As we celebrate our 34th year, I've been reflecting on our journey and our vision for the future. When I co-founded KIDS FIRST! in September 1991, little did I know that it would evolve into my life's most defining work. A casual conversation with my colleague, Paula Miller, marked a turning point in my life. Paula and I, along with a few others from the children's media industry, had been toying with the idea of creating a service that would help parents choose quality programming for their children. Paula, having recently been laid off, posed a question that forced me to confront my own commitment to this idea. She asked, "Are you serious about doing this?" Her question was a wake-up call. It was time to either fully commit or let it go.

By the end of our first meeting, we had developed a business plan to start a nonprofit and created a list of potential board members. As she drove away, we literally tore that list in half and began making phone calls. I still remember calling Peggy Charren (Founder, Action for Children's Television), who grilled me like I was on the witness stand before saying, "Oh sure, you're fun to talk with. I'm in!" After that, things began to flow pretty smoothly, though we definitely had our ups and downs. We launched the concept at VSDA (some of you remember that conference), where Bruce Apar, Editor of Video Business, approached me and said, "You need me on your board." We did and welcomed him with open arms. Many other critical people joined us along the way and I'll share some of those stories at a later time.

What I did not know from the get go is how this organization would grow and become so much more than meets the eye. On the surface, we teach media literacy in action to our team of 65 tween and teen reporters who review the latest films and interview the cast and crew. But KIDS FIRST! is so much more. We have created a community where these young people can engage with media professionals in a dialogue that makes children's media relevant. We build lifelong friendships for young people with a shared interest in storytelling, filmmaking, and investing in their future. We help them find their purpose and become leaders who impact the lives of others in a meaningful way.

Please help us meet our goal by making a contribution yourself and sharing our story with friends, family and colleagues. Every little bit helps, whether it is $5 or $10,000.

Ranny Levy, President

https://fnd.us/kidsfirst?ref=sh_bCo1e4

At KIDS FIRST!, we're on the cusp of an exciting new chapter, and we need your help to bridge a crucial funding gap. Your support can help us dramatically expand our KIDS FIRST! Film Festival to Montessori schools nationwide and supercharge our newly relaunched podcast on iHeartMedia. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to fuel these two programs, which are poised to become sustainable, renewable revenue sources for our organization.

This past year presented unexpected challenges, as critical grants we anticipated were unfortunately canceled due to the "fiasco in Washington." This setback, however, pushed us to innovate and lean into the strengths of our existing programs, creating exciting new pathways for growth.

We need your support to cover the gap until these two promising programs generate the significant revenue we have planned.

Expanding Our Impact: Film Festivals & Podcasts

Our KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, launched in 2000, has a proud history of successful partnerships with diverse venues—from established film festivals and children's museums to film societies and municipal art programs. Before the pandemic, we proudly partnered with 40 venues. While the pandemic led many of those to close or redesign, we've innovated to rebuild and expand. In 2023, we successfully launched festivals for kids and families in Ukraine and Pakistan, both tremendously successful and set for a repeat this fall.

Now, we're taking a giant leap forward. For the past year, we've been in negotiations with a foundation serving over 5,000 Montessori schools across the nation. We've developed a tailored version of our KIDS FIRST! Film Festival designed specifically for these schools. This initiative alone is projected to generate over $175,000 in revenue for KIDS FIRST! and over $800,000 in revenue for the schools by offering them films they can use as special events or fundraisers.

Our podcast has also taken a positive turn. From 2011 to 2023, we produced a show distributed by Voice America. While VA  provided a great platform, they didn't meet our financial needs. We paused the show to find a partner who would make the project financially productive and iHeartMedia stepped into the picture! This June, we officially launched an updated, short-form podcast version of our show on iHeartMedia (also available on other major platforms). iHeartMedia handles ad generation and offers KIDS FIRST! an excellent 60/40 revenue split. In our first month, we've already produced 11 new episodes and generated over 500 downloads. These are early steps, but the reviews are outstanding -- everyone loves the "short format" where, in 3-4 minutes, you can get unique reviews—like three different KIDS FIRST! reporters on Superman or Smurfs.

Investing in the Future of Youth & Media

At KIDS FIRST!, we are dedicated to empowering kids and parents with trusted, age-appropriate information about the latest films and TV shows, enabling them to make intelligent choices about their screen time. Our team of 65 talented tween and teen reporters are not just critics; they are trained as entertainment professionals—journalists, YouTubers, and influencers. More importantly, we provide them with unparalleled opportunities to learn about the entertainment industry, interview "above and below the line" talent, and prepare them for future careers, whether in media or other fields. They consistently tell us that the skills they develop—like meeting deadlines, clear writing, and confident presentation (both live and online)—are invaluable across all aspects of life.

We are so close to securing something we've always strived for: renewable sources of revenue that will allow us to continue this vital work for years to come. Your donation, no matter the size, is an investment in this future and in the development of incredible young talent.

Please consider making a gift today. Every amount helps!

Your donation of any amount will make a difference. Here are a few examples:

• $50: Receive KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions newsletter for one year.
• $350: Sponsor a film festival at a local school or venue for one month.
• $ 3,500: Sponsor an annual film festival program at a non-profit venue.
• $5,000: Sponsor KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions podcast for 6 months.
• $10,000: Sponsor KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions podcast for 12 months.  

Every donation helps us empower young people to share their voices and perspectives on film. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of kids everywhere.

KIDS FIRST! is a project of the national 501(c)(3) Coalition for Quality Children's Media. Your donation is tax-deductible to the degree allowed by law. EIN: 85-0398632

Thank you in advance for your support. 

Ranny and the KIDS FIRST! Team