Earlier this month, the New York University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) announced their efforts to raise $6,000 to help support Kids Action for Kids, a charity organization founded in 2009 by NYU Swimmer Martin Brekke and his brothers. The goal was completed as the NYU athletics community collected $6,600, which was doubled by an anonymous donor. That total was again doubled by by the charity's financial partner and $26,400 was sent to help children in need. 

Kids Action for Kids is focused on raising money to fund surgeries for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate deformities. Approximately one in 700 babies in Southeast Asia is born with a cleft deformity, which can affect many aspects of their physical and social development. Together with their financial partner, Benchachinda Group, Kids Action for Kids has funded surgeries for over 1,000 children since their inception in 2009.

"This thoughtful, well-conceived fundraising effort by our SAAC and varsity student-athletes represents the powerful contribution young men and women can make to help those in need," said Senior Associate Director of Athletics Janice Quinn. "I am so proud of their focus on service and thrilled they can see the powerful, measurable results such an effort can achieve. They have changed the life of young children who will receive the much-needed surgeries, and have set a new standard for service for our varsity athletes."

The money raised through the NYU community will fund 33 life-changing surgeries for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate deformities!

For more information about Kids Action for Kids, click here.