Step Up for Kids on October 6: Special Message from Every Child Matters

October 6 is the date that Every Child Matters has set for Step Up for Kids 2015! As in the past, if a different date nearby suits you and your organization better, we won’t hold you exactly to the 6th.

We’ve been sponsoring Step Up for Kids nationally since 2008, working with organizations in each state to draw attention to kids’ needs. Once again, we’re looking for groups to spotlight those needs through events that are fun and family-friendly, with a serious message.

If that sounds like you, we’re ready to provide the materials and direction you may need: t-shirts, how-to guides, conference calls, media help, even a small stipend!

This year’s presidential candidate selection process is turning attention to kids’ issues. The parents and children agenda is taking center stage, with Robert Putnam’s book, Our Kids, generating candidate and media talk about the “opportunity gap” separating affluent kids from those who are less affluent when it comes to their chances for life success, and with Iowa voters telling the state’s top pollster that their number-one priority is the well-being, health and education of children.

Please help us draw attention to the needs of children in your state. Let us know as soon as possible if your organization might be interested in taking the lead in your state, or if you wish to recommend another group. We may even consider providing stipends to more than one group per state.

We can tailor materials to your state and event, with logos and branding opportunities for all participating groups.

Need more information? Check out our Step Up FAQs here. Please direct any replies or questions to Ursula Ellis in our Washington office at [email protected], or at 202-223-2443.

Thank you! –Brian Ahlberg

Please complete the short questionnaire below to apply for the $500 stipend we offer to a leading organization in each Step Up state, and return to Ursula Ellis at [email protected]:

State:

Organization:

Address:

Your Name:

Title:

Phone #:

E-mail:

Describe briefly the event you plan to host as part of the 2015 Step Up for Kids day. Please include any preliminary thoughts on:

• location
• type of event
• speakers
• cosponsors
• anticipated audience

Signer agrees to send ECM a final update of the event with photos and press clippings or links to articles.
__________________________________________
Authorized Signer for the non-profit lead organization
__________________________________________
Date

________________________________________

To help you in thinking about your event, here are ECM’s general goals for Step Up:
• Raising public awareness of the needs of children and families.
• Getting candidates and elected officials at every level of government to present their plans for shifting spending priorities towards families and children.
• Getting the media to cover the children and family issues and how state and federal governments are making the policy decisions to meet their needs.
• Making America’s children a national political and policy priority.
• Closing the gap that has formed over the years in our investments in children.
• Using it as a non-partisan launch to encourage non-voters to register and everyone to vote with kids’ well-being in mind.
• Distributing ECM materials before, during, and after the event.

What the event should/could look like:
ECM encourages each lead group and partners to come up with an event design that will work best for their state. The event should be fun but have a serious message. It should not focus solely on one issue but cover a gamut of overarching problems and needs, such as poverty; abuse and neglect; lack of health care, including oral health; access to quality early care and learning; access to after-school programs, etc.
• When? On or around September 23.
• Where? When feasible on the steps of the state capitol building. (Other venues have included state fairs, large public parks, etc.)
• Focus? Children’s needs/issues in the state.
• Audience/Participants? Children’s advocates, including service providers (early education teachers, child care providers, after-school personnel, members of the medical community) parents, grandparents, children, legislators, other public officials, members of the media.
• Speakers? Service providers, advocates, experts, families and children with their own stories, a pediatrician…. It would be helpful if one of the speakers is well-known enough to draw media attention.
• Entertainment & Refreshments? Absolutely. Previous events have included performances, games and activities for children, tours of the state capitol, give-away items, etc. Many states have received donated refreshments for their events.

Please complete the following and return to Ursula Ellis at [email protected]:
State:
Organization:
Address:
Your Name:
Title:
Phone #:
E-mail:
Describe briefly the event you plan to host as part of the 2015 Step Up for Kids day. Please include any preliminary thoughts on:
• location
• type of event
• speakers
• cosponsors
• anticipated audience
Signer agrees to send ECM a final update of the event with photos and press clippings or links to articles.

__________________________________________
Authorized Signer for the non-profit lead organization

__________________________________________
Date

________________________________________
Brian Ahlberg
President
Every Child Matters Education Fund

You can help win the fight for our kids.
Make a tax-deductible donation at www.everychildmatters.org.