Kids Who Care, Inc. Musical Theatre, Fort Worth, Texas

WE PRODUCE GREAT KIDS

What is Kids Who Care?

"Our desire at Kids Who Care is to create a place where the child is cherished. To find kids who love the process of creating musical theatre, to find adults who adore kids and the process, to invite the most talented artists, accountants, community volunteers, and business partners to join us, and when the lights go up, we all find delight!" -- Deborah Jung, Founding Executive Director

Watch & Learn More About Kids Who Care

Kids Who Care Produces:

Musical theatre classes, camps and productions
Year-round leadership opportunities
Local, National and International tours of Original Musicals

Why Choose Kids Who Care:

We create a place where the child is cherished
Leadership Education and Training is part of everything we do
We only hire professionals who adore working with children
Our kids look like kids
We are financially diverse and culturally inclusive

CONTACT US

Contact Information

1300 Gendy St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Phone 817.737.KIDS (5437)
Fax 817.737.2164

Click here for the Staff Directory.

Send us a Message:

Directions

Find Our Offices

Our main office #266 is located on the 2nd Floor, of the North Wing of the Arts Center. As you enter the Scott Theater Lobby turn right, take the hallway to the stairwell that leads to the second floor. As you come out of the stairs, turn right and then go left to our main office next to the copy machine.

Parking

Arts Center Parking is located in the surface lot across the street and in the Western Heritage Garage. Parking Rates for the cultural district are set by the City of Fort Worth and vary by time and day.

Click here to see parking maps.

Sign up for our eNewsletter

Click here to get up-to-date information on all upcoming Kids Who Care events!

Kids Who Care adheres to a strict policy for ensuring the privacy of personally identifiable information. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our privacy practices shown below.

Privacy Policy.
Kids Who Care recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy of your personal information. This Privacy Policy governs our collection and use of personal information on all websites and web pages controlled by Kids Who Care. By providing information to us on the website, you accept the terms of this Privacy Policy. As used in this Privacy Policy, “Kids Who Care” and “we/our” refers to Kids Who Care.

How We Use Your Personal Information.
Kids Who Care uses your Personal Information to:

Process your requests for tickets purchases, class registration fees, event fees, or information and communicate with you regarding such requests.

Verify your identity, process payments and collect debts owed.

Process donations and recognize those you may be donating in honor or memory of.

Improve the website and procedures.

Provide you with information about shows, classes, events, services or special offers from Kids Who Care. Please see the section below entitled “Your Choices” to better understand your choices with regard to these communications (e.g. our e-newsletter) from Kids Who Care.

Your Choices.
Kids Who Care strives to provide you with choices with regard to our use of your Personal Information. For example, although we may occasionally use your Personal Information to contact you regarding products or services of Kids Who Care we think might interest you, you will be given instructions on how to opt out of receiving further communications of this nature by email. Note, however, that in such a case, you would still receive program-related messages and similar transactional communications by email.

If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy or Terms of Use, please contact us.

MISSION AND HISTORY

Mission

Kids Who Care is a Musical Theatre Production Company, but with a name like Kids Who Care, we are obviously so much more. Our desire is to create a place where the child is cherished. Through exposure, education and experience in the performing arts and entrepreneurial leadership, we produce great kids. We invite the brightest artistic and business professionals and community volunteers, who adore children, to join us. So, when the lights go up, we all find delight.

A word from Deborah Jung

Kids Who Care Founding Director

"We are a musical theatre company for all ages. Obviously with a name like Kids Who Care, we are more than theatre. At the end of the day, what we produce are great kids! As we work together in an ensemble company, kids learn how to create great work and at the same time, how to take care of each other.

As a producer of musical theatre, I want to create something out in the world that changes thinking, or at least encourages hopeful thinking. While all of our work is legit entertainment, it should give a sense of hope in the end.

Kids find us either because a parent sees something extraordinary in the living room, or the kid is dying to get in front of an audience. Our job is to maximize what happens to that child when they land here. We give kids an avenue to take what they are doing in their living rooms and create a professional venue for it.

We are a very traditional theatre company, in that the skills taught here translate to any professional theatre. However, because we are a theatre that adores kids, we are intentional about selecting a professional staff that wants to do what we do.

Kids Who Care is an international company. Since 1989, we have hosted students from countries including Israel, Italy, Indonesia, Germany, Russia, Albania, Switzerland, Finland, and Scotland. We are happiest in a sea of kids speaking many different languages!! Visit us in the middle of July Camp and see what I mean!

