Kyle Amber

Daily Point of Light # 3188 Apr 25, 2006

SPECIAL JUDGING
Daily Point of Light Award for
National Volunteer Week – April 23-29 2006

Kyle Amber is one of the winners of a special judging of the Daily Point of Light Award being honored this April during National Volunteer Week. Sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, National Volunteer Week is about thanking one of America's most valuable assets – our volunteers – and calling the public's attention to all that they do to improve our communities.

Learn more about recognizing your volunteers.

Kyle Amber was six years old when his brother was diagnosed with leukemia. In response, Kyle formed Kids That Care, a nonprofit, all volunteer, student-run organization, to improve the lives of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. He has volunteered over 4,000 hours and has raised over $125,000. His efforts have benefitted thousands of children. Kyle has been working on behalf of critically ill children for over half his life, and he is only 16.

As President of Kids That Care, Kyle participates in and coordinates all of its projects, including the year-round "Ouch Box Toy Drive" (where children receive "rewards" after cancer treatments), the "Stick it to Cancer Day" fund-raiser and awareness program, the "Dream a Little Dream" contest (which grants wishes to critically ill children), the ongoing clothing drive for inner city patients, year-round bone marrow donor registration drives targeting communities of color, sibling counseling, community and corporate outreach programs, public service announcements, music therapy, and short-term financial assistance. In addition, Kyle has established the Kids That Care Music Center at Jackson Memorial Children's Hospital.

Kyle founded Kids That Care as an outlet for Miami-Dade County students to volunteer. Since Kids That Care is an all-volunteer organization, all funds go directly to help the children. Kids That Care also supports cancer research, and has recently awarded a $20,000 grant for lymphoma research.

Kyle continues to expand the Kids That Care message to more and more schools, businesses, churches, and synagogues, while partnering with other non-profit organizations with similar goals. Through public service announcements and speaking engagements, Kyle teaches the community about the effects of cancer on the entire family.

Kyle's volunteerism has been recognized both locally and nationally, and this National Volunteer Week, we are proud to present him with the President's Lifetime Volunteer Award.


jaytennier