The founders of Niños Matter unintentionally stumbled upon the idea in December of 2014 on an extended family trip to the Dominican Republic. Looking for ways to serve, they loaded up two suitcases full of hair bows, and with their young kids in tow, arrived at an orphanage hoping to help. As the founders surveyed the children at the orphanage and their surroundings, two very distinct ideas emerged: “There is no way that we could pick only one child to help, we need to help all of them,” and “We need to help these kids become self-sufficient.” From these two ideologies, Niños Matter was born.

Fast forward a couple of years and the founders had embraced the principle of service in their families, communities, and even businesses. They strove to give back whenever and wherever possible and soon realized that the generational problems they encountered in the Dominican Republic needed to be rectified early on. “We needed to start with the kids. We knew if we could make them feel safe, loved, and empowered, we could break the cycle of injustice and shape a brighter future. Because they know we’re in their corner, they feel safe. Our consistent presence and support have reassured them that someone will fight for them and that they can have confidence in themselves.” - Misty Kirby.

Our quest and motto became clear: “If you are comfortable, give comfort. If you’ve been blessed, be a blessing.” And that’s what Niños Matter aims to do; perpetuate a never-ending cycle of compassion and support, fueled by the unwavering belief that every child deserves a chance to thrive and make their mark on the world.

At Niños Matter, we believe that the well-being of children is at the heart of building a strong community. We are committed to addressing the various challenges children face, including poverty, lack of access to education, and limited opportunities. Our programs and initiatives focus on the following areas: