WELCOME

Mentoring is a great fun way to make a difference in the life of a child.

Please explore our website to find out how YOU can get involved!

Kids ‘n Kinship
  • Connects volunteers with children who need a positive adult role model
  • Supports the volunteer and child relationship as they have fun together
  • Provides for safe and successful mentoring
  • Serves children in the following communities:  Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount.  

SUMMER 2010 Newsletter is here - click on the link at right!

Click on mentor and child profiles (above) to learn about some of the children waiting for a mentor.

Please save your used HP, Dell or Lexmark print cartridges for us - we can redeem them for office supplies - bring to our next event or mail to us at Kids 'n Kinship, 14870 Granada Ave, #127, Apple Valley, MN  55124. Thank you!

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Kids ‘n Kinship wins Statewide Touchstone Energy Community Award   

 

In January, Dakota Electric Association named Kids ‘n Kinship as the local 2009 Touchstone Energy Community Award winner.  All of the local Award winners were then eligible to be considered for a statewide award.  Kids ‘n Kinship won as the state winner! On March 1st,Kids ‘n Kinship accepted the 2010 Minnesota Statewide Touchstone Energy Community Award during the Minnesota Rural Electric Association’s annual meeting in St. Paul.  Jan Belmore, Kids ‘n Kinship director, along with Kathryn Scheele and Janet Lekson, Board member, accepted the award in front of the audience of electric cooperative board and staff members.

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2010 Christian Elder Memorial 900

Fifth Annual Charity Ride for Kids


The Christian Elder Memorial 900 concluded with a Welcome Back celebration at Merchants Bank in Apple Valley.  The fundraiser has brought in more than $25,000 of support for Kids 'n Kinship. For information about the ride, inspirational stories and fun photos, check out the website at www.cem900.com.


Special thanks to John Elder, president of Elder-Jones, Inc., a Minneapolis-based retail and restaurant construction company and long time Kids 'n Kinship mentor, who says “It’s amazing what a mentor can do in a young person’s life and, in turn, what the young person can do for you.” and to Merchants Bank www.merchantsbank.com/twincities, for sponsoring the ride.


Match Highlight -  Kids ‘n Kinship School Based Mentoring 

Fun for Both! That is the response from 7 year old Annie who is matched with volunteer mentor, Amy, when asked why people should consider mentoring.
Amy likes to see Annie smile and enjoys having fun with her. She appreciates how perceptive she is and says she is very smart. Amy and Annie meet at school for an hour each week during the school year. Although Annie likes school and her teacher, she welcomes the opportunity to have one to one attention with reading and writing. Amy says Annie reads very well now and often there is a fun card or story written by Annie, waiting for her when she arrives at school. “Annie is very creative; she has great ideas. She started a craft book of flags – a flag for me, for her, for Valentines Day and Halloween. I would never have thought of this!”

During summer and school breaks they get together and go to a park, walk Amy’s dog, or play games and have pizza. When I met up with them they were at the library and Annie had received two prizes in recognition of the last five books she had read through the reading club they had joined earlier. Amy says being a mentor is very rewarding. “I am proud of Annie and all of her accomplishments. I get to spend time with a student and to have fun with a remarkable girl. I feel good about myself when I mentor and the very flexible schedule works well with my job at Thomson Reuters.” Annie likes mentoring too: “because I get to read to her and go places with Amy; she comes up with fun ideas; my favorite place to go with Amy is Cici’s pizza - and she is good at the matching game.” Actually, says Amy, “Annie helps me with the matching game.”

They like being a match and sharing their mutual love of crafts, dogs and reading (Annie's favorite books are Junie B Jones). “It’s fun for both!” says Annie.

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The Kids ‘n Kinship school based mentoring program operates in two Eagan schools. If you are ready to have fun getting to know a child and helping them be successful at school – or would like more information about our program, please contact Rita Younger, Kids 'n Kinship at 651-686-0990 or scroll above, click on mentor, then school based mentoring.









Our Mission

Kids 'n Kinship's Mission is
to provide friendships to
children ages 5-16 who
are in need of
a positive role model

Kids 'n Kinship
14870 Granada Avenue #127
Apple Valley MN, 55124
952-892-6368