The ninth annual Kids’ Chance Awareness Week, celebrated from November 13–17 this year, stands as a testament to the remarkable mission of Kids’ Chance of America: supporting the children of seriously or fatally injured workers in pursuing their educational dreams without financial burden. Paradigm takes immense pride in recognizing Kids’ Chance Awareness Week as part of our longstanding partnership with this incredible cause.

During the past nine years, this national initiative has significantly increased visibility for Kids’ Chance of America. Since its inception in 1988, Kids’ Chance has awarded over 10,000 scholarships, totaling more than $36 million.

Paradigm and Kids’ Chance – A true partnership
For the past 12 years, Paradigm has worked closely with Kids’ Chance to change lives and achieve its mission of giving more money to more kids. As our core philanthropic partner, Paradigm has contributed more than $1.49 million to this cause.

Our employees’ participation in Kids’ Chance has seen tremendous growth in the past year, led by Paradigm’s Kids’ Chance Community Team. This group participates on either the national or state level to help Kids’ Chance reach its goals and provide more scholarships. The team has grown to include 28 individuals spanning 15 states, as well as national representation, with several members serving on the Board of Directors in their respective states.

Additionally, Rally for Kids’ Chance, a Colleague Resource Group (CRG), was established to foster collaboration among current members and those who want to be involved, whether at their state level or through Paradigm. It’s an opportunity to engage, share insights, learn best practices, and offer support to advance the Kids’ Chance mission. This initiative is a testament to the generosity and willingness of our employees to make a difference in the lives of others.

An integral part of our involvement this year includes Meghan Chisholm, UAT Manager and Kids’ Chance Ambassador. Meghan was tasked with a significant and complex assignment—identifying eligible children for the Planning for the Future initiative.

“As a parent, the Kids’ Chance mission is close to my heart, and when I was asked to be a liaison for the organization, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue,” said Chisholm. “We knew there were plenty of eligible children out there, but there was a breakdown in understanding who was eligible. We began by spreading awareness and education that no matter if the child is an infant, senior in high school or currently in college, everyone is eligible. We’ve seen great success in building a pipeline for the Planning for the Future initiative, and I’m incredibly proud to share that Paradigm is responsible for 59 of the 186 referrals this year.”

The Impact of Kids’ Chance: Inspiring stories
Tasha’s story exemplifies the profound impact of Kids’ Chance scholarships. After her father passed away from complications following an explosion while on the job, Tasha felt her college dreams were impossible. “The Kids’ Chance scholarship was a tremendous blessing for me. It contributed to funding my undergraduate and graduate college experience. I was able to connect with other students across the state of Maryland with similar stories. We found comfort, strength and camaraderie among each other. I was even able to serve as a student representative on the board of directors for Kids’ Chance.”

“As a first generation, low-income student, the Kids’ Chance scholarship changed my life,” she said. “I graduated from all of my higher education institutions with honors. I am forever appreciative of the endless support and care that was provided for my family and for me.”

Another inspiring story comes from John. His mother sustained a severe injury while at work, resulting in multiple surgeries and a significant loss of income for the family of five. To save money for school, John took a year off but realized college would still come with a significant amount of debt. “This all changed during my sophomore year of college, when I first heard of Kids Chance of Pennsylvania, an organization that was designed and made to help people like me,” he said. As a current marketing major and Dean’s List honoree at Bloomsburg University, he shared, “I believe I speak for all of us, both students and families who have benefitted from this organization that we are forever grateful to this organization and for the support.”

Read more of the remarkable stories of scholarship recipients.

Promising results in the 2023 Annual Impact Report
The most recent annual report for Kids’ Chance covers the period from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. According to the 2023 Annual Impact Report, Kids’ Chance awarded 647 scholarships totaling $2,799,624, with an average scholarship amount of $4,327 per recipient.

Help us raise awareness
Paradigm is committed to our ongoing efforts to raise awareness for this worthy cause. Please help us promote Kids’ Chance by liking and sharing our posts with your own community on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook. Be sure to include the hashtags #KidsChance #scholarships and #moremoneyformorekids. You can also visit the Kids’ Chance Awareness Week web page and follow their social media channels for more information and to pledge your support.