August 12, 2005) New York - Caring Pals USA - a non-profit, non-partisan, network of volunteers dedicated to helping kids in America launched its website on August 11, 2005. And within days has growned significantly. "We have enrolled 590 new members in just 3 days," boasted Kimberly Clark, the group's national Community Organizer. "And even the united states Navy wants to be a part of this." Indeed, with hours of the website's launch, the headquarters was flooded with offers to help. Unlike traditional charitable organizations which sometimes limit volunteer opportunities, work primarily in faraway lands, and utilize for-profit fundraising companies, Caring Pals USA thrives on volunteerism, raises funds through cause marketing, sponsorship, and membership, and will focus on children right here in America. Their mission is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow without abuse, without hunger, without suffering, to be a healthy, educated and productive member of society. This is a network of individuals on a mission. Stay tuned. This is definitely an organization on the go. For more information, please visit: http://www.CaringPals.US

Each year in the USA, 126,000 babies are born with major birth defects mostly attributable to insufficient prenatal care and nutritional inadequacy; 30,000 children are disabled by abuse and neglect; more than a million kids run away from home. In the United States, 20.8 percent of children under 18 are poor, and 25 percent of children under age six live in poverty. This is twice the child-poverty rate of any other industrial country, and poverty is the leading cause of hunger in the U.S. In New York City alone (the "World's Greatest City"), on any given night, 16,000 little boys and girls are homeless. On any given day in America, 900,000 children, some as young as seven, are engaged in child labor; many children are engaged in child prostitution; 131,000 are parentless; 27 kids die from causes associated with poverty, and 3 die from abuse or neglect (at least two of which are under 5 years old). Top Ten Causes of Death Among the 21 most affluent nations in the world, the United States has the highest percentage of impoverished children. In rural America, one in six children lives in poverty. More than 60% of low-income families have no books at all at home for their children. There are more than 65,000 deaf and 55,000 blind children in America. And about 2,000 kids are living with AIDS. You can make a difference: And while these numbers may appear overwhelming, they are not when viewed in contrast with other figures... Each year, American consumers spend 6 billion dollars on potato chips, 64 billion dollars on soft drinks, 36 billion dollars in vending machines, and 57 billion dollars on wedding gowns. It is estimated that obesity in America cost the nation 93 billion dollars in medical expenses, and tobaco consumption 89 billion dollars. Together we have the means to help these kids.

Dance Theatre of Harlem: An Interview with Keith Saunders By Joan Baum, Ph.D. As its special contribution to the annual benefit for the Emergency Fund for Student Dance recently, which took place at The Ailey School on West 55th Street, students in the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s (DTH) unique artistic, educational and social outreach program, Dancing Through Barriers (DTB), once again were on their toes, performing pieces set to the music of Bach, Norah Jones and Philip Glass, and ardently faithful to DTH co-founder Arthur Mitchell’s mission to do in dance “what Jackie Robinson did in baseball”—namely, disprove the myth that blacks could not do classical ballet. In 1969 Mitchell, who studied with Balanchine became premier danseur with the New York City Ballet. Deeply moved by the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., he and the late internationally known ballet artist Karel Shook decided to establish a school in tribute to Dr. King that would inspire African-American youngsters to see dance as a way to generate pride and self- respect. The only part of the mission that has changed over the years is that DTH, still dedicated to people of color, now also reflects the full diversity of the city.

Non-Profit Organizations Helping Kids In America This month we've got a stellar line up of organizations helping kids. From Angel Flight - providing air transportation to children required medical treatment in faraway cities - to Seedlings - providing Braille reading materials to blind children...

Caring Pals USA encourages you to get involved to the extent and in the manner you desire - whether that be writing to or visiting a sick child, contributing to our newsletter, reading to children, organizing a clothing drive, sponsoring our programs, recruiting sponsors, or any of dozens of other ways you can make a difference. We offer the opportunity to help children right in your own neighborhood, and, if you choose, across America as well. Our network of people just like you keeps us informed about everything from individual kids in need, to effective organizations that deserve our support, and we share this information via our newsletter, member website, and public events. A combination of volunteerism and sponsorship enables us to focus our attention on helping kids and supporting the organizations that help them. And through unique and cost-effective methods, such as our Sidewalk Ambassadors Program or our Performing Arts Project, we introduce the public to these organizations, to those sponsoring our efforts, and to the various ways that they can help. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safely, healthy and educated; to be free of hunger, abuse and disease; and to be nurtured. We believe this is possible. And we invite you to help us make it happen.

CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA (BLOOD CANCER IN CHILDREN) This is Anna, age three. After showing flu-like symptoms, and becoming very weak, and unable to stand, her grandparents rushed her to an emergency room where blood tests revealed leukemia. Anna, who loves to watch Dora the Explorer and Scooby-Doo, underwent chemotherapy to combat the cancer. When she began the treatment, 94 percent of the cells in her bone marrow were leukemia cells. Now there are no traces of leukemia in her marrow.