The annual celebration of the 26th Kids Day is approaching, and students and teachers alike are filled with an eager excitement. The journalism and leadership classes will be selling the Fresno Bee’s paper for one dollar with excepted donations. Last year FC raised $1,605.88 in funds for Kids Day. The students will spread out among the corners of Cedar/Alluvial and Maple/Alluvial.

The money made will be given to our local Childrens Hospital, Central California, to help cover any necessary funds. All high schools in the area such as Clovis West, Central and Buchanan will be participating. The goal is to sell as many news papers as possible, while campus students will sell papers from 4 to 8 a.m.

There will be over 30 distributing sights, partnered by The Fresno Bee and ABC 30. This year, potential buyers can use the texting campaign by texting “George” to 90999 to give a five dollar donation; standard texting rates apply.

Molly Eide, Development Coordinator in the project’s Foundation Department hopes to raise $480,000, with the Fresno Bee printing over 300,000 papers for the morning. This year they encourage potential buyers to go along with the theme: “Give Five on the Fifth.” Though the hospital is always raising money for the children, Kid’s Day allows the whole community to participate.

“Kid’s Day is everyday here at the hospital but tomorrow on Kid’s Day, it’s a fun way to help the kids realize that we do it all for them,” Eide said. “They get to see the ambassador, read the front page story and read about other happenings in the paper. It connects them to it in a fun way.”

Eide also believes that the idea of supporting the hospital is important for the community to consider and take part in.

“It’s a great way to not only get the community involved in having Children’s Hospital serve the area of Central Valley of California, but it’s a wonderful icon for the community to support and a great way to show support,” Eide said. “Not everyone can come to the hospital, but people can be involved with family and friends by selling newspapers on different street corners.”

The reason for kids day is to support the hospital so they can help families and kids focus on health rather than money. That’s where the theme: “Give Five on the Fifth” came from.

“Because Children’s Hospital does not turn away a child if they can’t pay for medical services, Kid’s Day helps the hospital remain able to help the financial aspect,” Eide said. “This way families can focus more on their child getting better rather than on figuring out how to pay for the medical expenses. When you’re excited about something, you give someone else a high five. The best way to ‘high five’ the hospital is to donate five dollars for a newspaper.”

Leadership adviser, Robert Foshee has not only an appreciation for this special day, but a personal connection.

“Kids Day is such a wonderful event, because as a school and community we come together and gather money for a great cause,” Foshee said. “Awhile back my daughter had to undergo heart surgery, and she was cared for at Children’s, they gave her amazing attention and she is now healthy and well off, that experience motivates me further to help out and raise money for them.”

Leadership student, Kristen Rosenthal, has participated in the event for four years. Rosenthal enjoys the time spent with her friends, all working for a good cause.

“I love doing kids day, despite the freezing cold mornings,” Rosenthal said. “It’s so fun to be out there with my friends, knowing I am helping out with such a great cause. I am so excited.”

Come help out in support of your local hospital and buy the paper, March 5.

For more information about Kids Day, read the March 6, 2012 article, Kids Day employs Fresno to assist Children’s Hospital (VIDEO) or the Fresno Bee’s March 3 article, Kids Day fundraiser: Buy a paper Tuesday.

Senior Editor Maddie Yee also contributed to this article.

For more news, read the March 1 article, BRIEF: Marching band to participate in celebration.