Tickets for Kids^® and Most Valuable Kids D.C. to Consolidate Efforts to Inspire Kids

PITTSBURGH, PA – (May 27, 2021) National nonprofit Tickets for Kids announced today that it will merge the operations of Most Valuable Kids Washington D.C. into the organization beginning June 1, 2021.

Both organizations have spent decades providing access for under-resourced kids and families to all sorts of ticketed experiences – sports, family entertainment, the arts, museums, and more. The two organizations share the common goals of inspiring children to aspire to greatness through exposure to new experiences. Collectively, the two organizations have provided more than 3 million tickets worth more than $74 million.

“This is an opportunity to consolidate the best that both organizations have to offer, expanding the impact of our shared mission to inspire kids by providing access to opportunities they might otherwise be excluded from,” said Tickets for Kids Executive Director Jason J. Riley. “We are grateful to Daryle and Beth Bobb, the founders of Most Valuable Kids, for their partnership and are excited to expand our impact throughout the D.C. metro area.”

Most Valuable Kids’ Founder Daryle Bobb said “We are very excited that through partnership with Tickets for Kids the mission of the organization will continue to flourish in the region. Beth and I are incredibly proud of the legacy that Most Valuable Kids D.C. will leave, and happy that Tickets for Kids will continue the work of building upon that legacy.”

Bobb will join the national board of directors of Tickets for Kids as Most Valuable Kids D.C. transitions to the Tickets for Kids brand. Chapters of Most Valuable Kids in Cincinnati and Atlanta will remain independent organizations.

Tickets for Kids began in 1994 in Pittsburgh, PA, acquiring donated tickets and matching them to those most in need. Since then, the model has been replicated in markets across the country. A trusted partner to both ticket providers and youth-serving nonprofits, more than 2,000 nonprofit partners benefit from the tickets donated by entities ranging from national sports leagues and musical superstars to local and regional theaters, museums, zoos, and more. The operations of the organization are funded by generous individuals, corporations, and foundations.

As we all face the new and unsettling experience of responding to a global pandemic, the traditional ways in which Tickets for Kids has delivered on its mission have changed dramatically. As social distancing is being practiced in communities across the country, Tickets for Kids has pivoted from sending kids and adults “out and about” to providing our network with other resources and fulfilling other needs.  Click here to view TFK’s full statement from Executive Director Jason Riley. 

While working remotely, we’re focusing our efforts on sharing virtual experiences with our youth-serving partners, strengthening our infrastructure, and being best prepared to continue to serve in any way we can. Thanks to our incredible network of ticket donors and community partners, our team has been working throughout this crisis to continue to provide access and inspiration to the Tickets for Kids community across the U.S. 

Here’s what we’ve been up to: 

Stay-At-Home Resource Page!

Tickets for Kids is now acting as a central hub for all things virtual — STEM activities, live dance lessons, Q&A sessions, and much more! Tickets for Kids continues to search out resources to help keep kids engaged with learning and fun during Stay-at-Home orders. All available activities are listed on our website by region and category. You can access the Stay-At-Home Resources page here. 

2,800 Masks Distributed! 

The Minnesota Opera partnered with Tickets for Kids to provide more than 2,800 masks to our 300 agency partners in Minnesota! The Opera’s costume shop has been busy sewing thousands of masks with the intent of protecting the most vulnerable in our community. The existing partnership with Tickets for Kids provided the perfect distribution plan! Masks were shipped to agencies who provide food, basic needs, shelter, and more!   

45 Board Games Provided! 

We get it, kids are bored and getting restless. To help the homeless and domestic violence shelters we serve, we contacted MindWare, the world’s leading producer of “brainy toys for kids of all ages.” They were thrilled to partner and donated 45 board games that we provided to 15 agency partners! Kids will bond with the important adults in their life with these fun and educational games! 

Of course, we still understand the incredible impact live experiences can provide – and we continue to provide them! We have engaged kids to learn about new cultures in a Bollywood Dance Class hosted by South Asian Arts and Theater House, had a Q&A with a World Cup soccer player Tony Sanneh, and discussed teamwork and healthy lifestyle with former MN Viking Mike Harris. In the next couple of weeks, we’ll offer music therapy and physical activity classes for our agencies serving children with special needs.  

Even during this very unusual time, Tickets for Kids is working hard to continue to offer inspiration, adventure, and education to the kids who need it most. And we, like all of you, look forward to resuming our IRL (in real life) work with everyone we serve in the near future! 

The feel-good event of the season, The Sweat Pants Dance 2, took place at the beautiful Left -Field Lounge at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on September 27th.

Wearing their comfy rehearsal clothes, agency partners, ticket donors, sponsors, and supporters joined TFK to honor the Arts & Cultural venues that light up the stage for kids to experience the magic of the performing arts.

More than 200 guests attended the event, which featured activities, food, a silent auction , and dancing to the groovy beats of DJ KoolBreeze. Thank you to everyone who attended and made the night magnificent!

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MN United’s “50K To Midway” Record-Breaking Finale

Thanks to ticket donations from Minnesota United FC and a very generous individual donor, more than 500 TFK Kids had the opportunity on October 21st to stand up and cheer as their hometown soccer heroes played their last game at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.

Having the opportunity to attend these events can inspire children to dream without limitations.

“Thank you again for the tickets to enjoy MN United FC’s last game of the season. It was a special treat and a great way to end the soccer season for the boys’ soccer team. This was their first trip to a professional soccer game as a team, and for many, it was their first professional game. They were elated to be among the 50,000 fans at TCF Bank Stadium, and to see some of their role models play on the field.”

–TFK Agency Partner

TFK Kids not only had the opportunity to attend a record-breaking event, but also had some records to break of their own.

This game goes down in TFK-Twin Cities history as the first time an individual ticket donor provided more than 400 tickets to the organization! Thank you to our generous donor, and MN United, for including TFK Kids in this important community event.

As the day ended and fans said goodbye to TCF Bank Stadium, the lights for new opportunities turned on at MN United’s new stomping grounds – Allianz Field!