As holiday shoppers filled local Target stores searching for the perfect present, Target team members celebrated the season by giving back to the community.

A group delivered gifts, played games and decorated with kids at Abode in Fremont, a United Way partner organization. Each Bay Area Target store also donated $300 worth of wish list items to benefit families served by many of the nonprofits who partner with United Way through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Samaritan House in San Mateo, one such organization, reflected on the impact of Target’s gifts.

“In 2010 Samaritan House distributed holiday toys and gifts to 3,300 children and teens in need in our community through our Holiday Program,” said Kitty Lopez, Samaritan House Executive Director.  “We could not have hoped to accomplish that same goal this year without the help of Target and its partnership with United Way. Thank you for helping us put smiles on the faces of those less fortunate.”

Wish lists included winter clothing, toys, household items, strollers for new families, and gifts for teens living in shelters. Target also gave families a special holiday experience- the chance to see presents waiting under their own Christmas tree through the Share a Tree program. United Way helped coordinate this program, allowing more than 20 Bay Area nonprofits to provide a tree to a struggling family. Thirty-six sparkling trees adorned with ornaments made the holidays a little brighter for Bay Area residents.

Thank you to Target and each and every store team member for your commitment to the community!

Macys.com volunteers happily gave their time to make the holidays a little bit brighter for families facing the challenges of homelessness. The group visited Hamilton Family Center, a United Way partner which provides shelter, youth programming and support services to homeless families in San Francisco.

Volunteers wrapped holiday gifts for kids, and delivered more than 100 winter coats, making this winter much warmer for many children. The volunteers also served food at a holiday party for First Avenues, a Hamilton program that helps families transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

Hamilton Family Center was an especially happy place this holiday season. Thanks to a generous gift from Salesforce.com’s Marc and Lynne Benioff, Hamilton will be able to move all current residents into permanent housing in time for Christmas. Not only will this provide more than 70 families with stable homes, it will also open up shelter space for those on Hamilton’s long waiting list, many of whom are living on the street.

Thank you to the Benioffs, Macys.com volunteers, and to all who give back to the community! Happy holidays!

Read more about the Benioffs’ gift and the impact it will have for homeless families in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Last month, 20 Bay Area teens spent a week producing videos to help promote United Way’s efforts to tackle Bay Area poverty.  Vote now to determine which video will air on AT&T U-verse cable system.

The teens spent five intense days working on the United Way Video Challenge, which was generously sponsored by AT&T.  Rachel Choi, a 16-year old who participated in the project, said learning how to produce a video and then seeing a finished product was rewarding.

“I didn’t know that much about poverty, but through this project I realized what a big impact it has on the world,” Rachel added.  “You can be just fine one day, and then lose everything you have. I hope my video will make people more aware so that they will be more motivated to help.”
Rachel’s team produced this video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

VOTE HERE!

If you’ve been to Oakland lately, you may have seen advertisements on bus and BART about Bank on Oakland.   These are part of our new marketing campaign, which warns against payday lenders and check cashing stores, while promoting safe banking practices.  The ad campaign began this June and will continue through September. 

Bank on Oakland connects “unbanked” households with mainstream financial products and services, so they can begin saving, build a credit history, gain access to lower-cost credit, and invest for their future.  Unbanked individuals can lose up to $800 a year in check cashers’ fees just to cash their paychecks, but with a  checking account they can avoid these fees.  Bank on Oakland is program of United Way and Operation HOPE in partnership with banks, community organizations, and local governments.

If you or someone you know wants to learn more about getting a bank account through Bank on Oakland visit www.bankonoakland.ca.gov or call (510) 434-5294.

Yesterday evening, United Way of the Bay Area honored Dodge & Cox and UPS with its highest tribute, the 2011 Spirit of the Bay Award. Each year, United Way’s prestigious Spirit of the Bay award recognizes two Bay Area employers – one large and one small – that exceeded all others in community involvement through their partnership with United Way. 

BRE Properties' Connie Moore (2010 winner) congratulates Dodge & Cox's Kevin Johnson

  
Dodge & Cox has had a steadily growing fundraising campaign every year, with increased volunteering by their employees and management’s strong support of United Way’s mission. Their 2010 campaign focused on United Way’s goal to reduce poverty by half by 2020, both informing and inspiring employees to support United Way’s community programs.  Actively involved with United Way for over 60 years, Dodge & Cox is a valued partner, raising more than $790,000 for vital human and health services in 2010. 

Bank of America's Gary Cumpston (left, 2010 winner) congratulates UPS' Todd Galloway, joined by United Way's Anne Wilson (right)

Last year, UPS surpassed the one-billion dollar mark in total donations through their nationwide United Way workplace campaigns, which began in 1982.  Here in the Bay Area, UPS is a strong partner of United Way, engaging in a wide variety of ways – through volunteerism, employee giving, event sponsorship, and corporate gifts. Their commitment to Week of Caring and sponsorship of Hometown Huddle are just two examples of UPS’ leadership in the community. Their 2010 campaign raised more than $750,000 for community services in the Bay Area.

Bay Area employers submitted applications for the 2011 Sprit of the Bay award, which were reviewed by an independent evaluation committee composed of representatives from Bay Area corporations.   Read the full press release.