When you leave any Kids Who Care performance, we hope you have laughed hard, cried a little bit, and feel better. For a moment we sit together, all ages, and watch Kids Who Care and feel like the world is going to be ok."

-- Deborah Jung, Founder and Executive Director

OUR STAFF

Who We Are

	Deborah Jung Founder and Executive Director
Beginning in 1989, Mrs. Jung has produced and directed tours of Kids Who Care's Original Musicals, performing in New York on Times Square and Off Broadway at both the People's Improv and the Lamb's Theatre, appearing at the Kennedy Center, Bass Hall, Disneyland, in addition to venues in Los Angeles, Italy, Germany, Albania, Washington D.C., Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Orlando, Nashville, across Texas, and at 30,000 feet in the air on the American Airlines Wish Flight. In addition, Deborah has directed for Kids Who Care main stage productions including A Christmas Carol, West Side Story, A Christmas Story, Peter Pan, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell, Narnia, Wizard of Oz, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Under Deborah's direction Kids Who Care has produced Family Concerts with Peter Yarrow, Trout Fishing in America, Sara Hickman, Inca Son, Eddie Coker, and Joseph Vincelli. Mrs. Jung designed Kid Power Leadership in 1993. This leadership model, originally designed for summer student leaders, has become an essential element for all leadership at Kids Who Care with annual training for the Board of Directors, professional full time staff, and professional contracted artists. As a consultant, Mrs. Jung and the KWC Staff produce Kid Power Leadership workshops for corporations, schools, and other non-profits staffs and boards. Past workshops include Texas Christian University, Tarrant Area Council of Churches, Trinity Valley High School, San Angelo Broadway Kids, and Theatre Arlington. Prior to founding Kids Who Care, Jung was in the Resident Co. at Casa Manana Playhouse (1975-1989) where she directed and/or appeared in over 75 productions. For ten years she was the Company Manager for Fort Worth Shakespeare in the Park. During that time, Deborah created the Shakespeare Acting Institute and appeared onstage in Hamlet and Macbeth. In addition to her professional theatre credits, Deborah has worked with special populations including Mental Health Mental Retardation, Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center, Texas Gifted and Talented, Cook Children's Hospital, and the Creative Drama Network. Mrs. Jung received her BA in Speech and Drama from Trinity University in San Antonio in 1975, with a Secondary Certification for Speech and Drama with the Texas Education Agency, and is a member of Who's Who, Mortar Board, and past member of Actors Equity Association. Deborah was a 2007 Great Women of Texas honoree, the 2008 Legacy of Women Award Recipient for the Arts, The Heart of Gold Recipient from the Arts Council of Fort Worth in 2018, and a recipient from Fort Worth Business Press C-Suite Awards in 2019.
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	Kathryn Albright Development Director
Kathryn Albright received her B.S. in Communication Disorders and her M.A. in Audiology from the University of Texas at Austin. She practiced Audiology for over 15 years during which time she published numerous professional papers and conducted professional development workshops as an advocate for newborn hearing screening implementation all over the nation. In 2000, she joined the Staff of Kids Who Care as part-time Development Director where she was responsible for grant writing and fundraising. Through her tenure she has served as Marketing Director, International Relations Coordinator and as the Business Operations Director responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations of the organization. She has returned full circle to Development Director where she, in conjunction with the Executive Director and the Financial Development Team, continues to secure funding to allow Kids Who Care to fulfill its mission. She continues her work with the international exchange program. She is also a KidPower Leadership Trainer and the KidPower Leadership Board sponsor. Kathryn also contributes poems and prose to the original Kids Who Care production scripts. She is married to Jon and they have two daughters, Rachel and Madeline.
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	Pam Adair Education Director
Pam Adair is a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University with a B. A. in Vocal Performance. A former choir teacher in Fort Worth ISD for over 13 years where her choir students received Division I Superior Sweepstakes in Concert and Sight-Reading Contests and Division I Superior ratings in Solo Ensemble Contests. Pam has served as Region Choir Vocal Chair Assistant and Region Choir Vocal Chair for Region VII and was awarded Campus Teacher of the year at Daggett Middle School and has served as Fine Arts Chair to her campus Professional Learning Community. Pam is a member of Southwest ACDA and Texas Music Educator Association and has attended annual conventions where she receives continuing education. Pam teaches Vocal classes at Kids Who Care, is Resident Company Vocal Director and is the Music Director for July International Camps. Pam has toured with the Resident Company as Vocal Director to Austin, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Italy, Germany and Albania. Pam has been writing and creating music with Kids Who Care for over 20 years Her dreams of creating started as a young child, sitting outside in her favorite tree where she made up songs. She took piano lessons as a child and continued piano when she returned to college. Her friends, children and family have been her inspiration for writing.
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	Billie Kinlough Administrative Assistant
Billie has been associated with Kids Who Care since 1992. First serving as a Volunteer with Kids Who Care in Production, Resident Company Touring, and Cookin' for Kids, Billie joined the staff in 2000. Billie is currently the Administrative Assistant.
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	Kristen Thiebaud Public Relations
