Founder Shannon Smith was commended by The District Attorney Team for doing an incredible job! Smith was encouraged to continue to care for the sick & needy children and their families as they see the needs soring in all communities. Smith started the children`s charity with her life savings, she said it has been worth every penny! To date Smith has spent over $16,300.00 of her life savings to assure children stop suffering in our communities. Smith said she gives everyday of her life as God Gifted her Life back in complete health so she can help those less fortunate.
City Councilwomen of Beaumont Ca. Nancy Gall who confesses she is VERY CONFUSED!!
Nancy Gall is a member of the Beaumont CA City Council. Paul Zellerbach is the District Attorney of Riverside County. They both cannot be right. It is the sworn duties of a district attorney to find criminal activities and prosecute accordingly. That is not Nancy Gall’s job. Her job is to manage the affairs of the city of Beaumont, CA. If it were me, I would believe a district attorney before I believe a city councilwoman. And I would believe a district attorney before I believe a post on a “News” website on the Internet.
District Attorney Investigation shows NO WRONG DOING was committed by any persons involved currently nor formally with Operation Kidz Komfort Children`s Charity!
Law enforcement has all information on a Federal, State, County level as they continue to bully and ruin the lives many victims in the Banning and Beaumont we will keep you updated on these many hate crime cases. For further information please contact our office.
Bullying Stop At Operation Kidz Komfort –
Operation Kidz Komfort’s Journey and New Anti-Cyberbullying, Bullying, and Harrassment Campaign Beaumont, CA.
Shame on Adults that make up 100% lies to hurt children and our volunteers who give from their hearts.
Operation Kidz Komfort’s Children’s Foundation began in the Beaumont community because of a little Beaumont resident. In 2005, Founder and Executive Director Shannon Smith met then five year old Zachary Cove who was battling brain cancer. Zachary and his mom Dawn Cove were concerned because of the lack of children’s funding for cancer. Zachary Cove is the grandson of former Beaumont mayor Haskell. He is a fourth generation Beaumont citizen. Smith vowed that she would do something about it and Operation Kidz Komfort was born. Shannon, Zachary, and his mom personally created programs, services, and resources to help families with children when unforeseen circumstances such as illnesses arise. Smith also held the Volunteer National Chair position for a top fundraising event. During this time, OKK founders learned that only a half of percent of dollars at the time went to childhood cancer. This concerned both founders as small donated dollars were being applied to childhood cancer which is the #1 killer of children in our country. Zachary is now twelve years old his brother Quentin is7 years old a(His Zachary`s Brothers’ Keeper) core blood from his umbilical cord is stored at Loma Linda Children’s University Children`s Hospital for ongoing treatment if Zachary needs it. Although Zachary’s health condition is critical, it has not stopped him from helping other children in need. Recently, Zachary had his Motocross dream realized with Operation Kidz Komfort Build a Dream Program. On Saturday, July 31st, Zachary was able to meet Twitch, Sara Price (Operation Kidz Komfort’s 2011 Ambassador ) along with Operation Kidz Komfort supporter, John Huntington, owner of Huntington Ink Tattoo at the X-Games.
The journey hasn’t been easy. Recently, Operation Kidz Komfort’s non-profit status has been questioned by some controversial members of the Pass Area. Operation Kidz Komfort is a 501c3 REGISTERED Public Charity who is actively registered with the IRS as well as California State registry.
There is a lot of work that has to occur when you are beginning a non-profit. For example, in the State of California, you have to become a corporation, file articles of incorporation, file papers with the Secretary of State, file paperwork with the IRS, register with the Attorney General as well as pay fees. We started our paperwork in 2007 and our last round of paperwork did not get processed until recently due to our address change and voting in new executive board members. Our corporate attorney worked diligently to ensure that all required paperwork was submitted and in compliance. Often, non-profit paperwork does not get finalized and updated in systems for several years. Here are the facts about our paperwork: Operation Kidz Komfort`s first registry was submitted in 2007 to California Secretary of State Debra Bowen. We did not receive our paperwork until December 6, 2008. After that, we received our EIN number. Once a company is incorporated, The Secretary of State’s system automatically sends the information to the Attorney General Registry. However, since it can take a year or more for the IRS to send the determination letter, the Attorney General Registry cannot be updated until the IRS is done with their processing. According to a third party site, Operation Kidz Komfort did not have appropriate registry in the State of California. However, according the California Attorney General website information can may not be accurate.
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In fact, the Secretary of State information feeds directly to the Attorney General site, so in May of 2009, we were not registered because we did not have our nonprofit status yet. (Also, the state can take up to 90 business days to update their site which could be near 5 months. Most state offices are closed on Friday, due to furloughs on Fridays)
Operation Kidz Komfort did not receive their 501c3 status until December 15, 2009. Along with this, Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, and official federal stamps were received. Because of the address change and voting in of new board members, OKK had to resubmit all paperwork that was initially submitted in late 2007 to the Secretary of State and finally to the Attorney General. Operation Kidz Komfort filed all 990’s for 2008, 2009, and 2010. These documents can be found on www. IRS.gov. All fundraising activities are retroactive to the date that an organization has received federal and state nonprofit status.
