HOME
4B THE MIAMI HERALD, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1998
By Geoffrey Tomb
Herald Staff Writer
For all the cynics out there, meet Beth Davis. Except you can't just meet her. To talk to Miami-Dade County Schoolteacher Beth Davis about her role as founder of Kids 4 Kids, you also have to meet the 40 kids at Jack Gordon Elementary School who form the nucleus of the organization.
Begun two years ago as an in school project to supply new backpacks loaded with school supplies for homeless children, the self esteem program spread to other Miami-Dade schools.
Then to Broward County Schools. And then to other kinds of kids in need like kids with AIDS and kids in abuse shelters and hospitals. Now it's about to go nationwide. Today at school, Davis and her Kids 4 Kids program will be honored for finishing second in a national awards competition called Education's Unsung Heroes. Sponsored by ReliStar Financial Corp. And Northern Life Insurance Co. Of Seattle, Davis will be handed a check for $12,000 during ceremonies at the school, 14600 Country Walk Drive in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Except she insisted that all 40 of the students from grades three, four, and five had to be there too. "These kids are the ones who deserve the recognition," said Davis, who demanded that each one be given a certificate like the one intended for her and each one be present during today's presentation ceremony.
Davis' philosophy is that people are actually looking for a way to help others, especially kids. Her question:
"What's wrong with 10-year olds?" she asked. "If 40 kids can do this much, think of what 40 clubs in 40 states can do. We could just take care of all our kids in this country."
How will the money be spent? Some $6,000 will go to the purchase of backpacks for next year. She still needs the school supplies for those backpacks, but she will seek donations for that. The other $6,000 will be used to create start-up kits for anyone interested in starting a Kids 4 Kids Club.
To donate supplies, to volunteer, to get a start-up kit or for more information, call Davis at (305) 234-4805. Or ask her kids.