Coastal voices: Matching funds magnify holiday giving

The downturn in the economy has many of our local families and elders worried about facing a very difficult winter.

Recognizing the climate of concern in our community, the Wild Rivers Community Foundation has launched the Wild Rivers Holiday Partnership to provide extra resources to our region this holiday season.

As board members of the Foundation, we believe it is important that we, as the local community foundation, help in these difficult times by raising resources and calling upon those who can give to join us in making sure this holiday season is bright for everyone in our community.

We already have commitments, many from outside the region, of over $10,000 from 10 foundation and business partners for this effort and we are asking our community to join the foundation to match these contributions with local donations. Every gift received from a community member will be matched dollar-for-dollar with the funds that are committed from our partners.

Grants will be awarded to organizations that already provide a holiday program, such as holiday food boxes, toys for children, holiday meals, gifts for seniors, etc. We will target nonprofits, faith-based organizations, volunteer fire departments and similar groups, especially those in outlying areas that already struggle to raise resources for their holiday giving.

We know the need will be greater than ever this year and these funds can be used to help meet that additional need or to add to a giving program, such as add turkeys to food boxes or provide gifts for teens — a population often overlooked during the holidays.

Donors to the partnership will also be invited to a Holiday Celebration in December, where checks will be awarded and we will thank those who work tirelessly — collecting donations, raising funds, preparing meals, wrapping and delivering presents — to make the holidays joyous for those in need.

The foundation believes we must celebrate this spirit of giving in our community, neighbor helping neighbor and all of us doing what we can, especially when times are tough. We ask for your support.

To make a gift to the partnership that will be matched one-to-one, please send a donation to Wild Rivers Community Foundation, 501 H St., Suite 5, Crescent City, CA 95531.

If you represent an organization that has an existing holiday program in need of assistance and want to be included in our giving, if you would like to join us as a funding partner contributing matching funds, or for other information on this Holiday Partnership, please call 707-218-6262.

Matching funds for the Holiday Partnership will be provided by our funding partners:

• Cal-Ore Life Flight

• Caldwell Sund Family Fund of the Wild Rivers Community Foundation

• Coast Central Credit Union

• Gordon Elwood Foundation

• Green Diamond Resource Company

• Humboldt Area Foundation

• Smith River Rancheria

• Patricia D. and William B. Smullin Foundation

• St. Joseph Health System, Humboldt County

• St. Joseph Foundation, Orange