Kids Wish Network Surpasses $1 Million in Deliveries of Donated Toys and Necessities in Three Months

Sept. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- HOLIDAY, Fla. – International children’s charity Kids Wish Network announced today that, over the past three months, it has delivered toys and other necessities valued at more than $1,000,000 to children in need nationwide through its Holiday of Hope Gift Banks and Kids Wish Network On Tour events.

Kids Wish Network’s Holiday of Hope Gift Banks provide emergency rooms, pediatric units, and other children’s care facilities with age appropriate toys to offer a welcome distraction to children facing often traumatic or life threatening illnesses. Kids Wish Network On Tour delivers truckloads of toys and necessities to cities across the country for distribution to children and families dealing with the effects of poverty, homelessness, abuse, neglect and illnesses.

“Surpassing the $1 million mark so early in our fiscal year is truly remarkable – that’s one million new smiles! We are so grateful for the wonderful support of our generous Guardian Angel network, partners, sponsors, and individual donors who have enabled us to reach this incredible milestone,” said Anna Lanzatella, Executive Director of the Kids Wish Network.

Kids Wish Network is an international charitable organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children having experienced life-altering situations. Through its Holiday of Hope Gift Banks and Kids Wish Network On Tour events, it distributes toys and other necessities donated by top manufacturers and distributors, such as Kico Apparel, Quidsi, Mimi the Sardine, LMD Enterprises, Allen R. Klein, Highlights, Goldbrick Games, Revell-revived, Dreamworks, Lightwedge, and many more.

In August alone, Kids Wish Network shipped out Gift Banks with a total retail value of more than $280,000 to hospitals, schools and pediatric facilities nationwide, including the Children First Academy in Arizona, the Childhood Leukemia Foundation in New Jersey, Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Tennessee, Greenville Health System in South Carolina, Dr. Mary Giella Elementary School in Florida, Shady Hills Elementary School in Florida,  Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – College Hill Campus, Easter Seals Children’s Rehabilitation Center in Arkansas, the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Florida, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Cincinnati, Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital in South Carolina, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, and HOPE Family Services in Florida.

“The staff here were so excited about how these toys would touch the lives of our patients and help create a nurturing environment,” said Melissa Liddle, a Child Life Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – College Hill Campus. “It means a lot to us that we are able to participate in the Kids Wish Network Gift Bank program. In caring for children, we know it takes a village of individuals who help in different ways, and we are happy to have Kids Wish Network as a part of our team.”


Although international in scope, Tampa-based Kids Wish Network proudly supports its community and consistently sends Gift Banks to local facilities, charities, schools and outreach programs. The charity recently donated $100,000 worth of needed items to the United Way “Stuff the Bus” event to benefit Pasco County schools, doubling the amount the campaign raised last year.

Additionally, Kids Wish Network delivers toys, educational products, baby items, games and other necessities to individual cities nationwide through Kids Wish Network On Tour events. The program recently visited Gallup, New Mexico and distributed more than $290,000 worth of necessities to thousands of children and their families.

“Kids Wish Network went above and beyond and took care of our at-risk kids who otherwise don’t receive this type of attention and gifts of this nature due to the poverty in our immediate area. We appreciate and support Kids Wish Network,” said Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney.

Kids Wish Network On Tour will be visiting Putnam County, Florida at the end of September and will then head to Danville, Illinois and Madisonville, Tennessee.

For photos from Holiday of Hope Gift Banks, Kids Wish Network On Tour and other Kids Wish Network events, visit www.kidswishnetwork.org/media.

For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit www.kidswishnetwork.org.

If you know of a facility that could benefit from its Gift Bank programs or a city that could benefit from a Kids Wish Network On Tour event, please call Kids Wish Network at 727- 937-3600 or toll free at 888-918-9004.