The Story of John Kraft - Keeping Kids Alive!

The Story of John Kraft - Keeping Kids Alive! 

I just returned from the funeral of John Kraft, a Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 advocate who seemingly appeared out of nowhere to support our mission in the summer of 2000.

John, who grew his Chevrolet dealership into the largest in Nebraska, saw a story on Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 on a local Omaha news broadcast in early August of 2000. He picked up the phone and gave us a call. He wanted to know how he could help. And help he did.

John arrived at our home not more than 10 minutes after that phone call. He took out his check book, wrote Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 a very generous check and picked up hundreds of KKAD25 yard signs. He then drove all around Omaha, spotting moms out with their kids in front yards. He offered each a sign to post in their yard to alert motorists to the presence of children and the need to slow down on neighborhood streets. Then, when he sold his dealership to Gregg Young in the fall of 2000, he included a gift to purchase 1,000 yard signs to distribute to anyone who stopped by the dealership.

For Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, John was like a "Pied Piper," spreading our message wherever he drove. We are truly graced to have had him as a benefactor early on in our mission. As all non-profits know, without the support - oftentimes unexpected, but always appreciated - of people like John Kraft, the road we travel would be much more difficult.

Join me in celebrating the life and love that John shared and continues to share with his wife, Carlene, his 4 children, 14 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. May we keep his spirit alive in all that we do to keep the mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 alive wherever we live.

Thank you John!

www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

KKAD25 By-the-Numbers - 2012-2013 Fiscal Year

July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013 KKAD25 By-the-Numbers

 It's About Kids! It's About Safety! 

It's About Caring! It's About Time!®

58 Communities representing 23 U.S. States and 1 Australian State – Queensland - initiated or expanded a Keep Kids Alive educational campaign.

74 loved ones whose families have connected with our mission via our Run to Remember events.

2 = New Campaigns 

Live Forward!™ to support families in setting up legacies 

to honor loved ones who have died in traffic incidents 

in order to bring greater good into the world.

America's Trash Talks in Wichita, KS

"America's Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive"

Finances

$74,146.04= Total Funds to Support the Mission

Breakdown of Funds Received:

$24,287.06 - Unrestricted Donations - Omaha Community Foundation 24 Hours of Giving, KKAD25 5K Run-Walk to Remember (Omaha), Plymouth Rock-Teachers Insurance, UPS Foundation, Central States Insurance, and Individual Donors

$31,121.98 – Restricted Donations. These include:

$20,000 from GEICO Philanthropic Fund to initiate “America’s Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive” in the following communities:

                                          Millbourne, PA, Colonial Heights, VA, Phoenix, AZ,

       Peters Township, PA, Wichita, KS, Fenton, MO, Florissant, MO

$3,000 – Ford Motor Company Grant utilized to create co-branded Keep Kids Alive Drive 25^®/Driving Skills for Life key chains distributed through community events including:

Conor Lynch Foundation’s Run to Honor Conor 

and 

Teen/Parent Safe Driving event, Sherman Oaks, CA

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 5K Run-Walk to Remember, Omaha, NE

The Erika Joy Rowan Foundation 5K Fun Run

 Brandon McPherson Foundation MAKING A DIFFERENCE 5KWALK/RUN, Weatherby Lake, MO

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25^® Day @ the Ballpark 

with the Omaha Storm Chasers

$1,500 – Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation: 

co-branded key chains for Omaha Area KKAD25 Events

$6,621.98 for 2012 Run to Remember to support families of loved ones who have died in traffic incidents.

 

• $18,697.00 - Revenue from sale of signs and decals 
• $14,096.00 - Cost of signs, decals, and shipping.
• $4,501.00 - Net Income towards mission from sale of signs an decals

 

$59,920.04 - Total Income from grants, donations, and sale of signs/decals to grow the mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25^® in 2012-2013 Fiscal Year

Thanks to all our donors, sponsors, and to each of you who make Keep Kids Alive Drive 25^® come to life for the benefit of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and children at play in communities across America, and, yes, even around the world. We invite your continued, or first-time, support through your tax-deductible donation @ KKAD25 Donate. Checks can be sent to:

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144

Your Generous Giving Keeps Kids Living!