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Uploaded: Tuesday, December 25, 2012, 6:30 AM
Updated: Monday, December 31, 2012, 7:39 AM
On final day of 2012, Pleasanton Weekly's Holiday Fund needs your help
10 nonprofits will benefit from contributions to this year's campaign
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 | On the last day in 2012, what better time is there to consider turning your thoughts to supporting local nonprofit agencies and services that care for those in need not only during the holiday season, but year round.
The Pleasanton Weekly 2012 Holiday Fund offers that opportunity. The contributions you provide will go to Axis Community Health, Open Heart Kitchen, Pleasanton Partnerships in Education (PPIE) Foundation, Valley Humane Society and ValleyCare Health System, as well as to Hope Hospice, Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, REACH, Sandra J Wing Therapies and Senior Support Services of the Tri-Valley.
This year we are partnering with Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), which will handle all finances related to the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund. That will allow donors to take advantage of a tax deduction for the dollars they contribute through the Foundation's 501(c)(3) status. SVCF and the Pleasanton Weekly will handle all costs of the campaign. That means that every dollar will go directly to the 10 nonprofits with no administrative expenses.
Each of these nonprofits desperately needs a financial boost. Despite a modest economic recovery in the Tri-Valley, these are still-troubling times with unemployment in Alameda County, alone, at more than 8%.
Needless to add, the so-called "fiscal cliff" is adding to uncertainties for these nonprofits as well as for all of us. In addition, the agencies we have targeted for assistance have found that they now have many more to serve as well as fewer dollars from their own regular donors who have found themselves at times facing financial, employment and health care challenges and uncertainties.
Last year, when the state of the economy was perhaps even more dire, Pleasanton Weekly readers rallied to the call and contributed $104,000 in direct donations to the Holiday Fund. Help us do it again. Because Silicon Valley Community Foundation is handling the finances of this year's Holiday Fund, donations should be made payable to that organization and sent to:
Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund
c/o Silicon Valley Community Foundation
2440 W. El Camino Real, Ste. 300
Mountain View, CA 94040
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.--Pleasanton Weekly staff. Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Tilly, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 8:52 am Sorry, I was not able to make my usual donation to the PW's Holiday Fund this year. I have to divert that money to paying for paper bags at the grocery store. Maybe some of the enviro-Nazi's in the audience would like to make a contribution to make up the shortfall.
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Posted by Kathleen Ruegsegger, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 8:56 am
Kathleen Ruegsegger is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com Jeb, Is there an option to donate to just one of the organizations listed? If not, can this be considered in future campaigns?
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Posted by PW Reader, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 11:54 am Kathleen, Why wouldn't you just donate directly to that organization, then?
I think the whole point of the campaign is to foster the sense of community, of contributing en masse to a diverse selection of non-profits designed to appeal to a larger audience.
Unless your point is to see your name in print as a donor, directing your funds to a single organization (besides being a bookkeeping nightmare) through a community campaign defeats the purpose. Most organizations do list their donors over a set amount of money donated when contributed directly.
So, you can do both--donate directly to your favorite non-profit, and donate to the Holiday Fund to contribute to several. Or you can do one or the other; I chose both.
Happy New Year and best wishes to you and yours and may all of our local non-profits get healthy donations today and in 2013!
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Posted by Some Dude, a resident of the Walnut Hills neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 2:14 pm Sorry, I was not able to make a donation to the Holiday Fund this year, since I apparently make less than ten cents an hour and the burden of a bag tax makes me cry like a little baby.
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Posted by liberalism is a disease, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 2:34 pm
liberalism is a disease is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com some dude, I'm sure you are paid based on your worth. Good luck in the new year and be careful not to leave those plastic bags on your head for so long.
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Posted by Some Dude, a resident of the Walnut Hills neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 2:38 pm Whoa--just mention "crybaby" and look who shows up. Sorry, liberalism is a disease, I didn't mean to summon you. You can go back to being unemployed and idle now.
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Posted by Kathleen Ruegsegger, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Kathleen Ruegsegger is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com PW Reader, We did. Our donations, where allowed (for example, I don't know what Open Heart Kitchen will do), are anonymous. The reason I asked the question is that perhaps not everyone necessarily wants to support all the organizations on the list.
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Posted by Stace, a resident of the Amador Estates neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 3:28 pm I agree that what is needed is more specific language so that people know what they're donating to. Also, having names and resumes of organization leaders might help us dig up a thing or two that could better help our decisions.
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Posted by Kathleen Ruegsegger, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Kathleen Ruegsegger is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com Cute "Stace," I think PW Reader had it right. Do one, do the other, do both. Just do something.
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Posted by Taxed, a resident of the Valley Trails neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 1:40 pm I am forced to give my money to Obama Care... Sorry everyone!
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Posted by taxpayer, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 4:14 pm Stace is not so far off. If you take the time to read up about these organizations you will find lots of interesting information.
Such as:
CEO of United Way made $675,000 plus bonus in 2011.
CEO of Red Cross made $951,957 in 2011.
CEO of Unicef made $1,900,000 plus expenses plus Rolls Royce. Oh yeah, 4.1 pennies of each dollar donated to Unicef goes back out the door to help.
The head of the Salvation Army made $13,000 and over 90% of the money taken in want out to help.
Lots of other organizations have good records as well. Why give one single cent to those kinds of CEO salaries? Is that really where you want your money to go?
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Posted by Julie Testa, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Jan 2, 2013 at 7:32 am REACH is one of the non-profits who will benefit from the Holiday Fund please go to our website to read about this unique grassroots TriValley nonprofit. Web Link
REACH serves our TriValley special needs population. Our support goes beyond the individuals who live in our 9 homes, and beyond the Tri-Valley community of disabled persons who we subsidize in making activities affordable. REACH is a resource and a safety net for families who worry about their loved ones future. Parents who know their special needs children will outlive them, and siblings who are raising their own families, take comfort in knowing REACH provides a safe supportive, but independent, living environment. The more we can reach the community to let them know we exist, and what we offer, the more the extended special needs community benefits through peace of mind.
REACH has very low overhead. Ongoing housing costs, mortgages and expenses are met with the very low rents paid by our low-income residents. Maintenance and special projects are gifted through community service groups. Management of the organization is met through the dedication of non-paid board members who wear many hats. REACH is amazingly efficient with our financial resources; every dollar donated goes to serve our Tri-Valley special needs population directly, no salaries.
I am proud of this organization. Pleasanton can be proud of this grassroots all volunteer organization.
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