KIDS FIRST! Needs Your Support
For 33 years, KIDS FIRST! has been at the forefront of empowering young people to become critical media consumers. Our programs equip kids and their parents with the tools to discern age-appropriate content and make informed choices.
Central to our mission is the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics program. Our team of 65 dedicated young reporters, ages 9 to 22, immerse themselves in the world of film, attending press screenings, junkets, and red carpet events. They review the latest PG-13 and under-rated films, interview celebrities, and share their insights with over 5 million people through our website, social media, and partner publications.
Today, we are at a critical junction. To sustain and grow these impactful programs, we need your support. As we celebrate our 33rd anniversary, we’re asking for your help to fuel our mission. While our young reporters volunteer their time, our dedicated staff – responsible for training, coaching, editing, and promoting their work – requires financial support.
Another cornerstone of KIDS FIRST! is our Film Festival featuring a collection of inspiring films from independent and student filmmakers worldwide that promote prosocial values, cultural understanding, environmental responsibility, and gender and racial equity. We have successfully co-hosted screenings with 30 venues across the USA and worldwide, including the Atlanta Children’s Film Festival, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Tallgrass Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival, Peoria Film Festival. In 2025, our festival will expand internationally with events in Ukraine, Pakistan, Uganda and India where we will reach over 500,000 young people.
Our goal is to cultivate a generation of informed and conscientious consumers. We measure our success not by awards, but by the positive impact we have on young lives. As we celebrate our 33rd Anniversary, we invite you to join us in shaping the future by making a donation of $33, $330, or $3300.
Listen to what one of our alumni has to say:
My time at KIDS FIRST! was the most influential period of my life. I joined when I was 13 with a speech impediment and no experience in the film industry. Thankfully, Ranny Levy took me under her wing. From exciting private screenings to unforgettable red carpet events, KIDS FIRST! gave me opportunities that I could only dream of. Under Ms. Ranny’s tutelage, I learned how to be a professional presenter and a conscientious writer. My education at KIDS FIRST! was intensive but never patronizing because Ms. Ranny sees the limitless potential in children and pushes them to be the best they can be. I recently earned my BA in Practical Filmmaking at MET Film School in London. I’ve worked on feature films, high end commercials and award winning short films. My most recent accomplishment was being a Production Manager for the Short Film Last Call starring Tom Holland and Lindsay Duncan which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. With every project I still use the same communication skills that KIDS FIRST! equipped me with. (Keefer Carteen)
We believe in the impact of media on youth and in positively feeding the Future Creatives Of Tomorrow.
Support KIDS FIRST! Today
Your donation of any amount will make a difference. Here are a few examples:
- $33: Sponsor a youth filmmaker to submit a film to our festival.
- $330: Sponsor a tween or teen at KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Boot Camp.
- $3,300: Sponsor a mini film critics boot camp at a local film festival.
- $5,330: Support a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic for one year.
- $10,330: Sponsor KIDS FIRST! Film Festival
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.
The KIDS FIRST! Team
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KIDS FIRST! Journey
KIDS FIRST! truly is at a serious crossroads. Our traditional sources of funding have not come through and hence we truly need help from you.
As we celebrate our 33rd 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 end of year 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.
Meet the team
Can you spare two minutes to save the world?
OK, two minutes might not be enough for that. But it's plenty of time for you to personalize and share a copy of our campaign.
Together we can do some good for this cause. And it won't cost you a penny—just a few minutes of your time.
