More than a third of charitable giving in America takes place in the month of December.  Nonprofits know this.  So, from November's #GivingTuesday through to December 31, we, in the nonprofit world, do our best to convince charitable folks, like you, to consider us as a deserving recipient of your year-end giving.

For Special Kids Crusade, standing out from the crowd of worthy nonprofit organizations is something of a challenge. We don't have huge name recognition outside of our community.  And, we don't have the marketing dollars that come from being part of a national network of charities. We've considered quietly inserting some cute puppy pictures into our year-end appeal but that could be construed as being manipulative and it would clearly be misleading.  (I'm trying it, anyway.)

Special Kids Crusade should stand out from the crowd because we support children and families. But the reality is that the majority of the children we directly support do not present themselves as cute and cuddly such that photographs of them might tug at heartstrings and magically open wallets.  Some of our kids exhibit severe behavioral challenges that prevent them from sitting with their family in a restaurant or taking in a movie.  Some may not be toilet trained until their teens. Still others are socially challenged to the extent that they spend their early years in schools and community settings, being misunderstood by their peers and by the adults who work with them. 

These children are our children and like every young person, they are our future.  Every child should feel welcomed and included in our community but the fact is, most need guidance in learning how to be included.  And, those around them need support for learning how to best welcome them.

That's where Special Kids comes in.  Whether it is through our work with children in our afterschool Including Special Kids program or through our REACH Basketball, Bowling or Theatre Arts recreational opportunities, we are supporting inclusion.  We are giving our community the opportunity to acknowledge our individual differences, understand a wide range of abilities and welcome the diversity that makes our world such a fascinating and welcoming place to live.

Standing out from the crowd is rarely our goal.  After all, if we are doing our job, the kids we serve are being given opportunities to blend right in.  And, that makes every child we touch, indeed, very special. 

YOU can stand out from the crowd this charitable season by helping Special Kids Crusade in its mission of inclusion by donating directly on Facebook, by clicking on the DONATE button, or you can  CLICK HERE to donate through PayPal.