MILPITAS, Calif., Nov. 14 -- The Family Giving Tree (FGT) and Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi today announced a new partnership aimed at fulfilling the holiday wishes of over 35,000 Bay Area children in need. Together, Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation and The Family Giving Tree hope to expand the donor base and outreach of the program, providing more gifts to children in need.
Local charities are providing support to more families than ever, due to the number of job layoffs and the sluggish economy in the Bay Area. This is true around the country as well.
Founded in 1990, the Family Giving Tree has been working with Bay Area businesses to host "wish trees" each year. Employees and patrons of these host companies are encouraged to select a gift tag -- printed with the name, age and special wish of an individual child -- and return a new, wrapped gift that fits the request with the tag securely attached.
Bobblehead Doll Promotion
The Always Dream Foundation is offering a special incentive to the first 2,500 donors. By visiting http://www.alwaysdream.org, donors making a contribution of $30 or more will receive a limited edition Kristi Yamaguchi bobblehead collectible. Proceeds will help purchase additional gifts for the holiday program.
"My Foundation adopts several children's charities every year, providing gifts and hosting holiday parties," stated Kristi Yamaguchi. "We wanted to expand our efforts throughout the Bay Area and we learned of the Family Giving Tree program. It's a great example of how two organizations with similar goals can work together to better serve our community."
"We're thrilled to work with Kristi and her Always Dream Foundation," said Jennifer Cullenbine, Executive Director of the Family Giving Tree. "There are more children than ever who might not have a new gift to open this holiday season. We hope this partnership will help us reach more children in the Bay Area."
About The Family Giving Tree
The Family Giving Tree is a non-denominational, non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the life of children. FGT grew out of a class project assigned in 1990 to MBA student Jennifer Cullenbine with the intention "to add value to other's lives" and benefited 350 families in East Palo Alto. In 2001, the Family Giving Tree helped over 35,000 Bay Area children and their families through 150 social service agencies in six counties with its holiday wish program and back-to-school backpack drive co-sponsored with RAFT.
The Family Giving Tree is publicly supported 65% of its Operating Budget coming from private donations (4500 donors in 2001). The remaining 35% is raised through grants and gifts from local corporations and foundations. For more information or to make a donation, please visit http://www.familygivingtree.org.
About The Always Dream Foundation
Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi created the Always Dream Foundation in 1996, with the purpose of helping support the hopes and dreams of children. Since its inception, the Always Dream Foundation has provided grants in excess of $1 Million to a wide range of children's charities in California, Nevada and Hawaii.
