| Opinion - Friday, January 29, 2010
Readers opened their hearts and wallets
Despite the economic downturn, donations to the Voice Holiday Fund remained strong this year, nearly matching the record-setting total contributions in 2008-09.
In fact, broken down by category, readers gave more this year than ever before: 145 Voice readers contributed nearly $49,000, up from just over $40,000 last year. With an additional $20,000 from the Wakerly family, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, the total raised this year is $68,897 — or $9,842 for each of the seven participating nonprofit organizations supported by the Holiday Fund.
The top donations this year included one for $2,700, two for $2,100 and another for $2,000, and a number of others of $1,000 or more. The Mountain View Mom's Cookie Party continued its longtime support of the Holiday Fund with a donation of $710.
The Holiday Fund is a partnership of the Voice, the foundation donors and Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which processes all contributions. No fees or other charges are assessed to any Holiday Fund donation; 100 percent of all funds raised go directly to the participating nonprofit organizations.
Next month, thanks to your generous support, each of the following agencies will receive checks for $9,842:
Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos
CSA assists homeless families and seniors with short-term housing, medical care and more. The nonprofit is a cooperative effort of 17 faith-based communities in Mountain View and Los Altos.
Community Health Awareness Council
CHAC serves Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and seven school districts. Among other things, it offers school-based programs to protect students from high-risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse.
Mountain View RotaCare Clinic
The RotaCare Clinic provides uninsured local residents with medical care and medications and is frequently the last resort for this underserved demographic.
Day Worker Center of Mountain View
The Day Worker Center provides a secure place for workers and employers to negotiate wages. It serves 50 or more workers per day with jobs, English lessons and guidance.
Support Network for Battered Women
This group operates a 24-hour bilingual hotline and a safe shelter for women and their children. It also offers counseling and other services for families dealing with domestic violence.
Community School of Music and Arts
CSMA provides hands-on arts and music projects in the classrooms of the Mountain View Whisman School District. Nearly 40 percent of the students are low-income, and 28 percent have limited English proficiency.
Partners for New Generations
Partners for New Generations matches adult volunteer mentors with at-risk youth in the Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills area.
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