Friday, June 18th

I spoke with a couple realtors one didn't have anything that would fit KIDZ. Another one will be showing property on RT 18 in Chester next week. I can't wait to see it. And find out how much they want. I have left four or five messages for the Old Safeway people and now has called me back. Guess it wasn't ment to be.

Thursday, June 17th

After such a great and packed day today is was very dull.  I sent the ByLaws out and heard back from one office they will review them and get back to me. I received  an article that went out in the Sunday Capital back in May.  It was awesome!!

On my first visit to the Pepsi website, KIDZ had received enough votes to be eleventh among potential recipients of a $25,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh project.  What a rush to find out Friday that KIDZ had risen to number four!  When I called KIDZ Manager Kim Donnelly for more information, I learned that her Kent Island community and its Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS) group had generated enough enthusiasm to move her funding efforts seven steps forward.

You bet, I re-entered the site and cast a couple more votes.  Individuals are allowed to vote up to ten times a day.  So, Capital readers, go for it.  Help put Kent Island kids on the map and in a new, undamaged facility.  You can share the voting process with your friends on Facebook as well.  I’m hoping that the few friends and former students who visit my Facebook page will get the idea and cast their votes as well.

Kim told me that her Kent Island Discovery Zone, known as KIDZ, suffered structural damage from that February snow and ice storm.  While there was no inside damage, the awning in front of the building fell in, causing the entrance to be dangerous for the children and their parents who used the facility for social and educational activities.

Left without their gathering site, the Mothers of Pre-Schoolers invited one of it’s members‘ fathers -- a SCORE Counselor-- to speak about financing to the group.    Then friends from the Good Knights of Kent Island brought in four other projects to form an alliance that will work to sustain the indoor play place and enrichment center.  Votes from Capital readers between now and May 31 could push KIDZ over the mark and help them win $25,000 from the Pepsi Refresh project.

Pepsi is appealing to people, businesses and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact.  Pepsi accepts 1,000 ideas every month.  There are 1,341 ideas competing for funding in this current grant cycle which ends May 31.

“This was a total surprise to me.  I didn’t think my entry made the cutoff,” recalls Kim KIDZ Manager.  “I stayed up until midnight in order to be the first to file my application on April 1; but something went wrong with my computer and I could’t get the application through until 12.35.  By that time more than 1,000 applications had been submitted and the competition was closed.

“But, last month, I received a notice from Pepsi that our application would be in the May competition.”

Now, KIDZ has a chance to win the grant that will help them pay rent and build out expenses on new space, cover operations, and provide working capital for the first year.  Visit the link and help bring a new business into your area!

http://www.refresheverything.com/kentislanddiscoveryzone

And, check into the KIDZ website:

www.KentIslandDiscoveryZone.com

Connie Sharpe has been a tax and marketing professional for 20 years, specializing in Small Business and Exempt Organization Development and Grant Administration.  She received an MA in Public Affairs and Journalism in 2000 from American University and was appointed to the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel in January 2009 and has been a SCORE Business Counselor for three years. 

 

Wednesday, June 16th

When it rains it pours, with good news and happenings in this case.
  The day started with the kids (Paige, Robert & Noelle) & I  going to a business meeting with Bob A. from S.C.O.R.E. Very interesting have a meeting with children.  They well behaved for the most part and Paige even put in her two cents every now and again. Bob knows a member of the S.C.O.R.E. group who has worked with non profits before. She & I will be getting together in the very near future to work on the 1023 for a 501(c)3 application. It's 30 pages long. I will meet with the KIDZ board President prior to meeting with Connie(I think that was her name I have written down my notebook) Carrie & I will do as much of the app as we can and then have Connie look it over for us.

Later today I meet with Beryl who will be heading up the marketing and advertising of KIDZ. She writes press releases and knows all the up to date ways to get your business noticed. This meeting was held at my house with my three kids and her three kids all about the same ages play all around us.  It was a great day.

The bylaws for KIDZ have also been written and going to be review by the KIDZ lawyers for finial approval.
Then I received two emails from the GlobalGivings foundation:

#1:

HI Kim,

We have added your project to the list of recommended approvals for Pepsi. THey will review the list on Friday and let us know (Fri or Monday) which projects have been officially approved. At that time we will sign your agreement and send you a copy for your records. We will also introduce you to another project manager who can assist you with your project. Finally we will begin processing your first dirsbursement.

More details will be sent before Monday. Stay tuned!

Sincerely,

Linda

GlobalGiving Refresh Grant Team

 

#2:

Hi Kimberly,

Did your Pepsi Refresh application contain photographs or video? Pepsi's PR partners are looking for opportunities to highlight your project through various media avenues. Please reply to this email and attach any raw video or photographs from your application.  Please note that only original files can be used; links to websites such as Youtube or photo sharing sights such as Flickr cannot be used.  If you have a file that is too large to attach to an email we can find another way for you to send it.

