If I must withdraw my child from the KidzCare® USA class, am I entitled to a refund?
The amount of the refund to which you are entitled depends on when you withdraw.  Your registration fees are fully refundable if you withdraw in writing 90 days or more before the start of classes (first Monday in October).  One-half of your registration fees are refundable if you withdraw in writing more than 30 days, but less than 90 days before the start of classes.  If you withdraw 30 days or less before the start of classes, you will not be entitled to a refund of your registration fees. 

What if my child can’t come to all of the classes due to travel, illness, etc.?
While we encourage students to attend every class, we understand that there will be times when your child is unable to attend.  Please notify us in advance via e-mail to Info@KidzCareUSA.org as soon as you know of any dates that your child will not be able to attend class, so that we may plan our classes for the number of students who will be present that day.  Class hours missed can be made up by participating in other volunteer service opportunities outside of class, if your child is working toward the Presidential Service Award.

Is KidzCare® USA a Christian organization?
Yes, KidzCare® USA is an ecumenical Christian organization, which was founded on and operates according to Christian values.  We strive to include students of all faith traditions, and our activities and classes are open to all people without regard to race, creed, color, or religion.  For many people, the values of faith and philanthropy are intertwined and we seek to support that connection where it exists, whatever the student’s faith tradition may be. We practice inclusiveness of all religious beliefs, and we begin each class with “The Prayer of Social Concern” which is a non-denominational prayer written by Mother Theresa.  We also encourage children to pray for the people and the causes that we learn about, if they so choose."

Why does KidzCare® USA support overtly religious charities?
KidzCare® USA supports any charity that enables KidzCare® USA to accomplish its mission of instilling a heart for philanthropy in kids by providing them with simple in-class service projects.  There are many faith-based organizations that do a tremendous amount of good in the world, but we do not select charities to support based on their religious affiliation. 

Is KidzCare® USA a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization? 
Yes!  As of June 8, 2008, the IRS approved our application for 501(c)(3) public charity status.  Donations to KidzCare® USA are now deductible to the extent permitted by law.

What is the registration fee used for?
The registration fee is used for all of the supplies related to our in-class service projects (such as art supplies, postage, items for care packages, etc.) and for administrative costs (such as rent, insurance, office supplies, etc.), t-shirts, and teacher stipends.  A portion of each registration fee is used to help provide scholarships to families who would otherwise not be able to afford to have their children attend class." To apply for a scholarship, click here.

How are the charities for which the students perform service projects selected?
The charity must be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and must fit within one of the monthly topics we will cover this year.  Also, they must have volunteer opportunities for elementary school children to make or do something in-class. 

May I attend KidzCare® USA classes with my child?
Absolutely.  Parents are welcome in our classes at any time.

May I bring my pre-schooler or infant with me to KidzCare® USA classes when I am attending with my child?
Unfortunately, due to space limitations, only registered students and their parents are permitted in class. There is an exception to this rule for parents who must attend class with their child in grades K-1.  Parents who must attend class for this reason may bring younger siblings with them, provided they feel able to supervise them adequately while class is in session.

What is the President’s Volunteer Service Award and how will my child earn it?
The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service…The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

Bronze Level

Kids: 50 to 74 hours
Young Adults: 100 to 174 hours
Adults: 100 to 249 hours
Family & Groups: 200 to 499 hours

For more information please visit: http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/

Are parents required to volunteer at any events?
No parent volunteer hours are required for our classroom sessions (although parent helpers are warmly welcome and greatly appreciated!).  If your child participates in out-of-class volunteer opportunities with KidzCare® USA, we ask that at least one parent remain with their child(ren) for the entire event.  Also, we ask each family to volunteer to help plan one of our May fundraisers.

Are there any general categories of charitable causes that KidzCare® USA will not discuss in class?
Yes.  Because KidzCare® USA is geared toward young children, we feel that some subject matters are inappropriate to discuss in class.  Although these subjects are certainly important and worthy of attention and support, we feel that certain subjects may be too disturbing, or may raise debatable issues that are best taught at home.  For example, we will not discuss the following subject matters in class, nor will we complete any service projects related to them:  AIDS/HIV (if this topic is raised during our study of Africa, we will simply explain that it is a terrible disease affecting many people), abortion, specific causes of global warming, specific examples of cruelty towards people during war, or anything that supports a particular political party.  We post the schedule of topics to be discussed on our web site, and if you have any concerns, please feel free to contact us at Info@KidzCareUSA.org.

Q:  Do I need to wear a KidzCare® USA t-shirt at volunteer events?
A:  Yes, for safety and identification purposes, we ask that all participants wear a KidzCare® USA t-shirt or sweatshirt to all of our volunteer events.  A yellow KidzCare® USA t-shirt will be provided as a free gift with a donation of $15.  A blue KidzCare® USA hoodie sweatshirt will be provided as a free gift with a $40 donation.