Kristen Thiebaud joined the Kids Who Care staff as Public Relations and Booking Director Full time in January of 2015. With a keen ability to connect people and the proven skills of originating publicity on a limited budget, she's helping to fulfill the mission of Kids Who Care to perform in Places of Power, Places that Matter, and Places of Purpose. Thiebaud was part of the Southwest Airlines Marketing Team that launched the ability to book hotels and highlight destination specific marketing on southewst.com. She also served as Promotions Director for 96.3 KSCS, and was successful in growing the brand and increasing listener engagement through on site and on air events while building a large network in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. She's served on multiple volunteer steering committees, including GrapeStomp! for Grapefest 2001-2004 and as Communications Chair at First United Methodist Church of Burleson. With two children in the Kids Who Care Resident Company, Kristen is thrilled to be part of an organization where the child is cherished.
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	Amanda Williams Ware Company Manager
Amanda has been part of the Kids Who Care family since the age of seven as a student, a Resident Company member, a KidPower leader through every level, a returning guest artist, a songwriter, an Alumni Board committee chair, an Alumni Liaison for the Board of Directors, and is now rounding out her twenty-one-year KWC career as a member of the professional staff. Amanda has been involved in Educational Outreach initiatives while attending Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and also through Casa Manana, where she taught Creative Dramatics in after-school programs. Also with Casa Manana, she toured an educational production to many schools and boys & girls clubs in the daytime while performing in their Playhouse season in the evenings. As an actor in the DFW area, Amanda has been seen in many productions in leading, featured, and supporting roles, including: In the Heights (Daniela, Regional Premier); Into the Woods (Witch); Debutante Warriors (Jenny, World Premier); West Side Story (Anita); The Spitfire Grill (Percy, Regional Premier); Anything Goes (Reno); and many more. She is also constantly writing and recording music, and singing with a number of different bands and musicians, including her husband, Trey, across the metroplex.
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	Chad R. Jung Production Manager Resident Lighting Designer As Kids Who Care’s Production Manager, Chad is keen on finding the right balance between vision and logistics as he manages the execution of every main stage production. As Resident Lighting Designer, he works side by side with students and professionals to create art in light for every live performance.
A teacher and mentor, Chad is devoted to inspiring the next generation of young leaders and artists. He strives to inspire the next generation of artists and leaders who will reach far beyond live productions to promote positive change in world. Chad R. Jung has designed 300+ productions for opera, theatre, music, & dance around the world. Opera credits include: Atlanta Opera, Dallas Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Palm Beach Opera, Opera San Antonio, UNT Opera, Opera Tampa, and Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House. As the Resident Lighting Designer for the Fort Worth Opera, Mr. Jung designes a vast repertoire of opera including the critically acclaimed world premiere of JFK. A founding member Amphibian Stage Productions, Jung’s Leonce & Lena design Off-Broadway was praised by the NYTimes as “mesmerizing”. Theatre credits include: Julia Pastrana directed by J.V. Mercanti at the Greenwich St. Theatre, the world premier A Leopard Complains of Its Spots, and international theatre festivals in Italy, and Russia. Chad R. Jung has also collaborated on a variety of unique projects including Frances Bagley and Tom Orr’s Nabucco installation at the Dallas Museum of Art. Designs for live music include: Drew Holcomb, Chris Botti, Renée Fleming, Sharon Irving, Chad Lawson, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson. Jung’s love of dance began with his mentor Tony Tucci and Choreographer Bruce Wood who helped launch his career of collaborations in more than 40 cities across the US for companies including: Ballet Austin, Caroline Calouche, Dallas Dance Festival, Metropolitan Classical Ballet, Texas Ballet Theatre, and the Washington Ballet on stage at the Kennedy Center. chadrjungdesign.com
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	Zuilma Gonzalez Business Manager
Mrs. Gonzalez received her Bachelor Degree in Accounting from UANL in Monterrey, Mexico. Her professional experience includes marketing and accounting with Development Dimensions International (DDI Mexico), a Human Resources and Management Consulting Firm. After taking time off to raise her children, Zuilma re-entered the workforce as the KWC accountant. In addition to her role in accounting, Zuilma is also a professional photographer. zuilma.com
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	Pam Adair Education Director
Pam Adair is a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University with a B. A. in Vocal Performance. A former choir teacher in Fort Worth ISD for over 13 years where her choir students received Division I Superior Sweepstakes in Concert and Sight-Reading Contests and Division I Superior ratings in Solo Ensemble Contests. Pam has served as Region Choir Vocal Chair Assistant and Region Choir Vocal Chair for Region VII and was awarded Campus Teacher of the year at Daggett Middle School and has served as Fine Arts Chair to her campus Professional Learning Community. Pam is a member of Southwest ACDA and Texas Music Educator Association and has attended annual conventions where she receives continuing education. Pam teaches Vocal classes at Kids Who Care, is Resident Company Vocal Director and is the Music Director for July International Camps. Pam has toured with the Resident Company as Vocal Director to Austin, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Italy, Germany and Albania. Pam has been writing and creating music with Kids Who Care for over 20 years Her dreams of creating started as a young child, sitting outside in her favorite tree where she made up songs. She took piano lessons as a child and continued piano when she returned to college. Her friends, children and family have been her inspiration for writing.
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Deborah Jung

