Montclair Parents Find New Resource in KidGooRoo; Local Schools Reap Benefits

Busy Montclair parents have discovered a new way to plan their kids' hectic after-school schedules, while at the same time raising funds for local school groups.

Instead of scouring the web, calling classmates and meeting coaches, Montclair parents are increasingly logging onto KidGooRoo.com, for free , comprehensive and reliable reviews of local extra-curricular activities. The reviews are trusted as they come from other parents in the Montclair community, and each review has raised funds for a local school parent-teacher organizations.

While most parents wouldn't book a vacation, see a movie or try a new restaurant without combing reviews, they have been entrusting their children with coaches or instructors for hours each week without the same level of confidence. Thousands of dollars and countless precious hours are spent on kids' extracurricular activities, for which information and ratings could only be found piecemeal if at all. Founded last year by two busy NJ moms, KidGooRoo.com is a single place that parents can go to get all the information they need to make the best choices for their children.

"Statistics have shown a direct correlation between the success of a child in school and participation in activities outside of school," explained Alex Skove, who co-founded KidGooRoo in 2016. "The best way to predict if a certain program is right for your child is to read reviews by other parents in your own community."

The KidGooRoo founders recognize that the site's value is in both the quality and quantity of its reviews. So, to further build KidGooRoo's Montclair review base, while also giving back to organizations that benefit local kids, they conceived this fundraising model that is a no-brainer for local kid-centric non-profits.

For every parent review logged through the Montclair area schools' fundraising links, KidGooRoo has donated $2 to each organization. Already, PTOs affiliated with Nishuane Elementary School, Hillside Elementary School and Glenfield Middle School have partnered with KidGooRoo, and more are on the way.

As a result, hundreds of Montclair parents have been busy reviewing these programs to provide users with candid opinions of the strengths and weaknesses of each program. The program database is comprehensive -- spanning sports, the arts, leisure, academic support and more, while also covering a child's life span - from mommy and me programs through SAT prep and driver's ed.

"It was a very easy fundraiser to conduct," explained Karen Andes, Nishuane PTA President. "We didn't have to coordinate a location or volunteers and it didn't cost our PTA anything to run."

"One PTO president likened it to picking money off the floor," remarked KidGooRoo co-founder Cathy Goldin, who is coordinating the school outreach with parent-teacher groups, booster clubs and education foundations. "The school fundraisers really speak to what we believe in at KidGooRoo. Parents help each other by writing reviews and we are able to give back to the parents and the kids by donating to area schools." Organizations interested in fundraising partnerships should contact Goldin at cathygoldin@KidGooRoo.com .