“Furries For Kids” has a mission to join charities for clowns who help hospital patients.
by Patch O'Furr
Here’s more about a previous Newsdump item. (To read non-English links, try Google translate.)
“Furries For Kids” comes from the German/Austrian community. It has a goal to set up a legitimate charity with fursuiters, like “Clown Care” (a program to bring the healing power of laughter to hospitals). Here’s the website for their philanthropic organization.
My translation of their mission:
“Many people in the world experience sadness, anger or pain every day. It’s especially dramatic, though, when it hits defenseless children. That’s why Furries For Kids has taken on the task to raise their spirits.
Who laughs, does not cry. This is the motto for Europe’s first, unique anthropomorphic “Kuschelzoo” (petting zoo?) for visiting care centers and homes for kids and needy people. The affected people, especially kids in institutions, should be supported by costume performances with joy and laughter to get rid of negative feelings. Laughter is therapeutic and promotes positive energy, and a sense of hope that’s important to process emotional wounds. Our appearances are voluntary and unpaid, to benefit individuals as well as the institutions. Our organization funds its work largely through annual member dues, donations, sponsorships and small hired engagements. Of course, our cuddly characters can also sometimes be found in public places like parks, museums, plazas, and anywhere they can make people happy and put smiles on your face.”
There’s an Austrian Furry news blog! I asked the owner, Mailylion, to share more:
“I’d like to give you some further directions about “Furries For Kids”. First of all, there has been an article about the organization inside the “Eurofurence Daily”… a newspaper that is handed out to all attendees at the con.