Founder and Executive Director
817-737-5437 x6 // deborah@kidswhocare.org

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Kathryn Albright

Development Director
817-737-5437 x4 // kathryn@kidswhocare.org

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Pam Adair

Education Director
817-737-5437 x2 // pam@kidswhocare.org

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Zuilma Gonzalez

Business Manager
817-737-5437 x7 // zuilma@kidswhocare.org

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Chad R. Jung

Production Manager
817-737-5437 x8 // chad@kidswhocare.org

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Billie Kinlough

Administrative Assistant
817-737-5437 x1 // billie@kidswhocare.org

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Kristen Thiebaud

PR/Marketing Director
817-737-5437 x3 // kristen@kidswhocare.org

Read bio

ASSOCIATED ARTISTS

Teaching Artists

Deborah Jung -- Founder and Executive Director - Voice and Diction, Lessac
Pam Adair -- Education Director, Storybook Theatre, Resident Company Music Director, Vocal Performance
Jadie Phelps -- Resident Company Choreographer, Jazz Dance Instructor
Ricky Anderson II -- Resident Company Acting Improv Instructor
Rebecca Ford -- Jazz
Devyn Woodruff -- Ballet Dance Instructor
Mary Grim -- Resident Company Acting/Vocal Instructor
Melissa Stewart -- Actor's Studio Instructor
Lexie Griffin -- Beginning Jazz Instructor

