This week, the
Coats for Kids Foundation, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, finalized an
important, new partnership with Operation Warm, headquartered in Chadds Ford,
PA.
In announcing the
partnership, Paul Darby, president of the Coats for Kids Foundation said, “We
have grown our program over these past four years to a greater extent than we
ever expected by delivering more than 12,000 new winter coats to needy kids.
Today, we are taking the next step in our growth and evolution by partnering
with Operation Warm, a ten-year old organization that shares the same
commitment that we have to put new coats on needy children.”
Dick Sanford,
founder of Operation Warm, said “We are thrilled to be working with Paul &
Cheryl Darby and the Coats for Kids
Foundation. Our combined efforts will, without a doubt, provide many more
winter coats to children in need!”
The partnership
will allow the Coats for Kids Foundation to access all of the “back room”
functions of Operation Warm which this past year delivered 126,000 new winter
coats to recipient organizations for distribution to needy kids. These
functions include:
a)Accessing
a guaranteed supply of high quality, new winter coats designed by and for
Operation Warm—four styles in three distinct color combinations,
b)a
state-of-the-art logistics system which will process and pack our requests for
new coats, and
c)guaranteed
delivery by Federal Express to recipient organizations.
“We realized
earlier this year that Coats for Kids could not continue to grow without a
dedicated staff and a logistics system linked directly to our internet-based
order-entry system,” said Paul Darby.
“Coats for Kids
could not obtain the discounted rates for outbound shipping to recipient
organizations or the tremendous advantages that come from contracting directly
with a manufacturer for 100,000-plus new winter coats. And with energy
costs skyrocketing, we also were unable to develop a cost-effective shipping
relationship to get new coats from manufacturers to our warehouse in Virginia.”
“This new program
does not change our responding to requests from any U.S.-based recipient
organization (provided we have the funds or local funds are raised) or
receiving donated new winter coats with tags attached, or the USAF ACQ/IMA new
coat drive at Christmas. We recognize that many families and individuals
want to physically purchase and donate new coats, and we are grateful for their
commitment to the Coats for Kids Foundation,” Darby added.
Specific details of
the order process will be posted on the Coats for Kids Website—www.coats-for-kids.org.
Make a Donation
Make a difference in the life of a needy child today. You can now help Coats for Kids by making a secure contribution using Paypal. You do not need to have a Paypal account to donate.
About Us
The Coats for Kids Foundation was established in January 2004 as a public, charitable foundation by Paul and Cheryl Darby of Alexandria, VA. It received IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) in March 2004. The Coats for Kids Foundation mission is “to ensure that every child who needs a winter coat receives a new one.”
The Coats for Kids Foundation was established in January 2004 as a public, charitable foundation by Paul and Cheryl Darby of Alexandria, VA. It received IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) in March 2004. The Coats for Kids Foundation mission is “to ensure that every child who needs a winter coat receives a new one.”
