Children's Fund Kicks off 25th Celebration of Giving Campaign

Residents brought toys by the dozens during the kick off to the 25th annual Celebration of Giving Campaign headed by the Children's Fund. This year Redlands AYSO - Region 50 soccer teams helped kick off the celebration on Nov. 16 with their "Kids Helping Kids" toy drive. Over 100 unwrapped toys were donated in the drive, confirmed Karen Blanco, Children's Fund Marketing Manager. Erin Phillips, President and CEO of Children's Fund, said, “Teaming up with Redlands AYSO is a way to educate our youth that giving back is very rewarding. The parents will take their child shopping for a gift that they would like to receive, and then the child donates that gift to the collection box. What a great message!” The toy drive marked the second year Redlands AYSO has participated in the Celebration of Giving Campaign. Trish Aurelio, Redlands AYSO Assistant Regional Commissioner said, “Redlands AYSO is excited to partner with Children's Fund again this year, and we welcome everyone to participate in the Kids Helping Kids Toy Drive - not just soccer players and their parents, but the entire community as well,” states Trish Aurelio, Assistant Regional Commissioner. To mark the occasion, 89.7 KSGN was on site at the Redlands Sports Complex during the kickoff event. KSGN Program Director Bryan O'Neal said, “Making a difference is what KSGN stands for. Together, we can put smiles on the faces of underprivileged children this holiday season.” KSGN brought their spinning wheel for prize opportunities. "The idea was that the child was to pick out what they would like to receive and then put it in the box for a child who would not otherwise receive a toy," said Blanco of the theme. The support from the community was high, Blanco explained, with this anecdote: "One 10-year-old had hand-carved a toy because he wanted to make sure that someone got a toy for Christmas. He said, 'I just wish I could see the look on the boy’s face when he gets this.'" Blanco also shared that this year Children's Fund is working with local Girl Scouts troops who are collecting donations of toys, and on Dec. 10 will deliver them to Children's Fund at the organization's warehouse in San Bernardino. For their participation in the drive, Girl Scouts will earn a toy drive patch, said Blanco. Those who are interested in donating new, unwrapped toys may drop them off through Dec. 18 at the Children's Fund warehouse, located at 1140 E. Cooley Ave., San Bernardino. [END] Kids Helping Kids Date: Saturday, November 16, 2013 Time: 7:30 a.m. Google Map Event Location: Redlands AYSO Soccer Complex Address: 1790 Dearborn Redlands CA 92374 Description: Drop by the Redlands AYSO Soccer Complex w/ a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the 25th Annual Celebration of Giving Campaign. CONTACT INFO Email: flybythebook@yahoo.com Website: www.childrensfundonline.org PR: For more information contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Karen Blanco, PR & Marketing Manager 909.379.6026 REDLANDS AYSO SOCCER TEAM KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON FOR CHILDREN’S FUND Kids Helping Kids is Theme for Gift/Toy Drive SAN BERNARDINO, California (Monday, November 4, 2013) – Join the Redlands AYSO – Region 50 Soccer teams on Saturday, November 16, 2013 as they kick-off the holiday season with their “Kids Helping Kids” toy drive that will benefit Children’s Fund in their 25th Annual Celebration of Giving Campaign. A new, unwrapped gift can be donated from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Redlands Sports Complex located at 1790 Dearborn, at the corner of Dearborn & San Bernardino Ave. Children’s Fund has been collecting holiday gifts for underprivileged children for 25 years. In a region where one in four youth live in poverty, it is a way to help bring joy to a child during the holiday season. “Teaming up with Redlands AYSO is a way to educate our youth that giving back is very rewarding,” says Erin Phillips, president & CEO of Children’s Fund. “The parents will take their child shopping for a gift that they would like to receive, and then the child donates that gift to the collection box. What a great message!” This is the second year that Redlands AYSO has participated in the Celebration of Giving Campaign. “Redlands AYSO is excited to partner with Children's Fund again this year, and we welcome everyone to participate in the Kids Helping Kids Toy Drive - not just soccer players and their parents but the entire community as well,” states Trish Aurelio, asst. regional commissioner. Family Friendly 89.7 KSGN will be at the Redlands Sports Complex during this Kids Helping Kids Toy Drive, encouraging the public to bring a gift donation. “Making a difference is what KSGN stands for,” states Bryan O’Neal, program director of KSGN. “Together, we can put smiles on faces of underprivileged children this holiday season.” KSGN will have their spinning wheel for prize opportunities. Teams bringing toys may have the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance which will be played on air at a later date. Created in 1986, Children’s Fund is a non-profit whose mission is to prevent child abuse in our community; to ensure that at-risk children who are abused, neglected, impoverished, or abandoned receive adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care and education; and to provide equal opportunity for social development for these children. Since its inception, Children’s Fund has served more than 1.3 million children. For more information on Children’s Fund or to learn how you can give a child hope for brighter tomorrows by making a donation, go to www.childrensfundonline.org or call 909.379.0000. Follow us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/W4Wymf KSGN 89.7 covers a population of over four million people in the Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) and Orange County, with a signal at 89.7 FM covering more than 1700 square miles. KSGN can also be heard around the world on smartphones and at www.ksgn.com. 89.7 FM KSGN is an independent nonprofit organization, not affiliated with any denomination or institution. More than 100. 10 year old boy that hand carved a gift for a child because he said he wanted to make something so that someone who didn't have a toy would be able to have a toy. "I just wish I could see their face when they see this toy." Continuing Kids helping toys. Working with girl scouts 1st year Collection of toys They get a patch to sew on to their vests saying "toy drive" so they earned that patch because they helped with toy drive ~30 girl scouts at our warehouse to deliver toys they've collected photo shoot Dec. 10 3:30 warehouse Cooley Ave. San Bernardino - 1140 E. Cooley Ave., San Bernardino already several boxes Donations until 18.