Special Thanks To Our 2008 Co-Sponsors:

Co-Sponsorship $5,000

For the past 19 years the Oregon based Christmas for Kids Foundation has sponsored Christmas for Kids, a non-religious charity outreach program. We raise the funds for our project in the form of donated merchandise, employees’ time, and of course cash contributions. Over the past several years we have developed a partnership with several sponsors to make this event truly memorable for the kids.

The goal of our program is to take underprivileged grade school children from the greater Portland metro area on a holiday shopping trip at the Hollywood Fred Meyer in NE Portland. Many of these kids do not have shoes that fit or even a warm coat for winter. Children are nominated by either their school principal or counselor and represent over 70 schools and 12 districts. In 2007 our members personally shopped with over 228 children and helped purchase needed items for another 485 siblings.

Children are matched with one or more volunteers; who then take the child shopping. Prior to the children arriving, parents complete a "Wish List" giving sizes for clothes and family needs. These “Wish Lists” are not your typical Holiday lists and in fact most of them do not even include toys. The volunteer takes the child shopping for basic necessities such as underwear, shoes, boots and clothing. Each child shopper is given a budget to spend, which is based on the total number of children in the family ($100 - $ 480).

We are starting to solicit for donations and have already confirmed with many of our sponsors to help out again. Our shopping day for 2008 is Wednesday, December 3rd. Our 2008 fund raising goal is $65,000; which will allow us to take at least 225 children shopping and help many more siblings at the same time. These donations, coupled with Columbia Sportswear’s generous contribution of a coat for each child, will make this year’s event a huge success!

Put yourself on Santa's "nice" list by donating today!