A Precious Child, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to making a positive impact in the lives of disadvantaged and displaced children and families in Colorado by improving their quality of life.

The number of children living in poverty has grown faster in Colorado than anywhere else in the nation since 2000. The 2015 Kids Count in Colorado report found that 207,000 Colorado children live in poverty and 42% of Colorado children qualify for free or reduced lunch. Children living in poverty are more likely to be in poor health, less likely to graduate high school on time, and more likely to live in poverty as an adult. In 2000, one out of every ten children in Colorado lived in poverty. By 2012, that number had grown to one out of every six.

Ensuring that children are properly clothed and have the necessary supplies to participate in school can have a dramatic effect because it helps children stay in school, promotes learning, and promotes positive self-esteem. The Educational Services of America (ESA) learned through the district truancy officer that, in many cases, students were not coming to class simply because they didn’t have clothes or school supplies.