Q What is The Kids With Courage Foundation?

The Kids With Courage Foundation supports children and young people who are forced to fight each day to live—those battling Type 1 diabetes. As a 501 (c) (3) charity, Kids With Courage programming provides opportunities that empower, educate and create positive outcomes directly in their lives.

Q Why is the Kids With Courage Foundation programming important?

Because not all little girls and boys get to live the fairy tale belief of American childhood according to which children are meant to live happily ever after, enjoy fun and carefree childhoods, nor die too soon. Each year in the United States there are approximately 15,000 children and young people diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. These children are placed in a world of medical procedure and protocol and forced to face and fight a disease that is trying to kill them each and every day. It is a tragedy that changes life for the child and the entire family, forever. Without intensive insulin therapy and carefully monitored medical treatment, organs would begin to fail, eventually causing blindness, kidney failure and death. To stay alive, people with Type 1 diabetes are required to take multiple daily injections or continually infuse insulin through a pump, and test to monitor their blood sugar numerous times a day, in order to attempt to keep it within safe levels. Children and young people battling this form of diabetes must be prepared at all times for serious reactions and complications. A childhood stolen. It is difficult to say the least. An investment in the lives of these brave children is crucial. Support is necessary to transform little boys and little girls hearts into warriors who need all the courage, strength and perseverance possible to fight their life long battle.

Q How did the Kids With Courage Foundation get started?

The Kids With Courage story all began on March 9, 2006, the day brave little 7 year old McGwire from Lee’s Summit Missouri was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  Life changed that day as McGwire was placed in a new world filled with medical procedure and protocol.  Forced to bear the burdens of a dreadful, life altering, life threatening disease and live a life of finger pokes, multiple daily injections, restrictions, interruptions and worries that children should not have to concern themselves with, yet  brave little McGwire found a way to wake up each and every day with a smile. Our founder, Daphna Bottcher was inspired by her child’s amazing strength and courage.  As a parent of a child diagnosed with Type 1, Daphna quickly realized that hope alone was passively inadequate to manage the daily challenges and demands of this devastating, scary disease. Daphna knew she wanted something more. The kids who battle each day to live needed more. They deserved more. A lot more. While no organization filled that void, Daphna developed the idea and pursued the creation of an organization that proactively promotes courage as its cornerstone, believing that daily courage is an essential tool to fight this disease. On September 17, 2007 the first Crate, Full of Courage, (now called Brave Box), a bundle of encouragement, overflowing with essential tools, educational materials, love and support was delivered to a newly diagnosed patient with Type 1 diabetes at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Since then, thousands have been delivered.

Q What is the Kids With Courage Foundation’s Vision?

We share the vision of our founder and creator, Daphna Bottcher. Our vision is about the kids we serve. “A culture of engaged young people (who just happen to have Type 1 diabetes), with “can do” attitudes, committed to a lifetime of learning, achievement, leadership and service.” This vision cannot be realized without people caring about them and helping them along their way.

Q How does the Kids With Courage Foundation Raise Funds?

Raising the money that our kids need is an ongoing process and come from several sources. Funds come from individuals, memorial and honorarium programs, business/corporate gifts and sponsorships, foundation grants, and fundraising events. Kids With Courage also relies on in-kind donations  to lessen the cost of goods and services.

Q How will my donation be helpful?

Your dollars would make a genuinely impactful difference and matter directly in the lives of our incredibly brave children through our meaningful programs. As a dear friend to Kids With Courage once told us—“We’d rather make a ‘big’ splash in small pond.” For individuals and businesses looking to support an organization whose needs would likely not be met without their efforts, Kids With Courage is that organization. All funds are devoted to advancing the foundation’s mission through direct support of programs and services or the development of fundraising to further support our programs and services.

Q How can individuals and businesses help the Kids With Courage Foundation?

We believe that everyone can make a difference, and we encourage everyone to get involved. There are many ways to help.

Individuals: Join us at one of our fundraising events, make a direct contribution, plan your own fundraiser, volunteer, (volunteer opportunities), make thinking of you care cards for the kids, memorial and honorarium gifts on behalf of loved ones are accepted. Shop our online Courage shop.

Businesses: Sponsor an event. Partner with us. Make a direct contribution. Board Service. Join us at one of our fund-raisers. Have your own fundraiser at your business.  Provide in kind gifts of items and/or services we need to fulfill our mission.

Q Are your support programs available to children and young people in certain cities, states, or nationally?

We are proud to say that the Kids With Courage Foundation makes an important difference in the lives of children and young people battling Type 1.

Kids With Courage support can come in many ways:

e-Services/Online Tools: For families where T1 lives who live outside our local delivery/service area, helpful tools, critical resources and valuable information available through our online tools.

Brave Box Program:  Currently provided in the states of Missouri and Kansas for patients at local hospital (s). Thousands have been delivered to date. If someone you care about needs one, you can purchase one of our shippable, condensed versions, and we can send it to you or them.  Email inquiry to courage@kidswithcourage.org

Scholarship Program: Click here for information about our Champions Scholarship Program.

Q How much of the money raised goes to your programs versus administrative/fundraising costs?

The Kids With Courage Foundation is committed to making every donation count, giving as much as possible to the programs to support our children and young people. Thanks to our kind and generous supporters and our amazing board/administrators , we have been able to keep our administrative and fundraising expenses at a minimum. It is our goal each year to have combined administrative and fundraising expenses at less than ten cents of every dollar.  Meaning that of every dollar raised a minimum of 90 cents will be spent on programs that make a positive impact and matters directly in the lives of our ‘Kids With Courage.

Q Is my financial contribution tax deductible?

Yes. Kids With Courage is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization. Your financial contributions are deductible for federal income tax purposes. Please consult with your financial advisor or tax consultant to determine the extent of tax deductibility for you specifically.