Holiday Fund 2004 Holiday Fund 2004 (January 14, 2005)

As of Jan. 12, 2005, 219 donors have contributed $33,435 to the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund. With the match, a total of $66,870 has been raised for the eight 2004 beneficiaries:
Axis Community Health Center: Provides medical, mental health, addiction counseling and health education services to more than 20,000 patients and clients each year, regardless of their ability to pay. An estimated 70 percent have no medical insurance or are underinsured, including some that have recently lost their jobs and health benefits.
Kaleidoscope Activity Center: For almost 25 years, this center has provided an after-school and summer day camp program for developmentally disabled children and young adults ages 5 to 22, operating out of Dublin. Participants also go on outings throughout the Bay Area.
Open Heart Kitchen: As the only nonprofit free soup kitchen in the Tri-Valley area, this service provides nutritious meals for low-income people in the Pleasanton-Livermore area at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasanton and Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore. Visit www.openheartkitchen.org.
Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council: An all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, PCAC supports the community in pursuing facilities and environments where people may pursue all the arts. It also provides world-class concerts and outreach programs for young people.
Ryan Comer Cancer Resource Center of ValleyCare: Located inside the ValleyCare Health Library, it offers personalized reference assistance and access to medical databases, some in other languages, including Web sites and articles, plus books, videos and models. The library has both a librarian and nurse on staff to help with research.
Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley: Located in the Pleasanton Senior Center, this service offers a Friendly Visiting program, a registry for finding caregivers, health screening, counseling and referrals, as well as case managers to assess a senior's needs. Its goal is to keep seniors living independently.
Tri-Valley Haven: Runs a domestic violence shelter as well as a homeless shelter for families, a rape crisis center and a 24-hour hotline. Its mission is to aid those who have experienced abuse and offers counseling, a legal clinic and other practical advice.
Valley Humane Society: This nonprofit group is volunteer-driven, with the mission to educate on responsible pet ownership. It assists in rescuing and placing abandoned or injured animals and operates an adoption center in downtown Pleasanton. It does not euthanize unless health problems dictate.

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