Peter Paris, VP of Marketing for K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations) emailed me this morning to inform me that they will be honoring Connie Rishwain who is the president for UGGS and Simple Shoes for her contributions helping their cause. Congrats to Connie as well as the other honorary recipients!! It’s people like you who encourage us all to make a difference! Thanks to Peter for sharing!!

K.I.D.S. to Honor Three Exemplary Women at June 2 Fundraising Luncheon

May 11, 2009 – New York – The children’s charity Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) will honor three women for their achievements in helping children and families at a luncheon Tuesday, June 2, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Le Parker Meridien New York, 119 West 56th Street, near 6th Avenue.  The honorees are New York State First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson; Connie X. Rishwain, president of UGG^® Australia and Simple^®; and Pilar Guzmán, editor-in-chief of Cookie magazine.  Founded in 1985, K.I.D.S. is dedicated to providing new products to children in need and assisting in global relief efforts for major disasters.  The theme for this year’s luncheon is “Generations of Giving Back,” focusing on the values that guide people to give back to their community, and people who serve as examples. 

The guest speaker for the luncheon will be Fatima Goldman, executive director and CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, a New York-based charity that is supported by K.I.D.S.

Each honoree has a history of commitment to issues that affect children.  Paterson is being recognized for her work in combating childhood obesity, and Rishwain, who is a board member of K.I.D.S., has been a supporter of other children’s charities as well.  Guzmán is editor-in-chief of Cookie magazine and is being honored for her efforts to inform and educate parents as well as her leadership with the New York Center for Children.  Individual tickets are $250 and tables start at $5,000; more information is available via email to Walter Illy at willy@kidsdonations.org or via phone at 212-279-5493, ext. 204.

K.I.D.S. brings hope and self-esteem to children and their families by providing new clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and juvenile products donated by leading manufacturers and retailers. The donations move through a network of community social service agencies in the U.S. and abroad to reach children living in poverty, the homeless, domestic abuse victims, children with low literacy, military families, ill children, families of the incarcerated and disaster survivors.  More information is available online at www.kidsdonations.org.

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Media Contact:                 Peter Paris, 212-279-5493 x203

                                                pparis@kidsdonations.org