The “Kling Street Kids” is a group of kids (ages 5 – 17) living in and around Toluca Lake, California, who started raising money for children’s charities in 2002.
From 2002 through 2018, over $230,000 has been raised and donated, primarily to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Kling Street Kids is not a formal organization, but a grass-roots neighborhood group of over 60 kids and is growing every year. We always register with the City of Los Angeles Police Commission which allows us to solicit donations.
If you are interested in joining or getting involved in any way (either as a volunteer or a sponsor), please contact us.
Location
Kling Street between Ledge Avenue and Cahuenga Blvd in Toluca Lake
History of Kling Street Kids
In 19 years, the KLING STREET KIDS have provided over $290,000.00 to other kids who are in need.
Callie & Cady (then ages 9 & 7) – two sisters living on Kling Street in Toluca Lake, California had an idea. They wanted to hold a holiday fundraiser and give whatever they made to other children who may not be as fortunate as they are at Christmas time. They asked their twin neighbors across the street, Libby & Grady (ages 8), if they wanted to help. Together, the quartet formed “The Kling Street Kids” in December of 2002. The Kling Street Kids started by selling coffee, doughnuts, hot chocolate, pizza and handmade reindeer ornaments outside their homes the mornings of December 23 & 24. Through the generosity of their neighborhood and the local Starbucks of Toluca Lake, they raised $549.57 that they donated as a Christmas present to the Los Angeles Chapter of Make-A-Wish.
In 2003, they made their efforts an annual event and got Krispy Kremeand Trader Joe’s to join Starbucks as sponsors. They expanded their sales efforts by holding an outdoor free screening of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. The kids nearly quadrupled their first year’s efforts and raised $2,065.47 that they donated to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
In 2004, they increased their reach by including some additional Toluca Lake businesses (most notably Pergolinaand Prosecco Restaurant) as their sponsors in addition to Starbucks, Krispy Kreme and Trader Joe’s. Oliver Holt Christmas Trees even donated a tree to display their handmade reindeer ornaments. Callie & Cady’s next-door neighbor and classmate, Khoe (then age 12), joined the Kling Street Kids to help them in their efforts. Together, they broke their record in the first day and donated $3,001.04 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in addition to 156 boxes of cookies from Cady’s Girl Scout Troup.
In 2005, co-founders Grady & Libby moved to North Carolina but 2 other neighbors, Mary (7th grade) and Paul (2nd grade) joined the Kling Street Kids. New as sponsors were Vonssupermarket and Ty, Inc (makers of Beanie Babies stuffed toys). The girls sold the Beanie Babies for adoption and all 102 of them were delivered at 3:00 pm on December 24th to the kids spending Christmas Eve in the hospital. The local CBS2 and KCAL9 news actually did a special story on the success of the Kling Street Kids, and the response was overwhelming, resulting in their biggest success to date with $6,216.75 going directly to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution that provides pediatric health care and helps our patients more than 528,000 times each year in a setting designed just for their needs. Our history began in 1901 in a small house on the corner of Alpine and Castelar Streets (now Hill St. in Chinatown) and today our medical experts offer more than 350 pediatric specialty programs and services to meet the needs of our patients.
CHLA is a provider of more than $232.6 million in community benefits annually to children and families. As the first and largest pediatric hospital in Southern California, CHLA relies on the generosity of philanthropists in the community to support compassionate patient care, leading-edge education of the caregivers of tomorrow and innovative research efforts that impact children at our hospital and around the world.
Contact Us
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Sponsors
Many local retailers, restaurants and companies generously contribute to the Kling Street Kids’ efforts.
We thank all the previous, current and future sponsors. We couldn't do it without you!
Starbucks (since 2002)
Trader Joe’s (since 2003)
Ty Beanie Babies (since 2005)
KIIS FM (since 2005)
UPS
Union Ice (since 2010)
Red Barn Seed & Saddlery (since 2010)
Jellycats (since 2010)
Playmate Toy’s “Hearts 4 Hearts Girls” (since 2010)
Sharky’s (since 2010)
Milt & Edie’s Drycleaners (since 2010)
Craig Strong Realty
Monte Carlo Deli (since 2015)
SCA Appraisal Company (since 2015)
3 Little Birds Events (since 2017)
The Beat Buds (since 2017)
SADA Systems (since 2017)
Erin LaBrecque Photography (since 2017)
Sycle (since 2016)
Ice Ice Shavie (since 2017)
The Garry Marshall Theatre
VonnLou Designs (since 2016)
SASDA (since 2017)
PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT:
KIIS FM
The Tolucan Times
Radio DISNEY
KCAL
Toluca Lake Magazine
SPECIAL THANKS:
Krispy Kreme
North Hollywood Ice Company
Burbank Fire Fighters
LA Fire Fighters
KLING STREET KIDS 1st ANNUAL MOVIE NIGHT 2018