KOBSD — Community-centered Volunteers
Helping Children through Puppetry

The Kids on the Block puppets arrived in San Diego in 1985 through the effort of a community-minded woman, Mary Felix. Because Mary had a professional background in physical therapy and a child with a disability, she was well aware of the social adjustments people with disabilities face daily.

The Kids on the Block program shared Mary's philosophy of creating an awareness to the differences we all share, and the puppet characters are an excellent vehicle to accomplish this task. Here's the timeline:

• In 1977 Kids on the Block Inc. was established by Barbara Aiello, a special education teacher in Washington D.C., to assist in mainstreaming children with disabilities into general education classrooms. Ms. Aiello and some associates developed puppets and scripts for sale to non-profit organizations.

• In October 1984 two San Diego mothers who have children with physical disabilities wrote a grant proposal to the Easter Seal Society of San Diego County and received funding to purchase eight puppets.

• In March 1985 the puppets were received, volunteer puppeteers were trained and presentations to area schools began.

• In September 1985 the Easter Seal Society began collaboration with the San Diego Junior League to support the Kids on the Block program in San Diego schools. The Easter Seal Society purchased more puppets and scripts and additional funding for program expenses was received from the Junior League.

• From September 1985 through September 1990 the Easter Seal Society and the San Diego Junior League continued to support the Kids on the Block program. Over 100,000 children throughout San Diego County were served.  Since the policy of the San Diego Junior League is to establish only new projects, their support of Kids on the Block ended in September 1990.

• From September 1990 to March 1994 the Kids in the Block program continued to operate under the Easter Seal Society umbrella. By 1994, over 3OO,OOO children viewed the program.

• In March 1994 the Kids on the Block of San Diego was incorporated as an independent agency. It received tax-exempt status as an IRSC 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

• October 1997 marked the first Disability Awareness Month and the successful inaugural of the “Adopt-a-Puppet” & “Adopt-a-Program” campaign.  Local corporate sponsors continue to be honored for their gracious contributions and support.

• July 1998 the “Kids” moved to office and storage space donated by the Arc of San Diego. KOBSD curriculum expansion included the addition of programs on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention, and on Accepting Differences and Multiculturalism.

• In 1999 the Children's Mental Health Program was funded.

The Kids on the Block of San Diego continues to operate as an independent, IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable agency, with the support of volunteer puppeteers and a volunteer Board of Directors. Over 600,000 children in San Diego County have been served by The Kids on the Block programs.