Our Story
By Kids, For Kids
We’re not just another nonprofit. We’re a movement led by kids, for kids, because we believe real change starts with those closest to the problem.
Who Is Kids Connect?
We’re a youth-led nonprofit that turns digital waste into digital impact. We started Kids Connect because we’ve seen firsthand what it feels like to be disconnected — to fall behind in school, miss out on opportunities, or feel invisible just because you don’t have a phone.
We also saw another problem: phones sitting in drawers, warehouses, and tech closets doing nothing.
So we did something about it.
Kids Connect bridges the gap between the devices people don’t use and the young people who need them most. We collect used phones, refurbish them, and get them into the hands of the kids who need them most.
Our Mission
To bring digital connection and opportunities to every kid, in every corner of the world, by giving old phones a new purpose and turning digital waste into digital impact.
Our Vision
A future where young people have access to the digital tools they need to thrive, and individuals and businesses see old phones as a chance to invest in a more sustainable, connected world.
Our Values
Connection
We connect more than phones. We connect kids to education, safety, belonging, and growth opportunities because everyone deserves access to the digital tools that help them thrive.
Youth Empowerment
We’re a movement led by youth, for youth. We lead with lived experience, empathy, and the belief that young people have the power to shape the future.
Sustainability
We turn digital waste into opportunity by repurposing devices for positive social impact, or recycling them responsibly when reuse isn’t an option, ensuring the smallest carbon footprint.
Transparency
We earn trust by keeping our word, tracking every phone through certified partners, and making our impact visible through detailed reporting that shows exactly where phones go.
Impact
We focus on real people, real barriers, and real outcomes, thoughtfully placing every phone where it can make the greatest difference in someone’s life.
Our Team
Ben Goorno
CEO & Co-Founder
Ben is a high school senior in Concord, Massachusetts, and the CEO of Kids Connect. He started the organization out of a deep desire to help others and a belief that small actions, like donating a phone, can create big opportunities for young people.
As the oldest of two boys, Ben naturally steps into leadership roles and brings a problem-solver’s mindset to every challenge. Whether he’s coordinating donations or growing the program’s reach, Ben brings energy, vision, and heart to everything he does.
When he’s not leading Kids Connect, you’ll find him playing soccer, hitting the golf course, or driving his friends to Chipotle.
Cooper Balfour
President & Co-Founder
Cooper is a senior at Concord-Carlisle High School and serves as the President of Kids Connect. He co-founded the organization after noticing how many kids were being left out simply because they didn’t have access to a phone, while so many old devices sat unused in drawers.
He’s always had a gift for rallying his team, taking initiative, and turning big ideas into real change. Whether he’s building partnerships or expanding the organization’s reach, Cooper is always looking for ways to make a greater impact and help those in need.
Outside of Kids Connect, he enjoys playing soccer and golf, hanging with friends, and volunteering in the community.
Phones Can’t Change Lives if They’re Sitting in Drawers
For you, that old phone is clutter. For a kid without one, it could be a lifeline. Give your old phones new life, cut down carbon emissions, and help a kid in need.
