United Way’s “Adopt a Nonprofit” program was a big success.   More than a dozen companies brightened the holidays by fulfilling the wish lists of 40 nonprofits throughout the region.

The Fairfield Target Team brightened the holidays with a tree and toys for the Children’s Nurturing Project

Wish lists included requests for toys for needy children, as well as clothing and kitchen items for shelters that serve the homeless and victims of domestic-violence.   Some companies and their employee volunteers hosted holiday parties at their adopted nonprofits, delivering wish list gifts while visiting with the nonprofit and their clients.

Liz Nickels, who works at Building Futures with Women & Children, one of the participating nonprofits, said, “Over the years, I have continued to be moved when I hear a mom say ‘Thank you, this has been the best Christmas we’ve ever had.’  Imagine that! Christmas in a homeless shelter!  It is the generosity of the donors and community partners who provide toys and other material goods, food, money, gift cards and their time that allows us to create very special holidays for the women and children in our shelters.”

Special kudos to Target, which fulfilled 26 wish lists and donated 50 decorated Christmas trees to deck the halls at local nonprofits. Fisher-Price donated 500 toys, which were distributed to agencies that serve needy children and their families. United Way’s Emerging Leaders program also stepped forward to fulfill a wish list.

United Way and our nonprofit partners would like to thank all the participating companies for their gifts:

• Bank of America
• Black and Veatch
• Bloomingdale’s
• BRE Properties
• Clear Channel Radio
• Cooley Godward Kronish LLP
• Genentech
• The Oakland Raiders
• O’Melveny & Myers LLP
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Six Flags
• UPS
• Weatherbill

Get your company involved — in February, United Way will organize our next corporate volunteer/donation opportunity. Contact Aditi Aggarwal at 415-808-4407 or aaggarwal@uwba.org for more information.