Childhood is such a precious time in life, full of creating core memories and enjoying special moments with friends and family. From riding bikes for hours in the summer, to the excitement of the first snowflakes in winter, childhood is a magical season we’ll never forget.
Kid Again is a sponsor of Indy with Kids. This is a natural fit because of the amazing programming they offer for central Indiana children and their families.
However, some children have to work much harder for these special moments. Children with life-altering medical conditions will spend countless hours in and out of the hospital, receiving medical treatment that even many adults have never experienced. During these tender and formative years, many children are fighting for the chance to just be a kid. They are working hard to enjoy those simple and special moments in childhood, balancing fun and the work of health and stability. That’s why A Kid Again was born.
Giving Illness a Time Out
A Kid Again is a national non-profit organization with the mission to give illness a time out, and simply allow children with life-threatening medical conditions to be A Kid Again! This organization provides “Adventures” for children enrolled in the program and their immediate family members at no cost to them. These Adventures allow families to enjoy some normalcy and fun, without worrying about the financial costs.
Adventures are offered year-round to enrolled children and their families, and can range from experiences at amusement parks, sporting events, festivals, and more! A Kid Again partners with many organizations in the state of Indiana and nationwide to provide families with completely free Adventures. These adventures often include fun extras, such as swag bags for the children and complimentary food and drink.
A recent Adventure provided by A Kid Again was a day out at an Indy Fuel game. Families were treated to complimentary game tickets, as well as food and parking vouchers. Additionally, kids were gifted goodie bags packed full of fun swag. Families are never asked to pay for anything, thanks to the many generous donors and partners that provide these fun and exciting adventures for families state-wide.
Program Eligibility
To Enroll in A Kid Again, you must meet the following criteria:
- The child must be under the age of 20 years.
- A medical physician must qualify the child as having a life-threatening medical condition.
A Kid Again is proud to help kids fight their battles and is a source of happiness and peace during challenging times. Some examples of conditions that qualify for the A Kid Again enrollment are cancer, epilepsy, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, and cerebral palsy. They accept many conditions for enrollment outside of these as well. If you are interested in starting the enrollment process for your child, you can determine eligibility at this site.
Ways to Get Involved
A Kid Again is a nationwide organization and is constantly looking to grow its in-person chapters. Indiana’s A Kid Again chapter is turning 5 years old in 2023! To celebrate 5 years of Adventures with Indiana children, they need your help. There are many different ways to get involved with A Kid Again outside of being an enrolled family. They could not operate without the support of their volunteers, partners, and generous financial donors. As A Kid Again continues to grow and serve so many wonderful children and families in Indiana, they need support in these areas.
Are you interested in learning about ways you can get involved? You can learn about volunteer opportunities and sign up to help with future adventures here! The list is constantly being updated, and the volunteer process is simple and easy. You can help fuel the next Adventure with a monetary gift of any size on their website. You can also sign up for reoccurring giving. They take all payment forms! Do you have a little one in your life fighting a big battle? Consider making a donation in honor of a loved one at the link above. As a registered non-profit, all donations to A Kid Again are tax deductible.
A Kid Again is also a member of the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Every time you shop at Kroger and scan your Kroger card, you can support the cause of giving illness a time out and bringing adventure into the lives of hundreds of Indiana children.
Giving Children a Chance for Connection and Normalcy
This cause is personally dear to my heart, as a mom with three medically complex children. We have been a part of the A Kid Again family for a year now. During this time, our family has connected with others experiencing the challenges of life-threatening medical conditions. Families like ours greatly benefit from the opportunity to allow our children normalcy through the experience of fun Adventures. The name says it all. This organization’s mission is to simply let children be A Kid Again.
Childhood memories for some kids might include hospital admissions, battle scars, and hard days, but thanks to A Kid Again, there can be many magical memories too. Adventures are a pivotal part of enhancing the well-being and mental health of enrolled children and their families, as children can put their illness in time out, and simply be A Kid Again.
