THE POWER OF
KIDZ
Kidz For A Cause (KFAC) is an organization of philanthropic kids who want to help kids in need. Since 2008, KFAC has raised over
$760,000
for charities that benefit kids, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities (pictured), the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, American Heart Association, and Kapiolani Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Create | Give | Inspire
In 2018, KFAC raised $350,000 to turn the Ronald McDonald House Charities’ playroom into a magical world of hope and healing. See how the transformation came about!
Our Story
Founded in 2008 by then third grader Nicki Lee, Kidz For A Cause (KFAC) is a Hawaiʻi-based organization of elementary to high school students drawn together by a desire to help kids in need. “My very first concert was held in my living room where I invited some of my friends to perform with me,” Nicki said. “We ended up raising $1,100 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.” When her mother, Cathy Lee, took her to the house on Judd Hillside Road to present the money, Nicki played with and sang for the children staying there. The connections she made that day touched her profoundly.
Nicki’s subsequent FUNraisers got bigger and better with 100% of all donations given to accredited nonprofit organizations. Her second concert in 2011, led by a 12-kid board of directors, brought together more than 50 Kidz from nine Oʻahu public and private schools. Their concert at Aloha Tower Marketplace raised over $10,000 for the American Heart Association’s children’s programs.
In 2015, KFAC put out an island-wide call for talented Kidz and organized two sold-out concerts before 2,000 people at downtown Honolulu’s historic Hawaiʻi Theatre. Together, 200 Kidz raised $108,000 for the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Oʻahu.
In 2016, instead of organizing one main event, Nicki encouraged Kidz to come up with their own creative FUNraisers. Through bake sales, concerts, even sports clinics, 300 students, ages 6 to 18, raised over $300,000 for Kapiolani Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
In 2018, building on the same formula of kid-powered micro-campaigns, KFAC expanded to California and raised over $360,000 for the place that started it all, the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Nicki has since graduated from Duke University in North Carolina and looks back at the impact of Kidz with pride. “What a journey this has been!” she said. “I’m so incredibly proud of not only how much KFAC has raised for nonprofits, but also how many kids we were able to introduce to the importance and gratification of giving back.”
