Spirit Of Giving Partners With The Junior League Of Boca Raton To Announce The 14th Annual Holiday Gift Drive

More than 3,500 economically disadvantaged local children will benefit from the event, which is now accepting toy and money donations. End Quote

West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL (1888PressRelease) September 26, 2015 - Spirit of Giving and the Junior League of Boca Raton are proud to announce the 14th Annual Holiday Gift Drive, benefitting more than 3,500 economically disadvantaged children in the Palm Beach County area. In partnership with more than 35 local organizations, Spirit of Giving and the Junior League are working to collect wish lists and donations in order to make thousands of holiday dreams come true.

"The annual Holiday Gift Drive is a grand community-wide project," says Ann Rutherford, Board President of Spirit of Giving. "From a small event in a garage just 14 years ago, the gift drive has grown immensely thanks to the help and support of our wonderful community. The Holiday Gift Drive is an event that truly embodies our slogan - 'Charity. Community. Collaboration.'"

"It is one of the biggest collaborative projects we do each year and an impressive example of what is possible when we all join together," adds Karen Krumholtz, Spirit of Giving's previous Executive Director and leader of last year's Holiday Gift Drive. "We are lucky to have been able to provide gifts to so many children in previous years and thankful to all those who continue to support this wonderful community initiative."

The very first Holiday Gift Drive was held in 2001 when Barb and Dick Schmidt, founders of Spirit of Giving, asked their friends to bring a toy to donate at their house holiday party. The response from their guests was overwhelming and the Schmidt's were compelled to continue their efforts. With the need for toy donations growing each year, donations grew immensely. The enormity of the work involved in collecting, sorting, storing and distributing gifts became so great that the Junior League of Boca Raton was asked to partner in the event seven years ago.

There are three ways for the community to get involved in the Holiday Gift Drive. First, volunteers have the opportunity to sponsor a child. After receiving children's wish lists from its member organizations, Spirit of Giving creates holiday ornaments with the name of the child and gift they have asked for. Volunteers who decide to sponsor a child are responsible for fulfilling that ornament's gift request. Volunteers who choose not to pick an ornament can still be involved by either donating a new unwrapped gift or by making a cash or gift certificate donation.

All gifts and donations must be received by December 12, 2015. Drop off locations include Boca Raton City Hall, any Boca Raton Fire Station, Junior League of Boca Raton, Mercedes-Benz of Delray, Lord & Taylor Boca Raton, Spodak Dental Group and Canyon Optical Group.

Spirit of Giving is also gearing up to return as the Official Charity Sponsor for the Boca Raton Bowl. Touted as the first ever college bowl game in Palm Beach County, the nationally-televised ESPN event garnered millions of viewers for its inaugural game in 2014 and almost 30,000 people in attendance. Spirit of Giving worked with its member organizations to give more than 5,000 children and their families' tickets to the historic game. This year, Spirit of Giving plans to expand their efforts by inviting more children and their families through its member network to experience the Boca Bowl. The Boca Raton Bowl returns to Florida Atlantic University Stadium on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015, with tickets on sale to the general public in early October.

If you are interested in getting involved with the 2015 Boca Bowl or need more information about the Holiday Gift Drive, please contact Spirit of Giving Network at 561-385-0144 or wendy ( @ ) spiritofgivingnetwork dot com dot

About Spirit of Giving
Now in its seventh year, Spirit of Giving unites more than 60 nonprofits in Palm Beach County to help facilitate and create programs and alliances that promote lasting change in the community. It is a forum where nonprofits and community supporters share information, resources and best practices. The group's objective is to streamline the delivery of services to the community by working collaboratively to solve issues and improve operations through internal and external partnerships. Community programs that Spirit of Giving manages include acting as the Official Charity Partner of The Boca Raton Bowl, Holiday Gift Drive, Volunteer Training and Placement, Fingerprinting Services, Monthly Nonprofit Meetings, Nonprofit Executive Mastery Institute and Nonprofit Wish List.

For more information, visit www.spiritofgivingnetwork.com or info ( @ ) spiritofgivingnetwork dot com

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