'Superkids' Going Above and Beyond

Superkids in Montgomery County is trying to make a difference and let children know that they’re not forgotten.

The group is a nonprofit organization that aims to help foster children with more than just their basic needs. Superkids’ board member Michele Kristofco said the Montgomery County foster care program provides children with food and shelter, but doesn’t necessarily provide for culturally-enriching activities.

To help create funds for such activities, the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth’s Citizens Advisory Committee suggested forming a nonprofit organization, and in 1996, Superkids became a formal nonprofit program, Kristofco said.

According to Kristofco, Superkids has maintained a low profile over the years while helping more than 5,000 foster children in Montgomery County.

“It’s probably one of the best-kept secrets in Montgomery County, until recently,” said Gary Wolfe, chairman of Superkids.

Wolfe said the main objective of Superkids is to level the playing field for youngsters who haven’t enjoyed the same opportunities as other children. Superkids helps those children enroll in art and dance classes, summer camps, sports programs and tutoring programs.

Kristofco said the organization has also been able to provide refurbished laptops for children who need them. She said it’s important for kids to discover their inner talents because it can help their self-esteem.

“Superkids has come through time and time again and helped kids meet and achieve the goals they are setting for themselves,” Kristofco said.

Debra Massey was one of the children helped by Superkids. Massey received Superkids’ first scholarship to help her achieve her dream of obtaining a college degree.

Massey began receiving aid from Superkids when she was 16 years old and was placed in foster care. Kristofco said her basic needs were being met, but her foster home did not have the funds to help her achieve all of her dreams.

“She is a very ambitious woman, and her goals deserve to be met,” Kristofco said.

With the help of the Tom Ward Scholarship, named after one of Superkids’ founding members, Massey is attending Kutztown University and working toward a degree in social work. The 20-year-old hopes to go on to graduate school and receive her a master’s degree.

The same day Massey was awarded the scholarship, Superkids’ student board member Ellen Carney gave a presentation to the board. Carney, a recent Abington Friends School graduate, has held two events to raise funds for Superkids.

During her junior year of high school, she held a dance, “Superteens for Superkids,” and raised about $4,400 for the organization, Wolfe said.

This past year, Carney and her best friend held a joint graduation party, but instead of receiving checks and gifts, they asked that attendees write checks to Superkids. They were able to raise another $3,300 for Superkids, Wolfe said.

Carney said she first became interested in volunteering when she was young. Her parents used to have foster children from St. Mary’s join the family for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“I love community service. It’s something I’ve done throughout my high school career,” Carney said.

She said she first became involved with Superkids when she contacted the county after learning about the “aging out” issue that faces foster children. Carney said that foster kids are often left to fend for themselves after they turn 18 years old because their host families are no longer paid to care for them.

At the time, Carney was almost 18 and didn’t feel that she would be prepared to care for herself, so she’s dedicated her time to helping support and prepare kids for when they age out of the foster care system.

Wolfe said that when Carney and Massey met, it was amazing to see the different ends of the spectrum come together.

“It was an extraordinary moment in time to see these two worlds meet and mesh,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe said that Superkids’s all-volunteer board is one reason the organization is able to make an impact.

“There is no overhead," said Wolfe. "So, every penny we raise goes directly to kids.”