Coats for Kids Foundation, established in 2004 in Alexandria, VA has been a long time partner of Operation Warm, Inc . Founded on similar principles, both organizations have made it their mission to provide new winter coats to children in need. Our shared vision of ensuring every child wearing a new winter coat is healthy, able to attend school regularly and has a strong self- esteem is why Coats For Kids Foundation and Operation Warm, Inc. have united  with a goal of serving at-risk children in the Greater Washington D.C Metro area and an increasing number of children nationwide.

After distributing more than 38,000 new winter coats since 2004, Coats for Kids Foundation founders, Paul and Cheryl Darby retired in 2011. They reached out to Operation Warm, Inc. so the their legacy could continue. Their profound impact on children in the Washington D.C region has been remarkable. Together, in the winter of 2011/2012, Coats for Kids Foundation and Operation Warm have already reached more than 5,000 children within the National Capital Area, and 220,000 children througought the country.

Within the National Capital Area, children will continue to be served through Coats for Kids Foundation. Our efforts have been expanded with the help of Operation Warm, who similarly provides brand-new coats to children in need in this local area. Across the United States, Operation Warm runs one of the largest coats for kids programs in the country, distributing new coats in 37 states. 

Our commitment to high quality coats and impeccable customer service will not be sacrificed as we continue to work with our partners across the country. Better yet, we are thrilled about the potential growth opportunities that will result from the union between Coats For Kids Foundation and Operation Warm, Inc.  Learn more at www.operationwarm.org.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW TO THE BIRCHMERE CONCERT JANUARY 6, 2010

 A rising star in the music industry who has played with James Taylor and Livingston Taylor among others is raising awareness and collecting new coats for the foundation.  Seth Glier from Shelbourne, MA, a singer/songwriter begins his 12 shows tonite in Cambridge, MA.

The tour will take Seth from Massachusetts, to New York, to Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and Michigan. The complete tour schedule is below. 

 For the Coats for Kids Foundation, this is very special in that we have not had a singer/songwriter helping us raise awareness and help get new coats for disadvantaged kids before.  Even more important, Seth will be at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on January 6th.  We encourage all to attend one of his shows. For fans who do bring a new coat to a show, he will give them a special gift as a way of saying thank you.  

 Once the coats are collected in each venue, they will be taken to a local school the next day and given to disadvantaged kids.  Seth also plans to bring his guitar and perform at one or more schools on the tour.  Along the way, he will be doing many media events, including a show on XM/Sirius. 

 You can get specific details about the tour from Seth's website:www.sethglier.com.  His music is powerful.  We are grateful to have Seth helpin gus help disadvantaged kids.   Thank you Seth!

UPDATE:  mark has begun his marathon.  PLEASE tune in and make a $1 contribution!  For every $16, we are able to purchase and deliver a new winter coat to a child who has NEVER HAD ONB!  For every $1,000, we can purchase 10 cases of new coats!

There have been many wonderful ways that indivudals and companies have stepped up to raise money for the Coats for Kids Foundation, but this is definitely a first.  Mark Berry, a self-described sketch comic/beer pong player and guest on Leno and other TV sho0ws is going to play a 12-hour marathon of the video game Super Smash Brothers on Nintendo 64.  His goal is to beat the game entirely with every character on every level. Not being a gamer, this sounds like quite a challenge.

 You can follow the game and contribute.  the game will be live at ustream.tv/channel/markberrylive.

 All proceeds are fully tax deductible.and will be acknowledged when individuals make contribution via paypal.

Alexandria, VA  -- The Coats for Kids Foundation today announced a partnership with Target in recognition of its efforts in providing new winter coats to needy kids. This grant of $5,500 will be used to provide more than 400 new winter coats to disadvantaged kids, identified by Cleveland school social workers.

Paul Darby, President of the Coats for Kids Foundation said, "We are grateful and humbled by Target's grant to our foundation. We believe that the confidence of a leading corporation like Target In our foundation will encourage other corporations to partner with us to provide winter coats to needy kids in their communities.

Mount Clemens, MI – SVS Vision Optical Centers has partnered with the Coats For Kids Foundation to provide new coats for children this winter season.  To help raise enough funds to purchase the new coats, SVS Vision has created a cookbook filled with recipes provided by SVS Vision employees and suppliers.

The cookbook, Cookin’ with Vision, is available at any SVS Vision location for a donation of $10 or more. SVS will match a portion of your donation and give all profits from the sale of the cookbook to the Coats for Kids Foundation to help supply new coats for local kids.  The goal is to distribute coats to needy kids in Detroit and in the nine other states in which SVS has offices.

Paul Darby, President of the Coats for Kids Foundation said, “We are grateful and humbled by the generosity of the management team and all of the employees and suppliers who have become a part of our vision to lift kids who are disadvantaged up by giving them a new winter coat.   We hope that this will encourage other companies and organizations to take that important step in reaching out to help those in need this year.”

To find an SVS Vision Optical Center, visit www.svsvision.com or call 800-SVS-4600 (800-787-4600).  For more information on the Coats for Kids Foundation visit www.coats-for-kids.org.

UPDATE:   SVS staff is now distributing the 1,830 coats shipped to them to 30 schools in Detroit and sevral in their home town of Mt. Clemens, MI.