Our Story
In 2003, Dr. Earl Nielsen saw something that broke his heart—and sparked a movement.
As a board member of Kids Behavioral Health, Dr. Nielsen and benefactor Bill Vickers were helping troubled youth access residential and day treatment programs. But they kept encountering children who fell through the cracks. Kids who didn’t qualify for their programs. Kids whose families couldn’t afford basic necessities, let alone specialized care. Kids who were one urgent need away from falling further behind.
So they asked themselves: What if we could help ANY child with ANY critical need?
That question became For Kids Foundation.
Bill Vickers provided the startup funding and covered expenses for the first 18 months, giving us the runway to prove what was possible. Since then, we’ve operated independently, funded by grants from private foundations and individual donors who believe every child in Northern Nevada deserves a chance to thrive.
What Makes Us Different
Most nonprofits focus on one specific area, medical care, education, or mental health. We realized that children’s urgent needs don’t fit into neat categories.
A child might need a bed to sleep in, therapy to process trauma, glasses to see the board at school, and sports fees to experience one positive thing in their life, all at the same time. Traditional funding sources make families choose. We don’t.
We are unique in that we help with a variety of needs, including medical care, dental care, vision and hearing needs, mental health support, educational assistance, sports and extracurricular programs, special equipment or programs, bedding and necessities, and more.
We move fast. When a child is sleeping on the floor or in pain from an untreated dental issue, they can’t wait months for bureaucracy. Our board meets biweekly to review applications, make a decision and fund.
The Impact: Immediate and Lasting
Some outcomes happen overnight. A child finally has a bed instead of sleeping on the floor. A student gets the laptop they need to keep up with schoolwork and graduate. A kid in pain sees a dentist for the first time. A young athlete gets to play sports because we covered the fees—giving them the one positive experience they desperately need.
Other results unfold over time. Therapy helps an abused child begin to heal. Educational resources help a struggling student catch up. A proper psychiatric evaluation puts a child on the right support path. Braces eventually deliver a confident smile.
But here’s what we know for certain: our funding creates a ripple effect.
When a child gets help, their parents experience relief from crushing financial and emotional stress. Teachers see a student who can finally focus. Employers see a young person who shows up. Extended family and friends witness a child getting the attention and support they deserve.
One urgent need met can change the entire trajectory of a young life.
Looking Ahead
Northern Nevada’s children still need us. With rising costs of living, more families than ever are struggling to meet their kids’ urgent needs.
We’re committed to expanding reach, helping more children annually, and building partnerships. But we can’t do it alone.
Every dollar donated goes directly to helping a child. No child is turned away because of bureaucracy or narrow program requirements. If the need is urgent and the child deserves support, and they all do, we find a way.
Because every child deserves a chance to thrive.
