Spirit of Generosity and Sharing Shines Through During 2010 Holidays are for Sharing Campaign

Hope, the one thing that had thus far gotten the Lanterman community through 2010 and was keeping it going looking towards 2011. And as the 2010 Holidays are for Sharing campaign got underway, and the requests for assistance from service coordinators on behalf of their families during the holidays kept growing, the only thing the Center could do was hope that once again the Lanterman community would rise to the challenge and that our combined efforts would again be able to meet the expressed needs during the holiday season.

As always, the Lanterman community came through and made a world of difference during the 2010 holiday season providing gifts for children and adult clients who otherwise would have gone without, holiday meals for families, and donations for the Help Fund that provides emergency assistance throughout the year for Lanterman families in need.

Through the Adopt-a-Family program 52 families, most with five family members or more, were adopted by members of the Lanterman community, including the Pan American Optimist Club. Toys for Tots donated around 2,000 toys; Westlake Lutheran Church, through the Christmas Angels Program, provided nearly 100 presents, continuing a nearly decade-long commitment; Accredited Nursing Care held a toy drive collecting three large boxes totaling about 200 toys; and the Alliance for Children’s Rights donated approximately 400 toys and gifts for adult clients. These donations were coupled with a large donation of infant and toddler clothing as well as gifts and toys from individual donors. The total of in-kind donations for the 2010 holiday campaign was valued at $67,000.

The greater Lanterman community, including current and former families, service providers, current and past board members, and many others affiliated with Lanterman donated over $42,000 during the 2010 campaign year. A special thanks to the following organizations: Accredited Nursing Care; Enright & Ocheltree, LLP; Shema Dougall Design Associates; City National Bank; Optima Family Services, Inc.; Ruth Church McKay Foundation; and Vagthol’s Residential Care Center, Inc.

Lanterman staff through a combination of payroll deductions, craft and bake sales, raffles, recycling and other initiatives contributed nearly $8,600 to Holidays are for Sharing and the Help Fund. And $637 was raised through Cars 4 Causes.

Executive Director Diane Anand says, “The greater Lanterman community has time and again demonstrated a spirit of generosity, caring and sharing for others during the holiday season, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for everyone who contributed whatever they could to support the members of our community who need assistance during these challenging economic times.”

It’s never too early to think about an individual, employer, service club, or other organization that could expand and/or enrich the 2011 Holidays are for Sharing Campaign. Please let Elizabeth Selkin know if you have a referral to be included in the 2011 Campaign. Selkin can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 213.252.4926.