Kids Cause Honors Service

Submitted by lana.hiskey on

Kids Cause was organized 18 years ago for the purpose of providing clothing, medical treatment, vision care, dental care, school supplies and other items that will contribute to the well-being of public school students who are not served by any other community, state, or national agencies.

Today Kids Cause has School Coordinators in 81 schools in Utah County; 24 schools in Nebo School District, 16 schools in Provo School District, and 41 schools in Alpine School District. Clothing, school supplies, eyeglasses, and dental services are provided to public school students who have needs and are identified by their teachers.

Kids Cause also partner with optometrists and dentists in the area to provide for visual and dental needs of students, which have been identified by their teachers. These services are donated from optometrists and dentists at no cost to the families unless they can pay the $20 lens grinding fee. Each doctor agrees to see five children a year. District audiologists can also help children get hearing aids through Kids Cause. Over the past 17 years, thousands of children have been served.

One specific activity that Kids Cause coordinates is the annual “Shop With a Cop” event in December. Together with K-Mart in Spanish Fork and Utah County police officers, over 100 eight and nine year olds are taken to breakfast , ride through the Festival of Lights in a police car, shop with a police officer, and choose gifts for their family members and themselves. Their gifts are then wrapped and tagged and sent home to put under the Christmas tree. We thank Nebo District for allowing us to use the Diamond Fork Jr. High for the annual breakfast each year.

Kids Cause relies totally on volunteer help. School principals, staff and Kids Cause Coordinators assess needs and follow through on services. "With the financial support of United Way, Kids Cause can and does make a difference for students in need.

Employees of Alpine, Nebo, and Provo School Districts are invited to make contributions through payroll deduction each year to United Way. Many earmark their donation to Kids Cause. Donations are also accepted from private community members and businesses. Together we are building a better community by helping the children to succeed in school.

Bonnie Palmer, former Nebo School Board member and Kids Cause representative, recognized Brent Gordon for his many years of service including the Nebo School Board, Utah County Planning Commission, Mountainland College of Applied Technology, Pacific Horizon Credit Union, South Utah Valley Electrical Service District, and Kids Cause.

Brent has worked for the LDS church as a Facilities Manager for the past 29 years and looks forward to retirement in the next few years.

Brent and his wife Lorna live in Lake Shore. They have four children but are now empty nesters. They have 14 grandchildren. Brent and Lorna like to travel and have visited many areas of the world.

Kaye Westwood, former Nebo School Board member and Kids Cause representative, honored Dr. Brian Rowley for his service to Nebo School District children.

Brian Rowley, O.D., has an Optometry Practice in Payson called Apple Valley Vision. One of his most rewarding experiences is working with young children who are behind in the academic setting. Often he finds a problem that can be fixed with optometric care and then watches the students soar into academic success. Because of these experiences, he feels it important that school nurses and parents who have young children be educated. Even though a child can pass a vision screening in school, if they exhibit symptoms of ADD/ADHD or struggle in school, he recommends they receive a comprehensive eye exam, which includes a strong medication used to dilate the eye. He finds it interesting that approximately 70 percent of these kids actually have a vision problem that can be eliminated with vision therapy or refractive correction.

Brian and his wife Emily are the proud parents of seven beautiful children and are happy to call Santaquin and south Utah County home. Dr. Rowley is excited to work with the good people of the Nebo School District and participate with organizations like Kids Cause in providing a pathway for kids to be successful in life.

Attributions
Lana Hiskey
File attachments