Campaigns | Children Mending Hearts

Please Mr. President

Inner City Boy ... is an arts exchange workshop program designed to give at-risk and homeless children in the U.S., and children suffering globally in conflict zones and in disaster areas, a voice for creative expression.

Among the activities at our half-day workshops, children write letters and paint pictures sharing the story of their lives, their hopes and dreams for the future. The workshops give children the power to use their voices through music, painting, dance and photography. By strengthening their minds and hearts through creative stimulation, the program encourages young people to expand their individual potential, build self-esteem, and create hope.

When they write a letter or paint a t-shirt or a backpack for a child in need in another country, a child who may have even less than they do, children learn understanding and the power of positive action.

Our Please Mr. President workshops kicked off mid-2009 in Los Angeles at Union Rescue Mission in partnership with four local organizations. In November 2009, we went to New York City and, in conjunction with the Mayor's Office and seven local non-profits working with homeless children, we conducted our largest workshop to date.

Subsequent domestic workshops have been held in Las Vegas, where over 900 children participated and we partnered with 12 non-profit organizations; and In May 2011, we conducted our 2nd workshop in Los Angeles, visiting South Central Los Angeles where, in conjunction with Reach Back LA, we partnered with the City of Los Angeles, eight area non-profits and conducted our Please Mr. President workshop for over 650 children.

Internationally our arts exchange workshops have enriched children in Darfur (2007), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2009 and 2010) and in Haiti (2011). We anticipate traveling to Japan late 2011 or early 2012.

Through Please Mr. President, CMH completes the cycle of support by providing the creative and imaginative component crucial to a child's emotional development.

Since its inception, Children Mending Hearts' arts exchange workshops have reached over 10,000 children.

HOW WE DO IT

With city officials and non-profits that specialize in aid to at-risk and homeless children, we identify children to participate in this program across the country.

Prior to each workshop, CMH identifies local non-profit organizations that work with their community's disadvantaged and at-risk children and invites them to participation. CMH learns what the organizations need in terms of support, resources and/or volunteers, and develops Take Action steps for each partner. CMH then recruits and trains volunteers from local schools, service clubs and other organizations. Volunteers sign up and commit to assist participating organizations with their Take Action steps over the course of twelve months following the workshop.

As a result, CMH leaves a lasting footprint, a trained volunteer pool "on the ground" helping to ensure support for our local partner organizations that are working directly with the community's at-risk children.

Workshops include:

Volunteer writers, artists and teachers who lead activities
Teen volunteers in a peer-to-peer development program to inspire on-going community service
Special celebrity guests - actors, musicians, athletes - who visit and work with the children
A DJ spinning tunes
Lunch for all the children and volunteers
Take Action steps from partner organizations

Our Please Mr. President... workshop goals for sustainable action are two-fold:

To create active young people who will continue to serve and empower their peers to express their voices within their own communities.
To empower local organizations that work with at-risk and homeless children by learning what our partner organizations in each city need and then creating TAKE ACTION points for the volunteer pool at each workshop to execute as part of a long-term outreach for these groups working in the trenches with these disadvantaged children and their families.

In the U.S., our workshops expand our program partners' outreach to leave a lasting footprint with a committed base of volunteers in place to benefit the children in the community.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Each urban workshop in the U.S. costs between $50,000 and $75,000 depending upon the number of kids, and their family members or chaperones, in each workshop. This includes transportation, food and drink, art, jewelry & craft supplies, t-shirts and items for painting and for specific arts exchanges, travel expenses, security, venue rental and insurance, etc.
Inner City Child

Your donation of $50 will supply the following for one child:

Art Supplies
Craft Supplies
Jewelry making supplies
Food & drinks for child and family
T-shirts or another item to paint for exchange with kids in distress abroad
Please Mr. President T-shirt for giveaway

An unforgettable day that may change how a child feels about his/her life.

International Program to Help Children Affected by Tragedy in Japan

In response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011, and the ongoing dreadful aftermath that continues to unfold in Japan, IZOD IndyCar driver, Takuma Sato, and Children Mending Hearts are collaborating on an international fundraising program entitled "With you Japan."

The "With you Japan" program was created by Takuma, who quickly recognized the tremendous amount of support that so many of the children in Japan will continue to need over the coming weeks, months and even years. These young, innocent survivors will need assistance as they cope with experiencing such traumatic events where they may have lost members of their family, their friends, teachers and even their homes, sometimes right before their eyes.

