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Press Releases and News Items Appearing in the Media, 2003 to Current:

Date: Headline:
May 3, 2019 The 15th Kids First Auction is the Greatest on Earth with Rooms, Flights, Elite Upgrades and Sightseeing Marvels
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May 9, 2018 The 14th Kids First Auction is the Greatest on Earth with First-Ever Elite Upgrades and Sightseeing Marvels
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May 5, 2017 The 13th Kids First Auction is an Elite Travel Event for 2017
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November 2, 2016 Topbonus, Southwest and Etihad Guest Receive Kids First Teddy Bear Awards
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May 3, 2016 The 12th Kids First Auction is an Elite Travel Event for 2016
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November 19, 2015 Topbonus, Southwest and Etihad Guest Receive Kids First Teddy Bear Awards
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November 17, 2015 Kids First Fund Names George Nagobads as Ambassador
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April 27, 2015 The Auction of the Wild and Weird Begins May 8th
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November 19, 2014 Topbonus, Southwest and Tune Hotels Receive Kids First Teddy Bear Awards
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November 13, 2014 Kids First Fund Elects CNN's Indra Petersons to Board of Directors
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November 13, 2014 Kids First Fund Elects Douglas Mullen, of Airlines for America, to Board of Directors
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May 4, 2014 BBid on Global Etihad Tickets, Anytime Passes on Southwest, Thousands of SkyMiles, and Tune Hotels in London
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November 20, 2013 KLM, Southwest, and United Airlines Receive Kids First Teddy Bear Awards
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Image from the November 20, 2013 press release
October 10, 2013 Kids First Fund Extends Grant in Moldova, Two New Board Members Add Valued Expertise
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March 14, 2013 2013 Family Friendly Airline Award Encourages Better Flights for Toddlers and Global Travelers Third annual award organized by Kids First Fund will honor the world's best airline for family travel.
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2013 Airline Information for Airlines
November 20, 2012 Gulf Air, Tune Hotels, and Virgin America Receive Kids First Teddy Bear Awards
The Kids First Fund honors key supporters of the 2012 International Online Travel Auction for Kids.
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April 5, 2012 Kids First Facebook Friends Vote Gulf Air as the Best Airline for Family Travel
Kids First also launches its 8th annual global travel auction with 60 nights donated by Tune Hotels in London and Asia and a world of other travel goodies.
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March 1, 2012 Vote is Underway for the Airline that Cares the Most for Kids. Choice is among three airline finalists: American, Gulf Air, and Virgin Australia.
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January 18, 2012 2012 Family Friendly Airline Award Isn't Just Kidding Around. Second annual award organized by Kids First Fund will honor the world's best airline for family travel.
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August 1, 2011 WebTalkRadio interview of Jay Sorensen. Listen to an episode of "A Shield for the Innocent" program during which Bidemi Nelson interviews Jay Sorensen about Kid First Fund activities in Moldova and Latvia.
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March 29, 2011 Facebook Friends Vote Air Transat as the Best Airline for Family Travel
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March 3, 2011 Vote is Underway for the World's Best Airline for Family Travel. Choice is among six airline finalists: Air Transat, Emirates, Jetstar, Kingfisher, Qatar Airways, and TAM.
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January 27, 2011 2011 Family Friendly Airline Award Isn't Just Kidding Around First-ever award organized by Kids First Fund will honor the world's best airline for family travel.
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Download the airline nomination instructions
September 23, 2010 Kids First Fund Expands Reach to Moldova: 2010 Efforts Continue to Support Work in Latvia and Extend to Others in Eastern Europe
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February 26, 2010 Bid and Win at the World's Largest Online Travel Auction
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January 25, 2010 AirAsia X and AirTran Airways Help Fill the Skies with Premium Tickets for  the International Online Travel Auction for Kids
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June 13, 2009 LNT - Latvia Independent Television News Coverage of Shelter Opening
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June 13, 2009 $1.1 Million Family Shelter Opens in Rugaji, Latvia Co-Funded by the Kids First Fund and other Partners
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February 26, 2008 AirTran Receives Kids First Auction Partner Award. The Kids First Fund honors the highest revenue-producing donor for its annual International Online Travel Auction for Kids.
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December 20, 2007 Double Airline Miles End December 31 for Donations to the Kids First Fund Through Google Checkout
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February 13, 2007 Kids First Fund Launches the Largest International Online Travel Auction for Kids on March 15
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January, 2007 Article from Milwaukee area magazine titled: "My Cause: Jay Sorensen. Putting Kids First."
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September 5, 2006 Kids First Fund Granted Special United Nations Status - Consultative Status Allows NGO to Appoint Representatives to UN
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June 11, 2006 "Debut novel studies Latvian family in Milwaukee" article at Latvians Online.
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June 2, 2006 “Red Weather” Novel About a Latvian Immigrant Family in Milwaukee to Benefit the Kids First Fund
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April 11, 2006 Record Number of U.S. and International Travel Companies Participate in the 2006 Great Online Travel Auction for Kids
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April 3, 2006 Randy Petersen’s InsideFlyer Magazine and WebFlyer.com Sponsor the 2006 Great Online Auction for Kids
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March, 2006 "Like Wall" San Jose Sharks Magazine interview with Arturs Irbe, to include observations about his role with the Kids First Fund.
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December 14, 2005 Kids First Fund Commits to Establish Shelter for Abused Children and their Mothers in Rural Latvia
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November 2, 2005 Fans of Arturs Irbe and San Jose Sharks Can Relive Team History this Holiday While Helping Latvian Children
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August 5, 2005 Internet scam touches charity for Latvian kids
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March 29, 2005 Savvy Travelers Bid on ATA, AirTran, Independence Air, jetBlue, LAN Airlines, Midwest, Song, South African, Sun Country, Swiss Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Tickets and Benefit Children
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September 27, 2004 Kids First Fund Elects William Friedrich to Board of Directors
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May 25, 2004 Kids First Fund Conducts Primary Research on Child Abuse in Latvia. Report receives high marks from a noted Mayo Clinic professor of child psychology.
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December 4, 2003 Lost Latvian Souls. Irbe and Zholtok share a passion to help Latvia's children The National Post of Toronto
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November 28, 2003 Open-Arms Policy. Sergei Zholtok talks about Latvia and abused children. The Pioneer Press of Minneapolis/St. Paul
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November 18, 2003 Auction of hockey pucks to help Latvian Kids. Latvians Online
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November 13, 2003 Kids First Fund Teams with Hockey Players to Benefit Children
NHL, Minnesota Wild and eBay assist online effort
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August, 2003 Milwaukee Judge Teaches in Latvia
Newsletter of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
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June 21, 2003 Walworth County prosecutor extends his expertise overseas
The Janesville Gazette
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May 16, 2003 Wealth - Not A Guarantee From Abuse. Chas Daily Newspaper, Riga Latvia coverage of 2003 Seminars.
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May 13, 2003 Statement by Victoria Sloan, Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Latvia on behalf of Ambassador Brian R. Carlson
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View photo of Jay Sorensen, Victoria Sloan and Dr. Valdis Rand

April 29, 2003

Kids First Fund Sponsors Child Abuse Seminars. U.S. Experts to Visit Latvia to Discuss Child Abuse and Domestic Violence.
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January 13, 2003

Arturs Irbe and RBC Centura Bank to Raise Thousands to Benefit the Kids First Fund and its New Kids ‘n Family House
View image of existing strurcture before renovation begins
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