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NFPA TEAMS UP WITH CLAUS 4 KIDS TO PROVIDE TOYS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN
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Gig Harbor, Wash. - November 29, 2005 - Foster children now have a direct line to Santa through a new website called Claus 4 Kids. This online charitable organization is partnering with the National Foster Parent Association and the National Foster Care Fund to ensure foster children have a merry Christmas.
"Our mission is to help as many foster children as possible have a happy and memorable holiday season," said Jason Morgese, president of Claus 4 Kids. "Foster children have been through enough heartache without also losing out on the magic of Christmas."
Claus 4 Kids works in two ways: First, it provides a website, www.claus4kids.com, where children can write to Santa, choose from a list of gifts, and send their letter to the "North Pole," also known as Claus 4 Kids headquarters in Hermosa Beach, Calif. A copy of the email letter will be sent to the parent who can write a personal response and shop for the gifts.
Additionally, Claus 4 Kids collects donations on its websites via a program called "Donate to the Claus".
"We think this is a wonderful opportunity for Americans to share the spirit of Christmas and help the nation's 500,000 foster children have a special holiday," said Karen Jorgenson, executive director of the National Foster Parent Association.
Claus 4 Kids will donate 50 percent of the profits from online toy sales and 100 percent of the money raised from the "Donate to the Claus" project to helping foster children. While this is the first year Claus 4 Kids has been operational, it is hoping to raise about $15,000 for foster children.
Morgese and his sister Nicole, company vice-president, developed the idea for Claus 4 Kids based on their grandfather's experience as a foster child. "He would tell stories about how he didn't get any presents and was worried that Santa had forgotten him. I started Claus 4 Kids in the hopes that other children wouldn't go through the same pain," he said.
To receive a response from the North Pole, children should submit their letters no later than Dec.12. Online sales for toys will be accepted until Dec. 18 to guarantee delivery before Christmas.
The National Foster Parent Association, based in Gig Harbor, Wash., is the only national organization that strives to support foster parents and remains a strong voice on behalf of all children. Currently, more than 500,000 children are in the foster care system in America. For more information about NFPA, visit www.NFPAinc.org.
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