STATEMENTS REGARDING CENSUS BUREAU REPORT ON POVERTY

It was news of a monstrous phone bill ? over $7,000, racked up by a homesick soldier in Iraq ? that prompted two Massachusetts children to launch Cell Phones for Soldiers. Lisa M. Cataldo reports on an idea that just keeps growing.

Working with low-income children, pediatrician Dr. George Askew soon realized that many of his patients' health issues were beyond the reach of even the best doctor.

It's sort of a hidden tax on teachers: all the money they spend out of their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies and other ?extras.? New York City teacher Charles Best believed that if caring individuals could learn about particular teachers' needs, they would come through to enrich student learning. Holly St. Lifer reports on the result.

By developing programs for youth grounded in American Indian tribal cultures, the National Indian Youth Leadership project is helping cultivate a new generation of strong leaders. Rob Capriccioso takes a look at the New Mexico-based organization.

Caps and gowns, tears and celebration - for graduating high school and college students, this is a special time of year. Among those walking across the stage to receive a diploma this spring are some who have special reasons to be proud. Janis Avery, executive director of Treehouse, a Seattle agency serving children in foster care, applauds them.

On March 24, Connect for Kids hosted its second interactive Talktime on-line discussion, fielding questions from non-profits around the country about how to generate good publicity for their good works. Here’s a summary and a transcript.

Step One: Save the Date

Send out a “Save the Date” note to all of your local media outlets, announcing events that your organization will pursue in the coming year. Do this at the beginning of the year (or school year) to get your event onto calendars of future events. If you don’t already have an existing list of reporters, editors and producers who cover education, parenting or families in your area, this is a good time to create one. Make a list of all the TV and radio stations (including college and university-affiliated stations), local newspapers (including weeklies) and magazines and Web sites. Then call and ask for the name of the editor, reporter or producer who covers education, parenting or family issues. Also get telephone, fax and, if possible, e-mail addresses.

In California's Contra Costa County, an environmentally-savvy mom is helping preschool administrators recognize and eliminate toxic hazards in their classrooms. This article originally appeared in the January-February 2004 issue of the Children's Advocate, published by Action Alliance for Children.

For more than 10 years, Agnes Stevens has kept her School on Wheels program tightly focused on doing one thing well: helping homeless children keep up with their schoolwork by providing volunteer tutors. Holly St. Lifer reports on the power of a simple idea in action.