As of now, there is no deadline, but the sooner you can send them the better.

Thanks,
The Pepsi Refresh Team
GlobalGiving Foundation

Cooper Breeden
Grants Associate  ||  GlobalGiving Foundation  ||  Pepsi Refresh Project

 

This is all very exciting.  I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!!

Tuesday, June 15th 2010

Set up meeting for next week with the development co. at the biz park.  I will be bringing my contractor friend to give an estimate on the HVAC system. Then I found out that a non profit does not have to get a license from the clerks office.  So on to the next step of finding out what licensees a non profit does need. Tomorrow I will be meeting with the SCORE Group and with a friend who would like to work on the press release.

Monday, June 14th 2010

Pretty busy day.  We got the board members a little more set.  I started on the 30 page non profit app today. Set up a meeting with a friend who does marketing and advertising. and another lady who has great ideas on how to run an indoor playground.  Can't wait to pick her brain. Also have a meeting set for Friday with a web techie.
I did some more research on opening a business in QAC. Who to call and what you need.  Tomorrow in between play-dates and Girl Scout meetings I will be making a few phone calls to the clerk's office.

Sunday, June 12th, 2010

And on the 7th day they rested.

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

Not much in the way of KIDZ today.  I did have a breif meeting with a contractor today about putting  A/C in a space the size of the one over at biz park.  He's going to look into for me. Other that it was a day with my kids.

Friday, June 11th, 2010

This is just so very exciting!! Today GlobalGiving Foundation receive a 33 page packet from KIDZ.  The grant manager, Linda, was so very impressed with the packet.  It included the 17 page grant app and a letter of recomandation and the 15 page business plan for KIDZ. 

I left messages for KRM development (business park) I would like to see the space and bring my contractor friend to see how much A/C would cost. I left messages for Ernie with Coldwell Banker about the Shamrock space on main street. Left a message for the property manager of the old Safeway.  Yep I am gonna keep on trying.  I just want to see what they can do.  It's a different person dealing with the space than the last time I talk to them.  I also left a message with DiDonato Development to see what they could find on the Island.  I would like to stay on the Island since the name has Kent Island in it.  I guess that was it KIDZ related.


Personally I went to KIES chorus concert, cut the grass, clean the pool and walk the neighborhood trying to get votes for our HOA board. It was a good day!!

Thursday, June 10th 2010

Another fun day. I found a great website www.blis.state.md.us it has all this info on what you need to do to start a non profit in QAC.  I downloaded a 30 page 501(c)3 app.  That one might a little longer to finish.  I spoke with KRM in the business park about a couple spaces they have open.  They have huge spaces and at a great price.  The down side is there's NO A/C.  I think we kinda need A/C.  I will ask around if there's someone who knows about instaling it for a really low price. The Devolpment company quoted me about $30,000 to have it installed.  That's not happening.  So the search continues.  Hopefully the other two realtors will get back to me tomorrow.

I mailed off the Grant app to GlobalGivings today with a copy of my business plan.  I wanted them to see that I have been at this for awhile and want to make this center happen.
Guess that's it

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

What a great day! The grant papers are done and we have budget and an action plan.  My assistant and business planner has the papers so I can't give details about right now. I heard back from Willis Station.  They have a space that's 3000 square feet but upstairs.  I don't think there's a building in the world that I could afford to hold those structures on a second floor.  ;o) Sooooooooo We will wait to hear form some of these other places.  I have been getting calls about booking parties this fall.  I have taken down two so far in mid to late Sept.  If something changes and we can not open at the end of Aug I will call and let them know they may need a new venue. For now these parties drive to get KIDZ open!!!
The next plan of action is to follow up with the landlord I spoke with back in March see what they have available now.  Then we need a check list for opening a new business in QAC. These are my goals for tomorrow.  Yes they seem small but please remember I am a single mom of three children under the age of 8.  Life at our house is crazy most days.
I feel good about the day and I do believe the perfect space is just around the next corner.

Tuesday, June 8th 2010 (what I couldn't finish last night)

So yesterday I drove around Kent Island looking at possible sites. I spoke with KLNB who run the new Safeway.  We talked about the corner spot. they want $18.50 a square foot ($4,625 a month in rent) Not happening!

I also spoke with a lady, Ernie, from Coldwell Banker she is going to look into what she have that would suit KIDZ.  She will get back to me by Friday.

Next I talked with a lady, Patty, from DiDonato Property Development. She is also going to look into some properties for me and get back to me by Friday.

I spoke with the owner of the space next to Today's Yesterdays.  Right price wrong size.  It's only 1000 square feet.

We will see how the rest play out.  I have left messages for other property management companies.

Have a great day.  :o)

Tuesday, June 8th 2010

This blog will serve as my journey log. My journey towards KIDZ. I have never done a blog before so it should be fun. I hope you enjoy it as much I will enjoy the journey.