Associated Artists

Pam Adair -- Song Writer, Vocal Direction
Jay Adkins -- Music Producer
Chase Ainsworth -- Actor
Kathryn Albright -- Writer
Ehleshea Anderson -- Actor/Director/Acting Coach
Ricky Anderson II -- Actor/Improv
Major Attaway -- Actor
Frieda Austin -- Dance
Vanessa Rohrer Barker -- Theatre Specialist
Deborah Barr -- Stage Manager
Christa Beacham -- Dance
Aaron Bell -- Scenic Designer, johnaaron.homestead.com
Lindy Benton-Muller -- Actress/Music Director
Kristi Bingham -- Singer/Song Writer
Courtney Boma -- Writer
Beth Bontley -- Actor/ Director
Thomas Brandon -- Writer
Rhonda Kohl Brandon -- Theater Educator
Tracy Bristol -- Artist
Kevin Bulgarelli -- Writer
Jaime Castañeda -- Director
BJ Cleveland -- Actor/Director
Jakie Cabe -- Actor
Costa Caglage -- Lighting Technician
Kristin Cox -- Dance
Chris Curtis -- Songwriter
John Dahlander -- Writer
Winston Daniels -- Actor
Brandi Daughtery -- Singer/Songwriter
Lindy Davis -- Music Director
Jason Domm -- Technical Director
Yvonne Duque -- Actor/Director
Glen Ellman -- Photographer, fortworthfire.net
Karen Fox -- Writer
Brandon Garceau -- Musician
Mikala Gibson -- Actor/Director, mikalagibson.com
Lorie Grandclair-Diaz -- Actress
Eugene Gwozdz -- Composer
Lane Bernardez Hackemack -- Stage Manager
Seancollin Hankins -- Scenic Designer
Todd Hart -- Actor
Matt Hembree -- Songwriter
Rachel Hull -- Theater Educator
Heather Humphery -- Scenic Designer
Elisabeth Ivy -- Singer
Melian Izotova -- Ballet
Brittany Jenkins -- Dancer/Choreographer
Cody Jenkins -- Actor
Andre Johnson -- Motivational Speaker
Jay Armstrong Johnson -- Actor, Acting and Dance Workshops, jayarmstrongjohnson.org
Michael Johnson -- Writer/Actor/Director
Melissa Jobe -- Graphic Artist
Blake Jung -- Sound Engineer
Chad R. Jung -- Lighting Design, chadrjungdesign.com
Deborah Jung -- Director/Writer
Loli Kantor -- Photographer
Jay Kay -- Scenic Artist/Carpenter
Cheryl King -- Music Direction
Pat Kinlough -- Carpenter
Michelle Kinser -- Dancer
Rhonda Kohl -- Actor/Director/Writer
Tyler Krieg-- Actor
Krista Langford -- Dance
David Lanza -- Song Writer/Sound Designer
Bob Lavallee -- Scenic Designer
Elise Lavallee -- Dance
Drenda Lewis -- Costume Designer
Lynn Lewis -- Poet
Art Lippa -- Actor
Kate Lovelady -- Director/Writer/Vocal Direction
Brittny Mahan -- Tap/Costume Designer
Missy Matherne -- Musical Theatre Specialist
Malissa McGee -- Choreographer
Shannon McGrann -- Actor
Mark Miller -- Music Director
Richard Morrison -- Head Carpenter
Michael Muller -- Actor
Christopher Hudson Myers -- Actor, christopherhudsonmyers.com
Steve Neal -- Poet
Joseph W. Neely Reynolds -- Musician
Jule Nelson-Duac -- Actor/Director/Acting Coach
Georgianna Noel -- Dance
Taylor Otey -- Actress
Michael Pellechia -- Songwriter
Teresa Pels -- Writer
Ana F. Pettit -- Production Coordinator
Michael Plantz -- Vocal/Music Direction
Colleen Power -- Costume Designer
Lauren Power -- Costume Designer
Matt Ransdell -- Writer/Spoken Word
Zak Reynolds -- Actor
Alyssa Robbins -- Dance/Actor
Caitlin Ryland -- Dance
Stephen Senisch -- Theater Technician
Andrew Shaw -- Actor
Dalton Sherman -- Motivational Speaker
Ragan Rhodes Sims -- Singer/Songwriter
Hailli Ridsdale -- Stage Manager
Ed Smith -- Actor
Tom Spahn -- Composer
Joshua Sherman -- Actor
Debby Stein -- Dance
Maegan Stewart -- Dance
Phoebe Strole -- Actress
Michael Sylvester -- Dance
Ra Byn Taylor -- Sound Consultant
Clifton Theibaud -- Writer
Martina Trevino -- Photographer
Victor Trevino -- Photographer
Gary Turk -- Writer Sean Urbantke -- Scenic Designer
Ross Vick III-- Musician/Songwriter
Alex Vorse -- Songwriter
Mark Walker -- Scenic Designer
Elise Wattman -- Pianist/Vocal Performance/Composer
Amanda Williams Ware -- Actor/Singer/Songwriter
Taylor Willis -- Film Maker
Elizabeth Wills -- Song Writer
Noah Wilson -- Writer
Hope Wilton -- Actress/Director
Chase York -- Designer/Actor/Film Maker
Philip Zielke -- Technical Director

BOARD of DIRECTORS

Board President - Jack Larson

Mr. Larson is president and managing director of Mellina & Larson, PC. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Fort Worth and have two children, Benjamin and Marguerite. Jack previously served on the TCU Board of Trustees, as President of the TCU National Alumni Association, and Chairman of the TCU Clark Society Board of Directors. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Arts Council of Fort Worth and continues to be an avid supporter of the arts. He is a past member of the Citizens Oversight Committee for the Fort Worth Independent School District Capital Improvement Program and is active on the PTAs at his children’s schools.
Click Here to Learn More about Jack Larson.

