Kids Matter International

3)COMMUNITY PROGRAMS As part of the Southlake, TX annual Art in the Square festival, KMI supports the youth art contest. This contest is open to any public, private or home-schooled student in grades 9-12 (or home-school equivalent) who lives in NE Tarrant County, Texas. The Grand Prize Winner receives the "Lone Star Artist Award and has their work placed in the Texas State Capitol building for one week. The winner receives hotel accommodations for two nights in Austin and a VIP tour of the Texas Capitol, courtesy of a local state representative and Kids Matter International.

Ramp up reading/literacy is a kids matter international program whose mission is to improve comprehension and reading skills of disadvantaged and underprivileged school age children. It raises awareness and excitement about the importance of reading and literacy. It is accomplished through a partnership with employees of kohl's department stores and volunteers who distribute thousands of books annually on a variety of topics to these children. Each child selects a book of interest that they get to keep. Volunteers spend hours reading with and to the children with the goal of helping them improve their reading and comprehension skills thus improving the child's overall self-confidence and learning abilities. In 2023-2024, 10,000 books were distributed to title 1 schools in texas. In addition to title 1 schools, books are distributed to boys/girls clubs, orphanages, and womens shelters.