Once non-profit 501c3 status was received, Operation Kidz Komfort began to do what they do best: service the community! To date they have helped thousands of children and family members in the Banning/Beaumont community and other communities of the Inland Empire! Operation Kidz Komfort’s has and continues to:
Transport children from to and from Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Riverside Community Hospital, Children’s Hospital Orange County, and Kaiser Pediatrics, provide food for families, placed homeless families into homes with our partner resource agencies, participated in walks with the American Lung Association, Light Up the Night, March of Dimes, Arthritis Foundation, and Ronald McDonald Walk in Loma Linda, established a mentoring program with our teen klubz, collect and distribute toys and books to the pediatric wards(Build –A-Bag), provided tons of clothing and toys to children during the holidays (Operation Santa), formed Healthy Communities partnership with Anytime Fitness and Walmart (Boot Camp on Saturdays), and collected and packed boxes of food with our partner agency, Second Harvest of Riverside. Operation Kidz Komfort also moved terminally ill patient, Max Sprague to Ohio. Volunteers from Operation Kidz Komfort went to Lake Arrowhead to help load the storage container. Smith coordinated and contacted Mercy Medical Airlift. ( resource partner) Mercy Medical Airlift donated four airline tickets to fly Max and his family to his home state, Ohio. Private donors from the Beaumont community and Max’s church fundraised to get Max’s belongings to Ohio. Since Max’s is slowly dying, his final bucket list is to have family antiques sent to his family before he dies. In July, Operation Kidz Komfort went to Pala Casino to show their support of Daleigh, a six year old leukemia patient. Action Sports hosted the Motocross ride and fundraiser for Daleigh’s medical treatment costs and Operation Kidz Komfort donated their time and support to Daleigh’s family.
Operation Kidz Komfort has amazing volunteers and life leaders from the Beaumont and Banning area. Some of their life leaders are kids who have or have siblings with degenerative diseases. Emily Saucido, a Beaumont High School student started Operation Kidz Komfort’s Teen Klub at Beaumont High School. Ashley Labagnara, now a Banning High School student, began a Teen Klub at Nicolet High School. Ashley’s mom was in a horrible car accident in Nevada and is a parapalegic. Ashley is passionate about advocating for kids who is health impaired or ill. Both girls asked a group of their friends to get involved with Operation Kidz Komfort. The teens presented Operation Kidz Komfort’s mission to the Beaumont City Council in June of 2010. They have also worked with children during Saturday club. During Saturday clubs, kids make arts and crafts, eat snacks, and socialize. The teens also help coordinate teams for the various fundraising walks with our partner health agencies and serve as mentors to our young patients. The mentor program is essential. Participants call young patients to see how they are doing, do home visits, and go to special events.
Operation Kidz Komfort’s Advocate of the 2010-2011 year is Jordan Orr from Beaumont. She is a third grade Sundance Elementary School student who despite her illness, lives as normally as she can by helping other children. Jordan has non-functioning intestines. (See Press Enterprise Article, March 2011) Mother Vicki Orr states, “Jordan has been an OKKid since August of 2010. She has received emotional support from OKK’s teen mentoring program. Jordan has a very small family so we were never able to give her that big family feel until Operation Kidz Komfort.”
Because of the outstanding leadership of the kids and volunteers, Operation Kidz Komfort had their very first awards/fundraiser dinner at The Banning White House. Pamela Scott, Director of the Banning White House has a real heart to help non-profits in the area. She has helped Operation Kidz Komfort and Help, Inc. with canned food drives by having productions at the White House. Each patron who comes to a play brings in canned or dry goods to go into the food pantries. On March 19th, Operation Kidz Komfort Life Leaders were honored with awards made by kids from the Banning Cultural Alliance and enjoyed fabulous food contributed by area restaurants. Guests enjoyed a Taste of the Pass while listening to Ms. Charlie Jene’. Charlie Jene’ is a blind rhythm and blues singer. She has donated her time and her voice to some Operation Kidz Komfort’s events. Charlie Jene said, “It was a great night for everyone. Operation Kidz Komfort deserves everyone’s support because they do so much for the children.” Operation Kidz Komfort was honored that city officials, volunteers, and community members from Beaumont and Banning took time out of their busy schedules, to support the non-profit organization.
Although Operation Kidz Komfort is based in Beaumont, they service any child and family who have been referred or calls for help. They don’t feel that they should turn anyone away due to unforeseen circumstances. During these times, people are losing their homes, jobs, and have no place to go. Operation Kidz Komfort has aligned their organization on a county and national level with over 1,500 partner resource agencies.
Operation Kidz Komfort are excited to continue to help families in our community! On Saturday, August 13th, they are having their very first clothing and school supply drive at Operation Kidz Komfort’s office at 906 Beaumont Avenue at the Robert D. Little Office. Any child or student of the Pass area can get excellent condition clothing and school supplies for free!
