Karl's Kids Program, Inc.

Our Beginnings

In September 2003, the future founder of Karl's Kids Program Theresa A. Jennings, had an idea of putting together several coloring pages staring one of her dogs to teach fire safety rules to children. Along with the idea of fire safety was the dual wish to promote the German Shepherd Dog breed in the community as a safe animal to be used around children. By chance, Mrs. Jennings happened to see some work by a young artist from NY who drew in the style that she was looking for. After hearing what the drawings were going to be used for, Jamie Ohman of Dancing Cavy Productions, volunteered to help with the project.

The main character on those pages, and additional drawings on other safety issues which quickly followed, was the young German Shepherd Karl who was used as a visitng Therapy Dog, a demo dog for Child & Dog safety workshops, and was in training for tracking for the local volunteer Fire Department.

A small section on an existing website was put aside to highlight the drawings along with simple safety rules geared for young children. The concept of using Karl to educate a child on fire and other safety issues caught on in the local area of Putnam County, Florida. It wasn't long before Karl was being used in other interests of Mrs. Jennings such as pet rescue, Internet Safety, and to promote family and communtiy values. More dog characters were added to the group and some in turn became known for a connection to a certain project or activity. There was Tate the little dog saved from a shelter who became the advocate for shelter dog adoptions; Rollo who walks around relying on his "wheels" much some disabled children rely on a wheelchair; Syra who lost a portion on a limb in an accident but still loves to play with her friends; Men-Leigh the Chow who promotes Internet Safety; and other friends who teach good manners, the joy of reading, and the need for a community to look out for and help its members.

Growing

With the added growth of topics and a new dedicated website just for Karl's Kids, Mrs. Jennings decided that if she was going to expand in the manner that she now wished to go she would have to find some like minded people to assist her. It wasn't long into her search that she met Nikki Baker another person with a love for dogs who set up the first Karl's Kids forum and continued to be a major source of ideas on expanding the program. More volunteers from around the country and several from other countries joined the original group and with each came new ideas and areas of interest.

By the end of the summer of 2005, Karl's Kids had grown enough that it was decided to incorporate. The Articles of Incorporation were stamped with the seal of The State of FL on Sept. 30 as a non-profit corporation.

On August 21, 2006, the IRS signed a Letter of Determination making Karl's Kids Program, Inc. a 501(c)(3) Public Charity.

Where We Are Now

From a couple of simple drawings for children to color while their teacher spoke on fire safety the program grew into one which disbursed food, school supplies, and other products to families that needed some help; a food disbursement program for pets of families that might otherwise have to give up these members of their families and food to animal rescues; treats for Assistance Dogs; toys for children after going through a traumatic experience; and encouragement for various family activities and hobbies to share together. And that original simple coloring page project on fire safety grew into a school year long series of classes on Fire & Life Safety topics.