Kids Zone 2025 a sparktacular success!

The 2025 Hands4Hope Kids Zone Area at the El Dorado Hills Town Center Fireworks & Freedom Concert exploded the record books! The youth-led Hands4Hope Kids Zone Committee not only exceeded their stretch goals, but also pulled off a smooth, well-planned, and well-led event that delivered a bang-up job of providing fun, family-friendly festivities.

Between wristband and concession sales and generous support from event sponsors, the team raised an explosive $23,000 for the Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Education Program, making it the most financially successful Kids Zone in the event’s history.

Kids Zone is organized by a youth-led committee with support from Hands4Hope’s Special Events Program Coordinator Kate Barba, Deputy/Program Director Nicole Craine, and Adult Mentor Volunteer Nissa Martin. This year’s Kids Zone Committee Project Manager was Tania Thomas, a rising senior at Vista del Lago High School.

“What I enjoyed most about being a part of the Kids Zone Committee was working with new people,” said Tania. “I met a lot of great volunteers both in the committee and on the day of our event. They were all incredibly hardworking and friendly.”

Other youth leaders lighting the spark for success included Lenna Moore and Avery Martin as Concessions Co-Chairs, Avanti Ramamoorthy as Marketing Chair, Jack Clarke as Glow Toys Chair, and Emily Harrop and Dyuthi Thella as Tiny Tots Co-Chairs. In total, a 12-member team of middle and high schoolers planned all aspects of the event—from wristband and glow toy sales to bounce houses and marketing. They also coordinated with El Dorado Hills Town Center and event vendors, holding regular meetings in the months leading up to the July 3 celebration. Together, they logged well over 125 hours in planning, preparation, and implementation.

One committee participant reflected, “The most important things I learned are teamwork, skills, and trust. Each subcommittee had their own jobs and tasks, and although we knew what each other were doing, we couldn’t always see it. However, seeing the event come together with all the booths and games was so amazing, and I learned that trusting your team is important.”

The committee forecasted that the mild temperatures and the cancellation of nearby fireworks shows would draw a bigger crowd, and they were right. They communicated their plans and vision to 46 Hands4Hope volunteers who showed up that day to make the event possible, contributing a total of 300 hours. 

In total, 559 wristbands were sold—a skyrocketing 372% increase over the 2024 event! The Kids Zone Committee is grateful to the hundreds of families who joined in the fun and helped light up the night.

“Every time I would hand a kid a cotton candy, their face would just light up, which always made me feel so happy,” said Ashna Vaikunthan, Kids Zone Committee participant.

The 2025 Hands4Hope Kids Zone Committee would like to give a firework-sized thank you to their Star-Spangled Sponsors: El Dorado Hills Town Center, Bounce House Rentals of Folsom, Marshall Medical Center, Anthem Blue Cross, Fergerson Financial, and Nugget Markets. And a huge round of applause to everyone who helped make this year’s

event a red, white, and woo-hoo! success.

Photos and Video by Hands4Hope Media Team Participants Haniyah Azer and Anaya Azer