Takuma Sato and Children Mending Hearts will maximize campaign efforts by working closely together under a collaborative theme entitled "Hands and Hearts across the Water." The theme ties in the hands that steer the IndyCar driver's race cars at great speeds, and the heart from Children Mending Hearts, and symbolizes the united front of both parties to support children affected by the catastrophe from oceans away. Campaigns over the course of the project will include artwork, letter writing and craft items from children in the Please Mr. President workshops in America to share with their brothers and sisters in Japan; donation programs to send much needed clothing, shoes and supplies to the children in Japan, and other outreach as needs arise.

"Children Mending Hearts is thrilled to be partnering with Takuma and his 'With you Japan' project," said Lysa Heslov, Founder of Children Mending Hearts. "We look forward to helping thousands of children again find light and hope in their lives."

All proceeds raised through With you Japan will be used to help empower local child-care professionals in Japan to provide responsive and proactive care to thousands of children as they try to move forward with their lives.

With you Japan will engage in several fundraising events including speaking engagements, merchandise sales, celebrity collectible auctions, and eventually through mobile phone text donations. Takuma will also predominantly carry the "With you Japan" program message on his KV-Lotus race car and helmet.

Through the generous support of Takuma's IndyCar competitors, other renowned drivers such as Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan and many others have already donated valuable autographed racing gloves to auction off to worldwide race fans. Takuma will continue to collect autographed gloves from other race drivers and athletes from other sports, throughout the year. These gloves symbolize the hands of friendship between the worldwide community and Japan. These racing gloves, along with other autographed items including helmets and race suits, will be available to the public through online auction.

Terry Angstadt, President of the INDY Race League Commercial Division said, "We are proud to support Takuma as he campaigns to assist with the recovery in his home country after this devastating disaster. With so many great partners, drivers, team members and fans from Japan, as well as our friends at Twin Ring Motegi, the country remains in the hearts of the entire INDYCAR community and we're committed to do anything we can to help in their time of need through Takuma and With you Japan."

"With you Japan" will raise funds by selling "With you Japan" t-shirts in pink and blue for kids; and in white and black for adults. These were first available at the Long Beach Grand Prix and the world-famous Indy 500 race this spring, where fans at both races were introduced to the charity and its mission. T-shirts are available online at the store on the WithyouJapan.org website. T-shirts will also be available at select IndyCar races throughout the season.

Takuma Sato commented, "It is just so devastating and heartbreaking what has happened. People in Japan are suffering so much, and the children are going through a terrifying situation. I am personally supporting a few campaigns but since I am competing in the IndyCar series, I want to do something special to support Japan from North America. This "With you Japan" campaign is going to do several projects and hopefully make a difference."

For further information please visit, www.WithYouJapan.org
"With you Japan" Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/WithYouJapanCharity

After School Arts Program

HOW YOU CAN HELP

On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti.

The earthquake has taken 230,000 lives and left more than 1 million homeless. The people of Haiti are living in extremely tight quarters; only some of the camps have running water and toilets. One million children have been affected by the earthquake, with more than 20,000 children losing their parents in the quake and its aftermath.

Tens of thousands of women and girls have suddenly found themselves packed into crowded, unsafe camps and have been affected in the most sensitive of ways. Most are bathing and using the bathroom in public, inherently exposing them to atrocious sexual violence, disease and public humiliation. Their need for basic hygiene supplies is desperate and increasing daily.

The simplest gift we can provide these women and children with is shelter for their bodies: a new pair of underwear.

A clean pair of underwear is one of life’s everyday necessities, which is why Children Mending Hearts has created the Panty Up Campaign, designed to gather and deliver new underwear to Haitian children who have gone weeks or months without a new pair.

This is a small gesture that can make a huge impact in these women and children’s lives. Please visit our website to learn more about how you can take action.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

For only $6.26 a month you can provide an art program for an at-risk child!

1 in 50 children will become homeless this year. At - risk children in arts programs are 73% less likely to have discipline problems and are 4 times more likely to be on the honor roll. Arts Education makes a huge impact on the development of a child! Let's give them a chance!

Would you give up two lattes a month to improve the life of an at-risk child?

"Before I found Children Mending Hearts I used to be sad. I used to have doubts for my future. I learned a lot of things after working with Children Mending Hearts. I feel happiness again, I feel like a superstar." - Ruben St. Hilaire, 10

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