It's a timely plea, with many charitable organizations still faced with diminished contributions as a result of a waning recession while needing increased funds to meet a growing number of those in need. Even though we are seeing an economic rebound, the good times have not reached the nonprofit caregivers that depend on public contributions to serve our community.
Contributions to the 2014 Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund will be distributed in two tiers, with 75% of all dollars raised going 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, Agape Villages, REACH, Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation and Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley.
For more information about the beneficiaries, see the story.
Again this year, the Weekly is partnering with Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), which will handle all finances related to the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund. This will allow donors to take advantage of a tax deduction for the dollars they contribute through the foundation's 501(c)(3) status to the fullest extent of the law, but your contributions must be made by Dec. 31 in order to qualify as 2014 charitable donations. Even so, those who contribute by Jan. 15, when the current campaign ends, can include those donations on their 2015 tax returns.
SVCF, headquartered in Mountain View, is no stranger to Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley. In recent years, the community foundation and its donors have awarded grants to Amador Valley and Horizon high schools, Axis Community Health, PPIE, Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies, Tri-Valley Animal Rescue and the Valley Humane Society.
Also, the Pleasanton Weekly is once again absorbing all costs of the campaign including donating manpower, advertising space and promotional material. That means that every dollar goes directly to the 10 nonprofits with no administrative expenses.
As the Holiday Fund is a donor advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, please direct your donations to:
Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund
c/o Silicon Valley Community Foundation
2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300
Mountain View, California 94040
Checks should be made payable to Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
There is also an opportunity to donate through PayPal online at the SVCF website. All donations will be acknowledged shortly after being received.
And a big "thank you" to Valley Real Estate Network for raising over $6,000 for the Holiday Fund at its annual holiday party, and to Bay East Association of Realtors Foundation for matching the first $2,500 donated!
