We believe every young person deserves the opportunity to build a great future for themselves, by achieving success in school,developing a strong character, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry.
Our Founding Story
In 2007, our founder Kenton Lee traveled to Nairobi, Kenya after graduating college. He lived and worked at a small orphanage with some incredible kids. One day, he was walking down a dusty road with all the kids when he noticed a little girl in a white dress walking next to him. As he looked down at her feet, he was shocked to see how small her shoes were. They were so small that she had to cut open the front of her shoes to let her toes stick out. That was the day that Kenton thought:
What if there was a shoe that could adjust and expand its size?
What if there was a shoe that could grow?
And the idea for The Shoe That Grows™ was born.
It took Kenton and a group of friends back in their hometown in Idaho more than six years to take this idea and turn it into a reality. But they finally did it; they made The Shoe That Grows—a shoe that grows five sizes and lasts for years.
They started the nonprofit organization Because International™ to serve as the structure to get The Shoe That Grows to as many kids as possible who are in desperate need of footwear to protect their feet. This was always meant to be a small hobby for Kenton and his friends. It was something they were passionate about, but they never dreamed it would be the worldwide cause and movement that it is today.
We enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, we create learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids carry to everything they do.
We enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, we create learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do.
Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center is named in loving memory of Patricia “Pat” Wolfe, a tremendous child advocate for the Charlotte community who passed away on May 7, 2000. As a former juvenile court counselor, social worker, and case advocate, Pat was well-known for her passion in assisting children in need. She often used her own finances to help “her kids” buy food, clothing, access to daycare, and any other personal need. After more than 30 years of working with youth throughout Mecklenburg County, it was not uncommon for grown adults to call Pat or stop in to visit because they were so appreciative of the compassion she had shown for them as children. Prior to her sudden passing, Pat was involved in the planning process for opening an advocacy center in Charlotte that would assist children specifically involved in sexual abuse. Today, that center is known as Pat’s Place in honor of a woman who gave her all to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in our community. The idea for Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center was incubated at the Council for Children (now Council for Children’s Rights) to address an acute problem faced by child victims of abuse in Charlotte. All too often, children with the courage to talk about the abuse they had experienced were expected to undergo repeated questioning about the most traumatic event in their lives. Pat’s Place was established to ensure that all the services a child and family needs (medical examinations, forensic interviewing, advocacy support) could occur in one location – a safe, nurturing, child-friendly environment, at no cost to a child’s family. Since opening with one staff member in 2005, Pat’s Place has experienced significant program growth and now employs 20 professionals with wide ranging expertise. The incredible support and generosity of community stakeholders have helped Pat’s Place achieve great things during its brief history:
To Be There For Every Foster Child In Silicon Valley Who Has Experienced Abuse Neglect And/Or Abandonment
Our vision is a world where children with disabilities are included and empowered through play.
Our mission is to facilitate the inclusion of children with disabilities into their families, schools and communities by providing accessible play, adapted toys, technology, information and resources.
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