Author | Permission to Use Info
Why Your Gift Makes a Difference!
“When my grandchild told me about her friend making comments about suicide, I immediately knew how to take action!”
Knowing how to get help can prevent misery – and save lives!
“My 9-year old grandchild Ella was horrified when a classmate whispered, ‘I am so sad all of the time. I keep thinking about killing myself. But don’t tell anyone, please!’
Thankfully, workshops that our family had taken with expert Kidpower instructors had taught Ella not to keep problems a secret – and had taught me how to ‘Put Safety First’ – ahead of embarrassment, inconvenience, or offense, and how to be a safe adult for a child to come to for help by staying calm.
I first thanked my grandchild for telling me, because I wanted her to continue to feel safe about telling me things like this. Then I told my son and daughter-in-law, calming them both down so as not to upset Ella. We made confidential reports to the school and reached out to the family to make sure that this child got the support he needed. And thanks to Kidpower’s training, we also knew how to help Ella maintain a normal friendship, safely, so that this youngster would not feel alone in his despair.
Thanks to Kidpower, we had the critical tools to help prevent a potential suicide in a safe manner.”
~ Aaron, gardener and Ella’s grandfather
Your gift makes a difference!
Thanks to donations from Kidpower Supporters like you, families know how to take effective action when a young person is at risk of suicide!
Will you help?
We’ve set the goal to raise $5,000 by the end of #GivingTuesday, December 3rd!
Remember: Every dollar does wonders!
** Plus, your donation will be DOUBLED with a matching gift from a member of our leadership circle. **
Can you also please share this message with your friends, families, colleagues, and social networks who may be looking for nonprofits to support this season? Kidpower relies on recommendations from people like you, who have experienced our programs, publications, or online resources, to help us reach even more people with vital safety and healthy relationship skills.
Published: December 2, 2019 | Last Updated: December 2, 2019
Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director
Kidpower Founder and Executive Irene van der Zande is a master at teaching safety through stories and practices and at inspiring others to do the same. Her child protection and personal safety expertise has been featured by USA Today, CNN, Today Moms, the LA Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Publications include: cartoon-illustrated Kidpower Safety Comics and Kidpower Teaching Books curriculum; Bullying: What Adults Need to Know and Do to Keep Kids Safe; the Relationship Safety Skills Handbook for Teens and Adults; Earliest Teachable Moment: Personal Safety for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers; The Kidpower Book for Caring Adults: Personal Safety, Self-Protection, Confidence, and Advocacy for Young People, and the Amazon Best Seller Doing Right by Our Kids: Protecting Child Safety at All Levels.