved the way for our newest KING dance coaches to expand upon our current offerings.

Hailey Kemp joined the KING staff just this month and is bringing immense talent and experience to our staff. Dancing from the age of 3 (good job parents!) she has experience in ballet, jazz and lyrical performance dance styles. She studied somatic and improvisation practices in college and has a passion for teaching fitness dance, Zumba and musical theater. So basically, she is pretty darn qualified. Hailey said it best when she told me why she loved to pass her experience on through teaching, “Teaching is important to me because it allows all children regardless of their history, ethnicity, and social status to move equally”. Hailey says her favorite type of dance to teach is improvisation and creative movement because it allows the children to shine and put their influences into movement.

Joining Hailey is an array of other talented dancers and coaches. With new programming starting this New Year such as ballet classes at the School of the Blessed Sacrament, and a constant desire to widen our range of offerings, our coaches will stay busy teaching their best moves. Maybe even it’s not too late for me to stop resenting my (wonderful!) parents and have them teach me to be a dancing KING too!