About Kidz For A Cause
Kidz For A Cause is an organization of kids drawn together by a desire to help kids in need. Combining their positivity, talent and energy, KFAC puts on awesome FUNraising events powered by kids to raise money for non-profits that benefit kids.
What sets KFAC apart? From concept until completion, no matter how large the task, all aspects of each campaign are handled by kids. The Board of Directors and Junior Board of Directors lead and inspire hundreds of kids from across Oahu. No matter what fun idea KFAC comes up with each time, the goal is always the same: to put on the best campaign ever, share the beneficiary charity’s mission with the community, and raise as much money as possible for the non-profit. It goes both ways: Kidz develop leadership, teamwork and organizational skills and learn lasting philanthropic values along the way.
Since starting as a third-grader’s class project in 2008, KFAC’s five campaigns have raised more than $760,000 and distributed every penny to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, American Heart Association’s kids programs, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Oahu, and Kapiolani Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Mission Statement
Kidz For A Cause is a series of volunteer-driven events powered entirely by kids, for kids in need. We strive to empower the next generation with the leadership skills to give back to the community.
History of Kidz For A Cause
In 2008, third grader Nicki Lee had to come up with a community service project for school. Since she loved singing and dancing, she decided to put on a kids charity concert. “My very first concert was held in my living room where I invited some of my friends to perform with me. We ended up raising $1,100 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities,” Nicki says. A few days later when her mom, Cathy Lee, took her to the House to present the money, Nicki got to play with the children and sing for them. The connections she made that day touched her profoundly.
Her second KFAC concert three years later brought together over 50 kids from 9 Oahu schools, led by a 12-kid Board of Directors. Their concert at Aloha Tower Marketplace raised over $10,000 for the American Heart Association’s children’s programs.
In 2015, Kidz For A Cause put out an islandwide call for talented Kidz and organized two sold-out concerts before 2,000 people at downtown Honolulu’s historic Hawaii Theatre. Together, 200 Kidz raised $108,000 for the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Oahu, which helps heal kids who are victims of abuse and witnesses to crime.
Kidz For A Cause’s growth did not stop there. To keep the momentum going after she graduated high school, Nicki came up with a formula of inspiring Kidz to come up with their own small, creative FUNraisers for KFAC’s chosen non-profit. This time 300 students ages 6 to 18, including an unbelievable Board of Directors, held dozens of micro-campaigns including sports clinics, bake sales, concerts, gourmet dinners and much more … and raised over $300,000 for the fragile newborns of Kapiolani Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The following year, Nicki’s last before she graduated high school and left to pursue a degree at Duke University in North Carolina, Kidz expanded to California and using the same formula of Kid-generated micro-campaigns, raised more than $360,000 for the charity where it all began: the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
From North Carolina, Nicki is watching with pride as Kidz continues with a new campaign for 2020. “Wow, what a journey this has been!” she says. “I’m so incredibly proud of not only how much KFAC has raised for non-profits, but also how many kids we were able to introduce to the importance and gratification of giving back.”
2017 Board and Junior Board of Directors

2017 Board of Directors

These 9th to 12th graders are the mentors, creative force and team leaders behind Kidz For A Cause.
Asher Pilanca
Brie Kodama
Carlson Ogata
Chase Hedani
Emily Kim
Haley Hobbs
Hunter Gentry
Jaden Aloy
JB Hayashida
Kyler Sakamoto
Megan Rodrigues
Mitchell Funasaki
Nicki Lee
Nina Gaines
Rayce Kojiro
Risa Hata
Rylee Tahara
Stephanie Fujita
Tristan Scharfenstein Montgomery
Yoojin Seo
2017 Junior Board of Directors

These elementary and middle school students are mentors and leaders to their peers.
Aria Saines
Aya Okimoto
Callie Katsura
Camie Hobbs
Carlee Marcello
Cashel Kodama
Channing Pilanca
Erika LaVoie
Grace Kennedy
Hope McCarren
Juliette Cramer
Lia Ho
Lincoln Pilanca
Ryder Goto
Rylie Goto
Shea Maurer
Subash Watumull Bratton
Talan Kuroiwa
Taylor Thomas
Tyler Takamoto
Tyler Wilborn