Is it a bird? A plane? No – it’s a new kind of superhero! It’s the Capes for Kids gang! The best part, this band of heroes are not found in a fictional comic book – no, these heroes are real and, while they still wear capes, they represent something else. These are individuals who don their red capes to help raise awareness and fundraise for children with disabilities. You can be a hero too!

The Cape for Kids Program

This team of superheroes was first developed in 2017, co-created with Holland Bloorview Families. While it is usually classified as an international top secret program, we can let you in on some of their secrets.

Capes for Kids was created as a program to help create a visual way to spark conversation and build support for kids with disabilities at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Since its inception, over 2500 people across Canada have donned a red cape.

People may not turn their heads at seeing one child wearing a cape, but many? That will certainly raise some questions! What’s great about the Capes for Kids program is that it is not only for children! Adults are encouraged to wear capes to draw even more attention. With Capes for Kids, anyone can be a superhero! It is one of the few fully accessible, peer-to-peer fundraising programs.

To earn your cape, you don’t have to be a vigilante crime fighter. Instead, you must raise money for the program. By raising a minimum of $100 ($50 for a child participant) you are awarded your red cape and achieve superhero stardom! New to the program this year, if you manage to raise at least $1000, your superhero powers transform into a new heroic level, and you have the opportunity to redeem for a gold cape! A super-superhero!!

Were you born believing you could make a difference, that you were born with special powers? Then claim your cape and join the ranks of the thousands of superheroes that have supported the Capes for Kids program over the years! While you are there, be sure you read the inspirational stories behind some of the superheroes that the program has elevated.

This year’s awareness campaign starts next week, running from March 1-7! They are provisioning lots of virtual options this year to ensure everyone is being safe, an important job for any hero or heroine.

Become a supporter today and transform into a hero for life.

Being the Sidekick and Creating Custom Capes

With the idea firmly developed, Capes for Kids approached Genumark with the important task of creating the visual product that the superheroes would don. Knowing that the best superheroes have reliable sidekicks, Genumark set off to make these custom capes.

When developing a fully custom item for a campaign such as Capes for Kids, there are many factors to consider. The most important of these factors is the look, feel, and quality of the materials used. In this case, Capes for Kids wanted something that would stand out. Genumark utilized our experiences and contacts overseas to procure the shiny, superpower inducing fabric that is now a staple of the cape program.

As with any custom promo item, multiple pre-production samples were created and tested to ensure that the capes met a standard of fabric safety and wear-and-tear. Once approved, the custom item goes into production, which takes a few weeks (variable on quantity) and then is shipped by either air or boat, depending on the urgency of the client’s timeline.

Looking to be the company hero with your own custom project? Let us know how we can help!