Kidz Kruz

Giving Kids a Reason to Celebrate the Season

What happens when you invite 1,000 children from area Title I schools to go on a holiday shopping spree? Fun, excitement and gratitude!

The JCA Foundation’s annual Kidz Kruz has become one of our most anticipated events of the year. Why? Because we have the privilege and honor of sharing the spirit of giving and receiving with children in need all over Hampton Roads.

What is Kidz Kruz?

1,000 children from Title I Schools* are invited to join us on a Holiday Shopping Spree. The kids board a bus and travel to an area Walmart, where they each receive a $20 gift card to do their holiday shopping.
While the children are welcome to spend the money on themselves, we’ve found that most of the kids use this opportunity to shop for their parents, brothers and sisters and other family members.

It is one of JCA’s missions to show children opportunity, joy and to show them the true benefit of giving back – so that as they grow into our future citizens they continue to share with others.

So much more than a shopping spree!

• Visits with Santa!
• Bicycle and scooter giveaways
• Bonus $$ for kids to purchase canned food items for the Food Bank of SEVA
• Pizza, snacks and beverages
• Souvenir t-shirts and hoodies
• Joy, fun and celebration honoring the true meaning of the season

We want to continue to expand the Kidz Kruz and enrich the lives of more children in need in Hampton Roads. That’s why your generous support is so important.

We’ve shown just how much this can make a difference. We invite you to come see for yourself, because when you see the joy and spirit of giving and receiving experienced by the kids and volunteers, you’ll be just as passionate as we are.

Donate today

So many of these children, who have very little, they could buy everything for themselves, but they don’t. They’ll oftentimes want to buy for their parents, for their brothers or sisters. And then when you see them with the joy on their face, it just makes Christmas really special.
– Congressman Randy Forbes (originally posted by Rubin Communications, January 2015)

That’s what this is all about. It’s about giving. It’s awesome.
– Alan Krasnoff, Chesapeake Mayor

God bless the people like Jay and his foundation that really make this possible for anybody. It’s just a blessing to really be involved with this and I look forward to it every year.
– Bob Dyer, VB City Council

You’ve got to invest in the community. I believe that you live, work and raise your family in the community that you’re a part of. And this is so important. And giving back to your community – we need to get back to that. It’s what we’re supposed to do. As citizens.
– Christie Craig, Member, Chesapeake School Board