Board of Directors

Jack Larson -- President -- Mellina & Larson, P.C.
Marshall Robinson -- Treasurer -- Pardus Oil & Gas
Lisa Guthrie -- Secretary -- Cook Children’s Physician Network
Gwen Perez -- Past President -- Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Brandi Sanchez -- Board Development -- GM Financial

Kimberly Buckley -- Freese and Nichols
Ignacio Cadena -- Black and Veatch
Dianne Fisher -- Deaf Education Consultant
Carrie Harrington -- FWISD Ret.
Jana Henthorn -- Community Volunteer
Karen Telschow Johnson -- Telschow Johnson Law PLLC
Molly Moon Jones -- Molly Moon Interior Design
Shannon Schumacher -- Jtaylor
Colte Smith -- Remnant Financial
Malissa Perkins Summers -- Oil & Gas Title Atty.
Clifton Thiebaud -- Dallas Marriott Las Colinas

Kids Who Care Advisory Board

Mike O'Toole, Co-Chair -- Douglass Interior Products
Vernon E. Rew, Jr., Co-Chair -- Whitaker, Chalk, PLLC

Honorable Kenneth Barr -- Former Mayor of Ft. Worth
Jon Bonnell -- Bonnell's Texas/ Waters Seafood, Owner & Chef
Earl Cox -- Investments and Real Estate
Daniel J. Red Goldstein -- SpiritPoint Coaching and Consulting
Ginny Goodman -- Community Volunteer
Lorie Grandclair-Diaz -- Community Volunteer
Rev. Raul Gutierrez -- Western Hills UMC
Grant Harris -- Cook Children's Health Foundation
Lori Henson -- Cuisine For Healing
John Kiliany -- Red Lobster, Inc.
Sue Kiliany -- Community Volunteer
Marty Leonard -- Community Volunteer
Nancy McClung -- Community Volunteer

Honorable Mike Moncrief -- Former Mayor of Ft. Worth
Nancy Payton -- Community Volunteer
Sue Turnage -- Argent Trust
Karen Vermaire Fox -- Quindigo Management
Rev. Gloria Whitson -- Community Volunteer
Brook Whitworth -- Frost
Mike Wilie -- Witherspoon Marketing Communications

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Community Relations

It all begins with "EXPOSURE!" With credits in Albania, Italy, Germany, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Houston, Chicago, Austin, Kansas, Boston, Orlando, San Antonio, and all across the Fort Worth Metroplex, KWC is now reaching in excess of 10,000 children each year through the Kids in the Community program. The program is designed to impact children of all ages by meeting them in their comfort zone -- THEIR OWN COMMUNITY! As a result of this exposure to live theatre, many children choose to study the arts. The entrepreneurial style of leadership at KWC, combined with a skill specific arts education and compassionate staff, is producing great community leaders. For more information about booking the Resident Company for your community event, contact Kristen Thiebaud.

Kids in the Community

Kids in the Community takes musical theatre performances to places where children and families gather. Since 1989, our Resident Company of Youth Actors (1st - 12th grade) has performed KWC original musicals at schools, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Boys and Girls Clubs, gala events for other non-profits, and community festivals. About 50% of these performances are provided at no cost to the hosting organizations.

Tickets and Transportation

Our Tickets and Transportation program ensures low-income students are exposed to live theatre by providing grant-supported tickets and transportation to attend KWC productions at the Scott Theatre.

Nights of Giving

Nights of Giving is a collaborative effort between Kids Who Care, the Junior League of Fort Worth and area social service agencies that serve families. Agency clients are invited to attend a live theater performance at no charge so they can enjoy a normal family outing.

Hope Scholarship Program

Our Hope Scholarship Program removes financial barriers by providing tuition support for musical theatre and leadership education and experience.

ALUMNI

Changing the World, One Kid at a Time

Kids Who Care celebrates our Alumni. From an engineer building bridges in Seattle, an English classroom in North Carolina, or on a Broadway stage, KWC alumni continue to make a difference.

