Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate Raise Money to Build Five Schools in Impoverished Countries
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Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate Raise Money to Build Five Schools in Impoverished Countries

July 20, 2016 // Franchising.com // SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate resale stores have partnered with buildOn, a non-profit organization that works with under-served communities around the world, to raise funds to build schools in impoverished countries. Store locations all across the United States have raised $164,158 through a Charity Fill-A-Bag event, earning enough to build schools in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nicaragua and Haiti.

To date, three of the five schools have already been completed in West Africa, and more than 250 students have been attending classes for several months. Each of the completed schools were built in communities with fewer than 50 percent literacy rates, and children were walking miles to attend schools made of little more than straw and sticks. Now, each new school accommodates up to 150 kids and features two classrooms, a sturdy roof, latrines, and classroom supplies.

The Charity Fill-A-Bag event is unique to Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate. The model converts products that would have otherwise been disposed of through a donation process into cash that can be used to fund philanthropic efforts by buildOn. Vendors selling clothes to either Kid to Kid or Uptown Cheapskate are given the option to donate their clothes to the sale. Then, for a $15 donation to buildOn, customers were given a shopping bag to fill with as much specially-marked product as they could stuff in the bag. These semi-annual events have been wildly successful in raising funds for the organization. To create an ongoing impact, the stores also offer customers the option to forgo a plastic bag in exchange for a $.05 donation to buildOn. 

“We sought an organization that made a lasting, tangible difference, and buildOn does just that.   We’ve sent team members out to participate in the construction of these schools, and they’ve seen first-hand the impact,” said Scott Sloan, CEO.  “Involving the communities in our stores through our Charity Fill-A-Bag has been a win for everybody. Community members recycle items they no longer need, our franchise locations convert that donation to cash through our Charity Fill-A-Bag event, and buildOn uses that money to transform under-served communities by providing lasting education opportunities for their children. We couldn’t be happier with the results,” he said.  

BuildOn works in partnership with the ministry of education in each country and the local village to provide the new schools. Villagers work alongside skilled buildOn project supervisors and engineers to construct their school with materials provided by buildOn. The village must also agree to send girls to school in equal numbers with boys for gender balance and equality. The next school funded by Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate is scheduled to break ground in Haiti on August 8th, with another in Nicaragua on October 2nd.

Kid to Kid buys and sells new and gently used children’s and maternity clothes, toys, books, and baby gear. Uptown Cheapskate targets the young adult market and buys and sells new and like-new name brand clothes, shoes, jewelry and handbags.

For more information about Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate’s work with buildOn, visit https://act.buildon.org/fundraise/team?ftid=44304. To receive additional information about Kid to Kid or Uptown Cheapskate, visit kidtokid.com or uptowncheapskate.com.

About Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate

Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate, both registered trademarks of BaseCamp Franchising, buy and sell gently used yet fashionable clothes, shoes, gear and accessories. For over 20 years, BaseCamp Franchising has been a leader in the resale franchise industry. With 52 Uptown Cheapskate stores and 120 Kid to Kid franchise stores throughout the U.S., Canada, Portugal, and Spain, BaseCamp Franchising is a leader in the resale franchise industry.  BaseCamp Franchising is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information about BaseCamp Franchising, call 801-359-0071. You may also visit www.basecampfranchising.com.

About buildOn

At home or abroad, buildOn’s goal is to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education. Across the U.S., buildOn empowers urban youth to transform their neighborhoods through intensive community service and to change the world by building schools in some of the economically poorest countries in the world. Since 1991, buildOn has constructed 700 schools worldwide, with more than 92,000 children, parents and grandparents attending these schools every day. For more information, visit www.buildon.org.

SOURCE Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate

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