For the first time in Australia, the nation’s teachers and students have an opportunity to see their tireless fundraising efforts celebrated and nationally recognised in the inaugural ‘Kids Helping Kids Awards’.

With entries opening on April 30, the first Kids Helping Kids Awards will recognise and reward the work of Australian schools and educators working to develop the next generation of strong, empowered and resilient children.

As the debate rages around the impact of ‘helicopter parenting’, and the perception that parents and educators are unable or unwilling to honestly appraise and critique children’s attitudes, behaviour and actions, SchoolAid goes a long way towards addressing the issue by building resilience in the next generation of strong social citizens. SchoolAid projects encourage empathy, philanthropy and care in Australian kids, tapping into their innate compassion for their peers and kids in need, whilst fostering leadership, resilience and independence in young Australians everywhere. The ‘Kids Helping Kids Awards’ provides a much-needed avenue for these critical life skills and values to be rewarded through a national Awards program.

Leonie Trimper, President of the Australian Primary Principals Association, and strong supporter of SchoolAid and the Awards, says,

“SchoolAid is a unique organisation, whose sole purpose is to nurture and support the next generation of Australian philanthropists. The Kids Helping Kids Awards is the first time in Australia we have had a process to acknowledge the ongoing and significant giving taking place in primary schools across the nation every day. We cannot underestimate the significance of philanthropic behaviour and values-based programs such as SchoolAid in fostering independence and empathy in our young children.”

In addition, the ‘Kids Helping Kids Awards’ has an amazing group of committed celebrity Ambassadors and Judges, including media commentator and children’s author, Andrew Daddo, and former captain of the World Champion Australian Netball team, Anne Sargeant, represent the wealth of Australia’s media and sporting personalities with a philanthropic heart. They will personally visit winning schools throughout November 2010 to meet students, recognise their achievements and present prizes.

Finalists for each of the six Awards categories, and the overall ‘Best of the Best’ Award, will be selected by a panel of judges representing fields of education, philanthropy and commerce, including Professor Rosemary Ross Johnston, Director of the UTS Centre for Children and Youth, Zoe Eaton, Cartoon Network’s Associate Director of Marketing and Jane Mackarell, Microsoft’s National Academic Programs Manager.

For more details about the Kids Helping Kids Awards please visit www.schoolaid.org.au.