18 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2019 Carey Peña | Contributing Writer Local DJ puts happiness in hand CAREY’S CORNER {carey peña reports} GIVING IS IN THE CARDS I have met a lot of great people over the years. People who are determined to do their part to spread light, love, security, food, shelter and clothing to those in need — not because they have to, but because they want to. This describes radio personality Mathew Blades. Blades, who has been in radio for 25 years, is the popular morning host of iHeartRadio’s Mix 96.9, host of the “Fathers Like Me” podcast, and a youth hockey coach. Like many of us, he has screaming busy professional and personal lives. Still, he’s determined to make a more significant impact. Enter Cards for Kids. For the past five years, Blades and co-host Priscilla Ornelas have been working to build the Cards for Kids program in the Valley. It began with an idea to encourage their morning show listeners to donate $25 gift cards for students at Title 1 schools. Good intentions grow, and that’s what happened with this event. While it began with $25 gift cards, Cards for Kids has increased to multiple Title 1 schools receiving $50 cards — per student. And this year, they are aiming to give cards to all of the teachers, too. (Gotta love it when teachers are recognized.) “We were trying to get into Title 1 schools and inject some energy,” Blades said. “Reach out to that community and wrap our arms around them — literally.” Title 1 schools have large concentrations of low- income families and receive federal funds to help support the students. Ninety percent are eligible for free or reduced lunch. “First up,” Blades said, “you have many students who don’t even know what a gift card is. Never even seen a debit card in their life. And once they find out what it is and what’s on it, they lose their mind.” Watching video of previous gift card giveaways on their website makes it easy to see why Blades and Ornelas are so connected to this cause. Blades said they even gifted the very school that Ornelas, a Valley native, grew up attending. “Two years ago, we were able to go back to the Title 1 school that my co-host Priscilla went to, and

DECEMBER 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 19 Mathew Blades ( far right ) says the best part about the Cards for Kids program is the reactions from the kids. The idea behind Cards for Kids is simple: Give kids in Title 1 schools a holiday card designed by kids for kids just before winter break.