n i v g i g b o e o h k t building a better world for little ones: 2016 annual giving report
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our story We’re a family of five on a mission to help feed children in need. There’s nothing we love more than being parents. We think nurturing our three children is the most important, rewarding and sometimes challenging job in the world!
start a company whose purpose is to help improve the lives of children and to make a difference.
With a background in health, we recognize the crucial role nutrition plays in a child’s development. As parents, we believe all children should have enough food to eat and the opportunity to thrive, so when we saw a documentary on the devastating impact of childhood hunger on millions of children around the world, it inspired us to help. On that day, we decided to
Everything we do at cuddle+kind is a reflection of our values. All our heirloom-quality dolls are lovingly handcrafted and ethically produced by artisans in Peru. For every doll sold, we give 10 meals to children in need. Our whole family is passionate about what we’re doing and loves every doll we make. We sincerely hope you will too.
Jen, Derek, Ethan, Brooke + Rachel
watch the video
See the Woodgates explain why they’re passionate about helping children.
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896,908
meals provided to children 1 doll = 10 meals
cuddle+kind is a social business with giving back at its core. Read on to learn more about where and how we give.
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a better world 45% of deaths in children under five are caused by poor nutrition – that’s 3.1 million children each year. 66 million primary school-aged children attend classes hungry every day. The meals our dolls provide are donated in 65 countries around the world.
Canada
In Canada, 1 child in 5 lacks access to nutritious food in the morning. Our dolls help provide meals to children before school starts, through our partner Breakfast Club of Canada.
Haiti
Through our partner Children’s Hunger Fund, cuddle+kind provides all the meals needed to feed 150 children in three orphanages in Haiti: the Shekina and Delmas 31 Orphanages in Port au Prince and Cap Haitian Orphanage in Cap Haitian.
Peru We’re proud to provide 60 children in Abancay, Peru school meals 5 days a week through Children’s Hunger Fund. Some families in need also receive nutritious Food Paks.
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USA In the USA, over 16 million children live in food insecure households. Your purchases help provide nutritious Food Paks through our partner Children’s Hunger Fund.
for little ones. Worldwide
In 65 countries across the world, your purchases help feed children nutritious school lunches through our giving partner World Food Program USA.
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how we
give
To supply the meals our dolls provide, we have partnerships with several aid organizations: World Food Program USA, Children’s Hunger Fund and Breakfast Club of Canada - a new partner in 2016. These highly respected organizations have the expertise and on-the-ground knowledge to give our meals to the children who need them most.
“The great work you’re doing makes a huge difference. Thank you for your generosity and our valued partnership.”
— World Food Program USA “Through our partnership we are delivering hope, feeding those in need and building a brighter future. Thank you.”
— Children’s Hunger Fund “We’re excited to partner with such a passionate company.”
— Breakfast Club of Canada 8
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handmade
with love
cuddle+kind supports over
300 ARTISANS with a fair trade income
All our dolls are lovingly handcrafted by artisans and ethically produced in Peru, providing our knitters with a fair trade wage that allows them to care for their families.
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Fair trade.
We provide safe working conditions, flexible hours to mothers in rural communities and sustainable, fair trade employment that allows our artisans to care for their families and plan for their futures.
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Ethically produced. We hire our artisans for their talent and expertise, give them reasonable working hours, good working conditions, and fair wages. For us, taking care of each other is important.
Artisan made.
Peru’s culture has a long knitting history that’s been handed down for generations. It’s why our artisans make cuddle+kind dolls so beautifully. The skill and passion of the knitters who handcraft each doll impresses us every day.
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Lovingly handcrafted. All our heirloom-quality dolls are hand-knit, hand loomed and hand embroidered in Peru using 100% natural cotton yarn. Our knitters put so much love, time and care into their work because the quality of the dolls is their source of pride.
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Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.
– Anna Lappe 11
5 values
we live by
1. Every child deserves enough food to eat and the opportunity to thrive. It’s why we started cuddle+kind and it’s why we give 10 meals to children in need for every doll sold.
2. Every child needs energy to learn so they can reach their potential. It’s why we partnered with Breakfast Club of Canada and WFP USA to give nutritious meals to children before and during school.
3. Children deserve the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty they were born into. Good nutrition and an education are the keys to this opportunity. It’s why we’ve partnered with WFP USA to provide school meals around the world.
4. Fairness and decency are part of all the products we make. This is why our dolls are ethically produced and all our workers are paid a fair trade wage. We’re proud to empower our artisans with equitable, sustainable employment.
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5. Girls and women deserve to be empowered. Childhood hunger and malnutrition disproportionally impacts girls. We give meals through WFP USA’s School Meals Program because it increases the number of girls who get sent to school to get both a meal and an education.
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We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill
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Featured in goop’s baby + toddler gift guide.
Chosen by Jessica Alba for People Magazine’s gift guide.
we love all the love press coverage in 2016
Featured in kimkardashianwest. com’s Gifts that Give Back Guide.
“A cool cat that fights hunger,” says Upworthy’s editors. Featured in Real Simple’s Holiday Gift Guide.
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#cuddleandkind your photos and feedback
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I have both bunnies and love them! Quality is awesome - I have 5 altogether! Keep helping the world cuddle+kind! – Maria Singer
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My son LOVES his Everest. It is, literally, the only toy he’ll cuddle with. – Lily Li
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I just received mine yesterday and O.M.G. These are the most adorable, sweet, extremely well-made stuffies. So very happy to have supported this business and to have provided both a wonderful gift and teachable moment for my children. – Victoria Spearman Nunes
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If you’re trying to decide whether this is a perfect gift for your grandchildren, the answer is yes. – Alison Elizabeth
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I recently received the two dolls I ordered, Willow and Chloe…the moment I opened the package, I felt the love and passion of the mission…there is soooo much sweet energy in the making of these adorable beings. – Pam Alderete
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This is such a great cause, just what the world needs, heroes are the people that make and buy these dolls. Hats off to you all.
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– Fran Melissa Honish 16
get two free prints feed 30 children + get free shipping
When you buy any two dolls, you’ll receive two 10” x 10”, unframed inspirational prints for free. You’ll feed 30 children and get free shipping – a total $47 savings.
shop now >
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thank you
for making our dream come true. Your support has helped us realize our dream of helping children. Our hope is that one day, every child will have enough food to eat and the opportunity to thrive, and that our company will be part of making that happen. We believe in the power of social businesses to improve the world and are honoured to be making a positive impact. Our goal is to provide one million meals to children in need every year. We can hardly believe that together we’ve donated 896,908 meals to children in need! Please share our giving book with anyone you think might be interested in our heirloom-quality dolls and the cause they support. It would mean the world to us.
Hugs, Jen, Derek, Ethan, Brooke + Rachel shop shopthe the collection collection
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