Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Holiday Fund hits $75,000 mark
Contributions will help 10 nonprofits meet 2013 needs

by Jeb Bing

The Pleasanton Weekly's 2012 Holiday Fund campaign wrapped up this week with donations just short of the $75,000 mark. By week's end, with contributions continuing to come in, it's likely the final tally will show even more. That's good because the needs of these organizations continue to increase and the Holiday Fund helps meet some of their ever-rising financial obligations.

Disbursements of the 2012 Holiday Fund contributions will take place once a full accounting has been completed by Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The Holiday Fund is a donor advised fund of this foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions made to the Holiday Fund are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

As before, the Pleasanton Weekly has handled all costs of the campaign. That means that every dollar will go directly to the 10 nonprofits we've chosen as this year's beneficiaries, with all administrative expenses being handled by the SVCF and the Pleasanton Weekly.

A total of 75% of all dollars raised in the 2012 Holiday Fund campaign will go in equal amounts to Axis Community Health, Open Heart Kitchen, Pleasanton Partnerships in Education (PPIE) Foundation, Valley Humane Society and ValleyCare Health System. Another 25% of the contributions will go to Hope Hospice, Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, REACH, Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation and Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley.

It's been our most ambitious campaign ever. Despite a modest economic recovery in the Tri-Valley, these are still-troubling times with unemployment in Alameda County, alone, at more than 8%. Further, the agencies we have targeted for assistance have found that they now have many more to serve and often fewer dollars from their regular donors who have found themselves at times facing financial, employment and health care challenges and uncertainties.

Although the 2012 campaign has ended, contributions will still be accepted through February. These donations should be directed to:

Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund

c/o Silicon Valley Community Foundation

2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300

Mountain View, CA 94040

Checks should be made payable to Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

There is also an opportunity to donate through Pay Pal online at www.siliconvalleycf.org/pleasantonweeklyholidayfund.

All donations will be acknowledged shortly after being received.