Tickets for Kids began in Pittsburgh in 1994 when empty seats at a basketball game in the Hill District became the seed of an idea to fill them with children and families who would love to attend but lacked the financial resources to do so. From this experience, Tickets for Kids was born.
Since then, the organization has grown to have impact in numerous cities as it fine-tuned the model of acquiring tickets and matching them to those most in need. As the model evolved, Tickets for Kids became a trusted partner to both ticket providers and youth-serving nonprofits who turned to Tickets for Kids to enhance their work with disadvantaged communities, all at no cost to them. Today, there are thousands of vetted and approved nonprofit partners receiving tickets through the Tickets for Kids network. In Pittsburgh alone, there are 398. Each is held to a high standard of accountability and has access to a private portal to secure tickets and report back on their experiences.
A trusted partner for institutional ticket donors, Tickets for Kids has distributed more than three million tickets worth more than $70 million since its inception. Entities ranging from national sports leagues and musical superstars to local and regional theaters, museums, zoos, and more donate their tickets for use by Tickets for Kids’ youth-serving nonprofit partners.