Our alumni can be found:
On Broadway Stages (On The Town, Catch Me If You Can, Hair, Spring Awakening, Mamma Mia)
At Hebrew University of Jerusalem studying Chinese and German
Serving as President of the Student Body at George Washington University
On stage in National Tours and Regional Theatre
In Norway, studying Marine Biology
Teaching English in Paris, France

KWC has produced a generation of incredible people with wonderful stories.

ALEX KILES - Litigation Associate with Covington & Burling LLP

Kids Who Care Alumni – 2000-2008
Washington, District of Columbia

Alex is a leader among leaders, he is a 2014 graduate of The University of Chicago Law School where he served as Student Body President.

"Nowhere else do students from all backgrounds have the chance to not only perform together, but also grow together. In short, Kids Who Care really does live up to its motto: We Produce Great Kids." - Alex Kiles

JAY ARMSTRONG JOHNSON - Will Olsen on ABC's Quantico

Kids Who Care Alumni – 1999-2008
New York City, New York

Whether 1,500 miles away on Broadway, or shooting in Montreal for "Quantico", Jay is the same: magical, humble, and turn-your-head off the charts gifted "kid" he was when he was on our stage. "Kids Who Care taught me how to lead with courage, patience, diligence, flexibility, and all the while grinning ear to ear because we were simply having too much fun." - Jay

LANE BERNARDEZ HACKEMACK – Nurse at Texas Health Resources

Kids Who Care Alumni – 1997-2001
Fort Worth, Texas

Lane had an innate ability at very young age to lead her peers. All 200 of them “standing by” backstage! Lane set the pace for all those who would follow.

“Most importantly, Kids Who Care taught me that my all of my dreams are possible so long as I believe in myself and have endless ambition.” - Lane

WILLIAM REID – Special Events Manager at Carnegie Hall

Kids Who Care Alumni – 1999 – 2006
New York City, New York

"My time in the KidPower Leadership program taught me that I was capable of so much more than I could ever imagine at the time and that with hard work, respect for myself and those around me, and a little creativity, the sky is truly the limit." - William

INTERNATIONAL

International Students in Fort Worth

Kids Who Care believes international exchanges are essential to developing strong leaders and diverse artists. We create global minded individuals through summer exchanges, international study tours and the home hosting experience.

In 1989, Kids Who Care hosted our first 3 students from Reggio Emilia, Italy, through Fort Worth Sister Cities International. Since that time, we have hosted over 800 exchange students from all over the world including:

Albania
Italy

Finland
Latvia

Germany
Mexico

Hungary
Scotland

Australia
China

Indonesia
Spain

Israel
Switzerland

While participating in Kids Who Care, international students experience:

Musical Theatre production and education in a professional venue
An opportunity for English language immersion
Leadership opportunities through KidPower Leadership
Life-long international friendships

Students are home-housed while in Fort Worth and participate in a schedule of activities that introduce them to Texas culture. Organized activities include sporting events, museums, theatre, shopping, culinary and family fun. Everything from a family soccer day to a trip to Billy Bob's for Texas line dancing makes the experience complete. More information about Fort Worth.

The Resident Company welcomes international exchange students living in Fort Worth to participate in Kids Who Care year round. Contact Kathryn Albright if you're interested in attending Summer Camp as an exchange student, or delegation leader.

Be a Host Family

Each Summer, Kids Who Care welcomes 40-60 students and their chaperones from countries from all over the world. We need friendly, flexible and FUN families who can co-create an incredible Texas adventure for our guests. All exchange students stay with host families for the three weeks while they participate in July International Musical Theatre Camp. This gives our guests an authentic Fort Worth experience.

Host Families welcome guests as part of the family. Hosts provide transportation to and from camp and activities, breakfast, dinner and weekend meals. Exchange students have prepaid for lunch at camp, camp tuition, activities and medical insurance. Background checks and home visits are required for all host families.

Download a Host Family Application from the call board or contact Kathryn Albright, 817-737-5437 for more information.

Kids Who Care Around the World

The Kids Who Care Professional Staff, Alumni, Leaders and Resident Company have a rich history of international exchange. When abroad, Kids Who Care connects to city and world leaders, provides workshops for schools and teachers, and creates performances in traditional and non-traditional venues. Past exchanges include Reggio Emilia, Italy; Novellara, Italy; Trier, Germany; Menashe Region, Israel; and Albania. To bring Kids Who Care to your community, contact Kathryn Albright, International Community Relations or 1-817-737-5437.