In 1996, Georgette King saw something missing in her Philadelphia community. While taking her own children on trips, she realized how important and meaningful those shared experiences are for families and wanted to find a way to extend that joy to others. Soon after, she organized an outing for four families to a free grandparents’ festival in Fort Washington, in Montgomery County. That day of games and activities launched something much larger — The Creative Kids Club.
Now, almost three decades later, the nonprofit has expanded to welcoming more than 75 families. True to the club’s motto — “You provide the family, we’ll provide the fun” — King is dedicated to creating free opportunities for children and their families to enjoy arts and crafts workshops, cultural outings, sports, musicals, and more. Members range from toddlers to teens, representing all socioeconomic levels and backgrounds, including foster children, youth raised by grandparents, and kids with developmental differences. Seniors on limited incomes have also found a place in the club, forming bonds with the children and offering a grandparent’s warmth in return.
The Creative Kids Club offers families a wide range of programming, including: S.W.I.M. (Spoken Words In Motion) to help youth use their talents to overcome physical and emotional challenges; A Trip A Day with outings to museums, festivals, sporting events, and cultural attractions; Philly HoopStarz Dance Troupe where hula-hoop dancing encourages fitness and fun; and a science program that includes educational visits to the Academy of Natural Sciences, The Franklin Institute, The Mann Center, and more.
King recently sat down with Metro to share more about the club, how she encourages members to be creative, and why inclusion is so important.
What inspired you to start the Creative Kids Club, and when did you realize there was a need in your community?
I personally wanted to start The Creative Kids Club for families to come together and have family-focused fun. I was taking my own family on trips and we had such good times that it inspired me to want to do the same for others.
As a club member, what can families expect for their children?
Families can expect to have unique multicultural experiences that they normally would not have the privilege to attend like sports, musicals, and educational and entertainment-based workshops.
One of the programs within the club is Philly HoopStarz. Can you talk a bit about it?
The Philly HoopStarz came to be in 2008. Our hoop instructor, Jennifer Alvarez, has graciously taught hundreds of students coordinated dance routines. The motto for The Philly HoopStarz is peace, hoop, love, unity and respect. The Philly HoopStarz have performed across the Tri-State area and at various events around the city including the Kimmel Cultural Campus, The Mann, and Wawa Welcome America. We know that the hula-hoop is a form of physical fitness and nostalgia for the parents too. We also hand-make and decorate our hoops which captures the creativity and unique expression of the youth. Doing this gives the families an opportunity to work together.
Can you explain what “creative in motion” means and how it applies to your events and workshops?
“Creative in motion” means allowing families and communities to express their creativity in art, rhythm, and energy through events and workshops. We encourage them to let their self expression be seen and heard.
Are there any stand-out moments where you’ve seen a real transformation in a child or family through the club?
All the time. I can think of many instances in which families are transformed by getting out of their environment and spending quality time together. The Creative Kids Club allows families to escape the pressures of daily life and enjoy the moment. Also, the children who start in the club or Philly HoopStarz often come back to volunteer and bring their friends. A lot of the children from when we first started are adults now and have families of their own. We’ve seen transformations over generations which continues to let us know the importance of love and care in the community.
You’ve built such an inclusive space. Why is that so important to your mission, and how do you make people feel like they belong?
Everybody is somebody. We believe that strongly. Our organization is all inclusive and we want everyone to feel important. We acknowledge the uniqueness of every individual and want them to feel comfortable.
What are your goals for the programs in 2026 and beyond?
Our goal is to be bigger, take better trips and continue to make positive changes. We want more people and families to be involved.
If someone wants to support the club, what’s the best way to do so?
Visit our website at creativekidsclub.net or email atripaday@yahoo.com.
