Program areas at Kurt Warner First Things First Foundation
Disney world program - for the twenty-first year, the Foundation teamed with dream factory and make-a-wish to treat children from Arizona and Missouri with life-threatening illnesses and their families to the magical world of mickey, donald and goofy in orlando, Florida for a weeklong vacation. The week is directed by the Warner family (Kurt, brenda and their seven children). Five make-a-wish and dream factory children and their families experienced the life changing trip in 2023. A reunion was also hosted in st. louis to reconnect with families hosted in previous years.
Christmas giving program - this program celebrates christmas with foster kids at sunshine acres children's home in mesa, az. This year each child received a brand new pair of nike shoes along with socks thanks to an in-kind partnership with nike. All of the staff and children at sunshine acres spent an afternoon playing games with the Warner family and enjoying lunch donated by crust with dessert donated by crumbl cookies. In 2023, 71 pairs of shoes were provided.
Home for the holidays - together with aaron's inc, u-haul, brooklyn bedding, and sprouts the Foundation rewards single mothers or fathers, who have achieved the dream of homeownership with habitat for humanity by turning a house into a home with new furnishings as a surprise for first-time homeowners. In 2023, two single moms and their two kids were surprised in Arizona (2) for mother's day and christmas, respectively.
Warners' warm-up is a program held annually in the fall to collect winter coats in greater st. louis in partnership with operation food search, local police departments, fedex office, lookafter hair company, a-mrazek moving systems, bi-state credit unions, lion's choice, west county center, and local st. louis media. St. louisans are encouraged to donate new or gently-used winter coats at drop off locations throughout the st. louis region. Operation food search distributes the coats to those who need them via local homeless shelters, schools and social service centers. The Foundation also purchases new coats at a reduced rate in bulk. In 2023, nearly 7,000 coats and winter apparel items were distributed in the bi-state area.
Mission: possible! Scholarships ease the financial burden for high school and college age groups (14-22 years old) participating in service-based mission trips across the united states. Service based missions enlighten participants to the work of jesus and strengthen their faith while making a positive impact on the communities served. In 2023, ten groups were awarded scholarships for their spring break and summer mission trips totaling $7,500.
The ticket program honors veterans with tickets to monday night football. The program hosts military veterans and their families from veteran ticket Foundation at the games throughout the country. Autographed Kurt Warner memorabilia are also given to participants during their visit to the radio booth to meet Kurt. Thirty people attended a monday night football game in 2023.