On Saturday, August 27th, they are participating with United Way Day of Caring to plant their Garden of Hope. It is their hope that a community garden will be established where families can get fresh fruit and vegetables if time is volunteered.
“We have found that there are many needs in our community, so we continue to update and add more missions,” states Chauna Keels, Riverside County 2011 Friday Night Live Kids Advisor of the Year and Executive Secretary of Operation Kidz Komfort. “We are excited with our new partnerships with the California Friday Night Live Program and Cops for Kids in order to address Cyber-Bullying and Bullying.”
Operation Kidz Komfort knows all too well about cyber-bullying. They along with other pass area charities have been the victims of bullying, threats, and misinformation recently, so this is a mission dear to Operation Kidz Komfort’s heart. Due to a third party website’s numerous comments and innuendoes, it prompted a Senior District Attorney investigation into Operation Kidz Komfort’s organization. Investigators from Riverside County reviewed all corporate and registry documents, along with all of Operation Kidz Komfort’s financial records dating back to the beginning of 2007. Operation Kidz Komfort was found innocent of all charges and continues to help children and their families.
Unfortunately, it is a problem that is only going to get worst if it is not addressed. Kids who have disabilities are more likely to be bullied and harassed. Operation Kidz Komfort’s webmaster states,
“I moved into the Beaumont-Banning area in the Summer 2009. It seemed to be a quiet community. As I began to get more involved, I began to peek into multiple layers of deceit and corruption. At first I thought it was from a small group of powerful individuals. That was until someone dragged me into a situation that was not of my own making. That someone took a picture of my one year old daughter, posted it on an article from a third party website that made numerous false statements about Operation Kidz Komfort (a non-profit that I have volunteered time to). Irritated and annoyed, it became my duty to contact the legal department of the website’s hosting company in order to have the photo of my young innocent daughter removed. As the legal battle ensued to remove the entire article, I received facts as to who was involved in creating this slanderous content. My heart sank and I just about threw up when I realized that it was a group of people that I thought cared about the community.”
Operation Kidz Komfort wants to do their part and educate the public about this ever increasing problem and provide resources to all-young and old. Although it is everyone’s first amendment right to speak, it is not okay to knowingly spread misinformation. We have found that Cyberbullying is becoming more common and accepted today.
Cyber-Bullying & Cyber-stalking is when a person or hate group vandalize search engines or to threaten a victim, or group of victim`s earnings, employment, reputation, and safety. Operation Kidz Komfort has brought in a team of volunteer expert webmasters who stated that they have NEVER seen such aggressive cyberbullying until they looked at some of the search engines regarding non-profits in the Pass Area.
Cyber-bullying has been defined as “when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person. Cyber-bullies disclose victims’ personal information (e.g. real name, address, or workplace/schools) on defaming websites and forums. The purpose of publishing material in their name that defames is also part of cyberbullying. Since this is part of Operation Kidz Komfort’s childhood safety mission, there are several events that are in the early stages of development including surveys, a motivational speaker, Internet Safety lessons, and how to report to adults and law enforcement if you have been a victim of cyberbullying.
It is very disappointing to see adults knowingly tell false truths, threaten, and harass, but not surprising when you look at the postings on Facebook and other media sources. It is believed that innuendos and untruths began because founder, Shannon Smith refused to submit a corporate check and corporate information to a reporter. The reporter did not provide proper press credentials and a formal request letter to view corporate documents. It is Operation Kidz Komfort’s policy to have a written request to view corporate files so that there is a record place in organizational files.
Due to innuendos and false statements, Operation Kidz Komfort has lost some funding to help those families that are in critical need. The organization is fully aware of the people who are behind the cyberbullying and misinformation. However, as an organization, they do not feel that it is necessary to name people because that would perpetuate and create more bullying issues in their community. “We don’t want to be a part of all the strife-we want to be part of the solution.” states Smith.
“Silence is golden and duct tape is silver. If you can’t say something nice, then please be quiet and stop spreading hate,” says Brielan Sadler, Treasurer and Riverside County Friday Night Live Kids 2011 Friday Night Live Advisor of the Year.
Operation Kidz Komfort is in the business of helping the community. “We hope that everyone who needs help will come and see what we are all about. We get calls daily to help place homeless people, for food, for clothes—everything,” says Sandra Garcia, a volunteer. “The needs are great and things won’t change if we don’t do something about it,” adds Smith.
Operation Kidz Komfort wants to thank the Banning and Beaumont City Council members who have supported the vision of the organization since the beginning.
“We have to remain positive and heal, not hurt,” explains Donna Miller, Vice President, “Life is difficult enough, without all the negativity,” she adds.
To find out more information, donate, or to get involved with Operation Kidz Komfort’s many missions, call 951.769.8700. (Office) Se Habla Espanol.
Law enforcement has all information on a Federal, State, County level as they continue to bully and ruin the lives many victims in the Banning and Beaumont we will keep you updated on these many hate crime cases. For further information please contact our office.