Give-a Gift... Fostering Children’s Future
The SCMAA’s mission of “building healthy communities” is
represented beautifully by the Give-a-Gift Community Program.
The SCMAA is proud to have addressed the need of children in the
foster care system for over 57 years. The need in Sonoma County
is immense, with over 500 youth in foster care or group homes.
Foster care youth range in age from infants to teenagers. Through
no fault of their own, these children have been separated from their
families due to abuse, neglect or abandonment..
The holidays can be a stressful time for the children separated from their families. The Give-a-Gift Program provides holiday gifts to over 200 youth in foster care who may otherwise not receive a Christmas present.
In 2007 we expanded the Give-a Gift program to benefit emancipated youth heading off to college. Kids we know look forward to their 18th birthday, but for foster youth, it can be a nightmare. At this age they emancipate from the system and are no longer eligible for funds. The passing of Assembly Bill 12 (California Fostering Connections to Success Act) will help. This Bill allows for eligible 18-21 year olds to receive funding from foster care; but will take until 2014 to be fully implemented. This year, due to the generosity of our donors, the Give-a Gift committee was able to donate 20 laptops to these emancipated youth to begin college with the necessary tools to succeed.
We send a heartfelt thank you to our generous donors and hope that additional members in our community will be moved to help. Your donation directly helps brighten the holidays for foster children and/or launch a successful college future! Send a donation online or by check for the Alliance to purchase a gift, or computer on your behalf for our emancipated youth!
If you prefer to mail your contribution by check or credit card, please print out this response card and mail to the address specified.
Please join us Dec. 2 for a heartwarming day of wrapping holiday gifts for Foster youth in our community. Click Here for details.
We are happy to receive donations anytime, but for your donation to be applied to this year's holiday gifts, we encourage it to be made by November 25th.
Should you have any questions or if you would like to participate in the gift giving, please contact Foster Children’s Give-a-Gift Program Chair by sending an email to giveagiftteam@yahoo.com.