Families can buy and fly kites for a good cause Saturday, when Kites for Kids joins the lineup at Station Square for its annual Spring Fling event.
Kites for Kids features displays of various kites, kite sales, kite-related crafts and the opportunity to fly kites, weather permitting. The kite event -- sponsored by KidsVoice, a Downtown, nonprofit advocacy organization for abused and neglected children -- is symbolic of the hope and chance to soar for children, organizers say.
"Kites are a symbol of hope and a happy childhood activity -- and a chance to soar, which our clients don't always have," Scott Hollander says. He is the executive director of KidsVoice, which provides legal representation and other support to more than 5,000 Western Pennsylvania children a year, and helps find permanent homes for abused, neglected and at-risk kids.
Kites for Kids, which Hollander expects to draw a few thousand people, also coincides with Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
"The idea is really to do something that will create awareness and support for the children ... who are abused and neglected in our community," Hollander says. "It's in every ZIP code, and every neighborhood."
Many children who are clients of KidsVoice will come to the event anonymously, and they will feel inspired by the show of support, he says.
The kids, Hollander says, will see that "this community supports and believes in them, which is something we don't always get.
"It's a chance to come out and learn a little more about children who don't have as much as a lot of other children have, and to give them hope that they don't always have," he says.
Kites for Kids comes with the Station Square Spring Fling, a family event with entertainment including live performances, giant inflatables, and activities such as bubble-blowing and spin art from the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. Spring Fling also marks the annual grand re-opening of the Waltzing Waters Musical Fountain in Bessemer Court, behind Hard Rock Cafe. Two Care Bear stage shows will be featured, featuring Cheer Bear and Bedtime Bear.
Larger text
Smaller text
Print this article
E-mail this article
